Readiness (01)
The family was gathered about the room as they looked upon the worn and weary body of their beloved patriarch. He was a man who had seen and done many things. In his life he had experienced many changes. He was born on the heels of what was suppose to be "The War to End All Wars," "The Great War": World War I. As a young man, his attitude toward wastefulness was developed during America’s Great Depression. Ultimately he was called upon to fight for his country in World War II. What he endured would rest upon his mind for the rest of his life. When he returned to his family, for months on end, during his free time he would sit and stare out the window at the world before him. It is said that time heals. And, so he began to build. He reared his family. He diligently committed himself to an employer by night, and by day, labored in the soil of his homestead. Life was prosperous. The years passed, he endured the passing of his wife as well as his eldest son. He had planted, and plucked up that which was planted; killed and healed; broke down and built up; weeped and laughed; mourned and danced; cast away stones and gathered up stones; embraced and refrained from embracing; sought and loosed; kept and cast away; rent and sewed; kept silent and spoke; loved and hated; went to war and loved peace. And now, his time to be born was approaching his time to die. His time had come to an end. Or had it? It was for this time he had come, a time to embark upon the journey of all journeys. As Stephen of old (Acts 7:59), it was time to yield his spirit to a faithful Creator. Was he ready?
A state of readiness is a theme that echoes throughout the scriptures. The Lord Jesus Christ, said to his disciples, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Luke 12:35-40). "Be ye also ready"! Are we "ready" for the coming of the Son of man?
Being ready for the coming of the Son of man requires preparation. If we do not prepare to be ready, then we do in essence prepare to not be ready. Who is it that takes a journey and does not prepare for it? Who fails to prepare, then does not get far until they remember what they failed to bring? Readiness is not a matter of wishful thinking, but one of a determined effort. Readiness is not defined by our own personal desires and wishes but by God’s standard, His righteousness. The scriptures identify what preparations must be made to be ready. They also tell us who isn’t ready. The apostle Paul, as he was directed by the Holy Spirit, said, the Lord Jesus would come "rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). The scriptures are cut and dried in that evaluation. If we fail to obey "the gospel of our Lord Jesus" then we are not ready to meet our Maker when "the spirit returneth unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Obeying the "gospel", the "good news," has a necessary inference that there is a message that defines obedience. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23) and, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12). It matters not how much preparation an individual may make. It matters not how zealous an individual may be. If the preparations are not according to God’s righteousness, then they will not suffice to successfully complete the journey: "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). Mankind was created to glorify God. Therefore, "whether…ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). But, "all have sinned, and (consequently, ret) fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Consequently "because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 5:6). "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:18). Many have been brought, through the gospel, ("the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" - Romans 1:16), to the question, "What shall we do"? (Acts 2:37). The same answer, issued to the Jews, nineteen hundred and seventy years ago, still applies today: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). Are you ready?
Being A Christian (02)
Have you ever questioned your relationship with God? Have you ever just sat down and asked the question, "Will I be found acceptable to God after I pass from this life to the next?" To some the question is absurd! "Why," they say, "Of course I’m going to be found acceptable to God! I’m a good person. I don’t lie, cheat, or steal. I help my fellow man, and God is a God of love and will not reject anyone." The truth is, religions have provisions built into their doctrines that provide "acceptance" for all people. The individual’s actual condition may not be the highest level he/she could have obtained if they had been true believers, or the individual may have to endure a certain amount of torment before they are allowed admittance before God, but they would nonetheless receive a crown. The question we must ask is, "Is it so?" Just because a person is taught something by a religious leader, or believes something is spiritual, does not make it so. There are many things people believe in life that just aren’t so. The sons of Jacob sold their younger brother Joseph into Egyptian bondage. Jacob’s sons didn’t come right out and tell their father that Joseph was dead, but what they did was take Joseph’s coat and kill a he-goat, "and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found: know now whether it is thy son’s coat or not. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces. And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days" (Genesis 37:31-34). Jacob believed his son was dead, though he was very much alive. In the writing of First Kings, a young prophet had been sent to Bethel to cry against the altar that Jeroboam had raised that caused Israel to sin. God told the young prophet, "Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest" (13:9). After refusing Jeroboam’s request to "come home with me and refresh thyself" (13:7), the scriptures tell us "there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them also they told unto their father. And their father said unto them, What way went he? Now his sons had seen what way the man of God went, that came from Judah. And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass; and he rode thereon. And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak; and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: for it was said to me by the word of Jehovah, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet that brought him back; and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah, and hast not kept the commandment which Jehovah thy God commanded thee, but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his body was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it; the lion also stood by the body" (13:11-24).
No matter how sincere the young prophet was in his actions, he had believed a lie and it cost him his life because he had been "disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah." Many people have fallen to similar false prophets. They have been told "an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying…" Time and again Jehovah warns us about such men. The scriptures say, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). They tell us, "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their lacivious doings" (2 Peter 2:1). And, the apostle Paul sealed the warning, when he said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema" (Galatians 1:8).
False teachers attempt to side-step these warnings by insisting Bible translations have been corrupted and are unreliable. So, they have their own "true word" that is the "only pure word of God." And by such, many have followed their lascivious doings.
Following the teaching of the Lord’s apostles will make you a Christian. If you take the Bible, and some writing of man, you become something other than a Christian, something other than a child of God. In so doing, you will not be "found acceptable to God after you pass from this life." "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). What name do you wear?
Politics and Religion (03)
Politics and/or religion, sometimes hard to separate, constitute a powder keg of debate. No one likes to be in error. We believe our politics are in accordance with whatever religious principles we hold. If our religion is wrong then our politics will likely be in error as well. Politics are based upon principles we adhere to. Politics is simply "the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy" (Merriam-Webster). Policy is "prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs" (Ibid.). Most everyone believes their politics, as well as their religion, is righteous. Those with a liberal view of religion usually have a liberal view in politics, and vice versa. There is no organization, religious or civil that doesn’t deal with politics. I can recall a time when my sons were in Boy Scouts. The "politics" and games that people played in "guiding or influencing governmental policy" were amazing. In some cases it was righteous: it was for the benefit of the program. In other cases, it was a power struggle between parents. The same is true within religion. The maxim is, "you don’t discuss politics or religion." The fact is politics and religion are at the center of our lives. They deal with the heart as well as the mind. The mingling of politics and religion was especially true during the time of Jesus.
The Pharisees were "one of the chief Jewish religious parties which existed prior to and during the time of Christ. The Pharisees existed alongside the two other religious groups, the Sadducees and Essenes. The term ‘Pharisee’ means the ‘separated one’... During the period of Hellenization, the Jews who resisted the adoption of Greek customs separated themselves from their society and adhered very rigidly to the Mosaic law…The Pharisee had little or no interest in politics so long as he was permitted to worship as he desired" (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). Though such was the case, the scriptures indicate that they used politics in an effort to undermine the teaching of Christ. The scriptures set forth a confrontation the Pharisees had with Jesus: "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk. And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, (The Herodians were "a Jewish party in the Lord’s time, favorable to the Herod family, who held hope of preserving national existence in the face of Roman ambition, despite the fact that they were Idumaean and not Jewish. Logically they were in direct antagonism to the Pharisees, with whom however there was common cause against foreign rule, the two being united also in opposition to the Lord, Ibid. ret) saying, Teacher, we know that thou are true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?" (Matthew 22:15-17). These two parties, who cared not for one another, joined against what they perceived to be a common enemy and brought into the arena a political question. (For the Jews to pay tribute to Cæsar received the same response as would the citizens of the United States of America if required to pay taxes to a foreign nation.) Julius Cæsar had appointed Herod to power. The Pharisees and Herodians stood opposite of each other politically. For Jesus to say "it is lawful to give tribute to Cæsar" would put him in opposition to the Pharisees. To say "it is not lawful to give tribute to Cæsar" would put him in opposition to the Herodians and Cæsar.
In dealing with the question, the Lord said, "Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s" (Matthew 22:18-21). In so doing, neither party could say that Jesus spoke against the Pharisees nor the Herodians and Cæsar.
Our society is faced with war. People will be at odds politically and spiritually as to the actions taken by the government officials. Individuals are rising up against the government in opposition to their policies, concerning this matter. Others support the government. What is right, religiously and politically? The apostle Paul lived during the reign of the Cæsar’s: an ungodly period of history and rulers. Yet, Paul’s admonition to the Christians who lived in the city of Rome was "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good…Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing" (Romans 13:1-6).
The decisions and actions we take politically will effect us spiritually. Paul’s admonition to Christians is, "that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" (1 Timothy 2:1-3). The decisions our rulers make may not always be right, but they have the God given right to make them. And we have a God given responsibility to be subject to them. The end.
Creating Our Own Confusion (04)
Many gods under one name: They say a rose called by any other name is still a rose. So also is anything else. It matters little what you call something, it is what it is. When the Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul of Tarsus, was approaching the city of Athens, "his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols" (Acts 17:16). The city of Athens was noted for its idols. Some have reported that idols exceeded the number of people: "This was a city that was entirely different from any that Paul had ever visited or was to visit. It is often described as a university town that was similar to those cities of our day that have great universities located in their midst; but this conception is misleading in more ways than one. It was the world center of art, but an art that was devoted chiefly to the idolatries of Greek mythology. Its great attraction today is the ruined Parthenon with the Erechteion on the far left and two amphitheaters far below on the right. Sculpture, Greek architecture, Greek theaters, schools of philosophies, literates of all kinds, all steeped in Greek paganism — this was Athens as Paul saw it in A. D. 52. This is what the pagan Lucian has in mind, ‘When I first came to Athens I was astonished and delighted to see all the glory of the city.’ Pagan writers remark regarding the plethora of temples and statues. Petronius satirically remarks that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man. In his fine description Pausanias states that Athens had more images than all Greece put together. Xenophon calls Athens ‘one great altar, one great offering to the gods.’ Livy writes, ‘In Athens are to be seen images of gods and men of all descriptions and made of all materials.’ In the Agora every god of the Olympus found a place. Every public building was at the same time a sanctuary that was dedicated to one or more gods. Besides the ordinary gods there were deifications of Fame, Modesty, Energy, Persuasion, etc." (Acts of the Apostle, R. C. H. Lenski). It appears that the city of Athens housed every idol imaginable to the mind of man. Even to the point of erecting an "altar with this inscription, To An Unknown God" (Acts 17:23). If we were to take a moment to consider the condition of the city, we should not be astonished at the findings. When we look at religion in our own society, we see the same to be true. In many instances, they all profess to follow the same God, yet, by virtue of doctrine and practice, a person is able to see that our society serves many gods, under the guise of the one true God.
Christianity is a common enough phrase in our society. Many organizations claim to be "Christian" in doctrine and practice. The question is, "Are they?" Could they not just as well be serving some man made god under the guise of Christianity? What makes doctrine and practice "Christian"? Is it not "following Christ"? Is it not simple enough to determine what allegiance is being paid by a comparison of doctrine and practice, as is set forth in the Bible? The apostle Paul once instructed the Corinthian Christians that they should "learn not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). The danger of apostasy is not only possible but also probable. Paul told the young evangelist Timothy, "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:1-3). In like manner he told Timothy, "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
When we look at the religious society within which we live, what do we see? Do we not see many different doctrines and practices? The apostle Paul affirmed that "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:32). Yet, that’s what the religious world would have us believe. James affirmed, "For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed" (James 3:16). Confusion is, "instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). If all the religions of our society that claim to be following Christ were doing so, would there be so much confusion? Confusion is not a product of God’s teaching but that of man’s. Paul once spoke of his countrymen who "being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). The same is true today. People have a zeal for God, but they have been misled by the religious leaders who "with feigned words make merchandise" (2 Peter 2:3) of them.
What is the basis of your faith? Do you "know" what the will of God is, or do you put your trust in those that lead you? Two words of warning are worthy of attention: "It is better to take refuge in Jehovah, Than to put confidence in man" (Psalms 118:8) and "…let God be found true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
Do you serve the God of heaven, the Creator of the heavens and earth, or some man-made god in disguise? "And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Living In Fear Of Death (05)
Jesus of Nazareth is a man of history. The historian Josephus wrote, "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, —a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew many to him, both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day" (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, Paragraph 3). There are some today that deny Jesus of Nazareth ever existed. But the cry of their denial is drowned out by resounding historical authenticity, both sacred and secular.
Being a historical character reported to have died and risen from the dead, mankind is behooved to ask the question, "What did Jesus Do for Mankind"? As Josephus wrote, Jesus was "a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure." And it was substantiated by the Apostle John, as he recorded the life of Christ, when Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The scriptures record that Jesus of Nazareth was, "a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you" (Acts 2:22). But approved to do what?
When God created the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, "God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). The serpent (also called, "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, Revelation 20:2), beguiled Eve and then Eve gave the fruit unto Adam, who ate, (Genesis 3:1-8) and as a result "God sent him forth from the garden of Eden" (Genesis 3:22-24). "Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Sin is the problem which man has. When man sinned, it severed the fellowship he had with God. "Behold Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2). Law is for the benefit of the society. Moses told Israel, "Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Jehovah our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day" (Deuteronomy 6:24). Law was given to preserve. "The fear of Jehovah (which is manifested by obedience to His will, ret) prolongeth days" (Proverbs 10:27). When man sins (and "all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23), the consequence is death, "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), or separation from God. Once the transgression had taken place, man’s only hope was that God would intervene. As we understand in our society that it is not those who violate the law that set the conditions of reconciliation, so it is with God. Mankind does not have the option of telling God what the conditions are regarding salvation. "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). It is "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:24-26), that God was able to redeem mankind and yet remain just in regard to the just recompense necessary for man’s violation of law. God could not forgive the sins of the world, and remain just, without requiring that payment be made.
What Jesus did for man was to divest himself of his heavenly position, in that "existing in the form of God, counted not being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men…he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8). Through this means, God determined that "he should taste of death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:9-10).
What Jesus of Nazareth did was to provide, through his death, the means by which mankind could be reconciled to God. Some may deny the need of reconciliation, but it does not eliminate the reality of such. God affirmed that Jesus is not only "a way" but "the only way" to be reconciled: "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
If your conscience is burdened with the guilt of sin (Romans 2:15) and you are living your life in "fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14-15), you are encouraged to turn to God and have faith in "the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God" that you may "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14). Let us know if we may assist you, at no charge to you, in understanding "what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).
The Resurrection of Jesus (06)
If someone were to come back from the dead, how would you respond? The claim of the resurrection is the foundation upon which the gospel rests. The truth of this is evident from the internal evidence of the scriptures. The apostle Paul said, "Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Corinthians 15:12-18). The entire hope of man to obtain the forgiveness of sins and to attain to the resurrection is based upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul also said, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, whom was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4).
The doctrine concerning the resurrection of the dead has received acceptance and denial throughout the generations. Two Jewish sects during the time of Christ, and the apostle Paul, held opposite doctrines concerning the resurrection. When Paul was brought before the Jewish council, the scriptures say, "But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both" (Acts 23:6-8). When Paul preached in the city of Athens, "when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but other said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again" (Acts 17:33). To find mocking and criticism in our own day for belief in the resurrection should be of no concern. Any opposition to the resurrection can be dismissed by Paul’s question to Herod, "Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8). It would do mankind well to appreciate the confidence expressed by the prophet Jeremiah, when he said, "Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jeremiah 32:17). "Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?"
The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been substantiated by many: Mary Magdalene and another Mary saw him on the day of his resurrection, Matthew 28:1-10; He also appeared to Simon, Luke 24:34; to ten of the apostles and then later to Thomas, John 20:19-28; to James, 1 Corinthians 15:7; to Saul of Tarsus, Acts 22:6-9; and to above five hundred at once, 1 Corinthians 15:6. Some may object to the evidence by stating that these were followers of Jesus and their testimony was flawed by the promises of advantage. As to what their testimony promised: The apostle James, the brother of John was killed with the sword, Acts 12:2. The apostles were imprisoned, threatened and beaten, Acts 5:17-41. The apostle Paul was imprisoned and ultimately put to death for the testimony of the Lord, 2 Timothy 1:8; 4:6-7. As to the evidence of the resurrection being flawed by some personal advantage, even secular history records the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, —a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew many to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day" (Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, Paragraph 3).
This evidence should satisfy the most difficult skeptic. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. It proves that his testimonies were true. It proves that he was the Son of God with power. It proves that "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54). It proves that "if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11). It proves that God "giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). And by this evidence mankind is motivated to "confess with the mouth Jesus as Lord, and…believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9), and be saved.
Day Of Worship (07)
Many have made inquiry as to the Sabbath day and Sunday. Some "Christian" religions observe the first day of the week as a day of worship and some the seventh day. Much debate has been held on the issue. It has been said, "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday…It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week…Where can the record be found? Not in the New Testament — absolutely not. There is no scriptural evidence of the change of the sabbath institution from the seventh to the first day of the week" (Dr. Edward T. Hiscox). This statement is indeed true. The "Sabbath" never was "transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week." The sabbath will always be the seventh day. The first day of the week is not the Christian sabbath. It is simply the first day of the week. The question is, does the New Testament bind sabbath keeping on the Christian?
In an effort to bind the Sabbath day, some religionists hold a position that there are two laws in the Old Testament: the moral law and the ceremonial law. The Ten Commandments being the moral law and the Law of Moses the ceremonial laws. By so doing they can observe the seventh day and disregard all the other laws they do not want to obey. Many passages could be utilized to address the issue of Sabbath day keeping, but one will suffice for our consideration.
In Romans 7:1-7, the apostle Paul, as he is led by the Holy Spirit, said, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ." If a person is "dead to" something, it no longer controls their life. That’s the point Paul was making by alluding to the marriage relationship, "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband." As we consider the statement of Paul, we need but ask the question, "To what law does he refer?" Paul says, "I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, ‘Thou shalt not covet’: but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin is dead." The "law" to which Paul refers, "Thou shalt not covet," is one of the Ten Commandments.
It is sometimes affirmed that we are to follow the example of Christ and that Christ and his apostles went to Jewish assemblies on the Sabbath day. This is true, yet, we must also remember that "God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4). And the apostles were also Jewish and bound by law to keep the law until it came to a full end. Justification under the law ceased when Christ died, "For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth" (Hebrews 9:16-17). The apostle Paul said, "Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). Yet, we find that as Jews, James and all the elders, said to Paul, "We have four men that have a vow on them; these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads; and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walketh orderly, keeping the law" (Acts 21:23-24). The "law" to which they refer is what some classify as the ceremonial law. If man is to follow the examples of the apostles, without consideration to the time, circumstance and people to whom it was written, then this example would bind the Christian to the keeping of the "ceremonial law." However, when we understand that Paul was a Jew, and bound by the law as a Jew until it came to its full end, which it did at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. when the Roman general Titus destroyed the nation and thereby nullified the law, then we have a better understanding of what it was that Paul did and why.
Though Sunday is not the "Christian Sabbath," it is, nonetheless, the day established by the apostle of Jesus Christ for the follower of Christ to assemble for worship: "And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them…" (Acts 20:7). This breaking of bread is not a common meal as we see Paul verified the authority for saints to assemble to eat the "Lord’s supper" (1 Corinthians 11:17-32), but denied them the authority "to come together in the church" to eat a common meal: "If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment" (1 Corinthians 11:34). The scriptures also verify the authority for the saints to assemble on the first day of the week, when Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper…" (1 Corinthians 16:2).
When Paul said, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day…" (Colossians 2:16), that’s what he meant. And this admonition covers the moral and ceremonial Law of Moses.
The Bible (08)
Do you have questions about the Bible? Are the stories really true or are they myths? Does the Bible contain errors? Did Jesus of Nazareth really live? Does the Bible contradict science? An individual once asked, "Did the Ark of the Covenant really exist"? Having seen a rendition of it in a movie, he thought it was just a myth. But, though the movies sensationalize certain aspects concerning the Ark of the Covenant, it is reported to have been a real object. The book of Exodus records its construction and laws that accompanied its use. Now, the original Ark of the Covenant has not been seen for centuries, but that it existed is purported to be true. The absence of it does not prove that it didn’t exist. There have been whole nations of people that have passed from the face of the earth, but records indicate that they did indeed exist. Mankind should not think it strange that an artifact becomes non-existent. In the same manner, some have questioned the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. They say that there is no evidence, apart from the "Bible" that he did exist. Therefore, they concluded that he did not. The assumption, however, is without support. The historian, Flavius Josephus, wrote, "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named for him, are not extinct at this day" (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, Chapter III). Josephus was born in the first year of the reign of Caius (Caligula, ret) Cæsar. Caligula reigned from 37-41 A. D. Concerning the reliability of Josephus, it has been said, "Josephus is the most diligent and the greatest lover of truth of all writers; nor are we afraid to affirm of him, that it is more safe to believe him, not only as to the affairs of the Jews, but also as to those that are foreign to them, than all the Greek and Latin writers, and this, because his fidelity and his compass of learning are everywhere conspicuous" (Joseph Sealiger). In addition to the testimony of Josephus, Tacit, about 110 A. D., said, "Nero, in order to stifle the rumour [as if he had himself set Rome on fire], ascribed it to those people who were hated for their wicked practices, and called by the vulgar Christians: these he punished exquisitely. The author of this name was Christ, who, in the reign of Tiberius, was brought to punishment by Pontius Pilate the procurator." The evidence supports the position that Jesus did indeed exist and was raised from the dead, on the third day. The scriptures, as well as reason, substantiate that he "was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord." For centuries the word and work of God has come under fire in man’s feeble attempt to undermine the truth of the sacred writing. When individuals reject Jesus as the Christ, and reject the Bible as the word of God they do so in spite of the evidence, not because of it.
Just as the evidence concerning Jesus of Nazareth is valid, so also is the evidence concerning the inspiration of the scriptures. The scriptures affirm that they are the word of God. The Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul, said. "…let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). The prophet Jeremiah said, "Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jeremiah 1:9). The prophet Isaiah said, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken…" (Isaiah 1:2). The Apostle of Jesus Christ, Peter, affirmed that the prophets of old "spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). And Jesus assured his apostle that "when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you" (John 16:13-15). For thousands of years certain men have attempted to undermine the word of God. Many of them have passed this life to stand before their Maker, yet "his words shall not pass away" (Luke 21:33). "As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God? God is my strong fortress; and he guideth the perfect in his way" (2 Samuel 22:31-33). Thus being the case let us follow the example of the Psalmist, as he said, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Psalms 119:18). The word of God has been tried and has revealed many wondrous things. It is commendable for an individual to have questions, yet it is also commendable when they respond to the answers they receive. If you have questions regarding your spiritual obligations, you are encouraged to seek them out and find and obey the answers.
How Do You Know When You’re Saved (09)
How does a person know when they are saved? Years ago, a survey was conducted dealing with concepts of salvation. I do not recall all the particulars of the survey but one prominent aspect of it stood out. The individuals surveyed were asked a number of questions. Two of them related to the positive aspects of their condition before God. One question involved belief in heaven and hell. Of those surveyed, 90 % believed there was a place called heaven where the saved would go and there was a place called hell where the lost would go. Of the 90% who believed in heaven and hell, 95% believed they were going to heaven. I cannot recall how many times I’ve heard the phrase, "If anybody is going to heaven, such and such is." It appears that mankind has a natural inclination to hope for the best. But, then again, mankind usually sees adversity as something that involves someone else, somewhere else. It doesn’t seem to make a difference what religious belief, or lack thereof, is observed, the individual has confidence they are in a right relationship with God or their view of God. The question is, does it make it so? How can we "know" if we’re in a proper relationship with God? In the writings of the Psalms a statement is made that describes the condition of the wicked when God said, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth, Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee? When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him, And hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes" (50:16-21). Mankind has continually made the mistake of believing that God thinks like they do. This type of an attitude or belief system is basic to idolatry: where the idol or the god it represents has the weaknesses of man. They believe God can be humored by isolated acts of good works or that God doesn’t really mean what He says about eternal punishment (without realizing that if God cannot be trusted to do what He says concerning eternal punishment, what of eternal life?). When dealing with the wrongs committed against God, individuals will conclude they have made themselves right with God, either through some form of repentance or good work. They fall into the same error that Israel fell into "being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). When mankind views God and His righteousness to be like their own, they are set for destruction. In some cases, individuals will conclude they are in a proper relationship with God because they "feel" it. They look at the good they’ve done and conclude that it outweighs the bad. But, who sets the terms of reconciliation, does man or God? When we observe our society, we see that it is not the offender that sets the terms of pardon. Who sets the terms of pardon or punishment in the society, is it not a court of law? How foolish would our judicial system be if the criminal set the terms of reconciliation? Salvation is not a matter of what man wants. It’s a result of what God has done. Many can quote the passage, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God gave his Son "that the world should be saved through him" (3:17). When Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, preached the gospel to the Gentiles, those who contended with him where eventually brought to the understanding that "to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). These passages reveal that salvation is neither possible nor obtainable, simply because we wish it, but because God has granted it. If God did not grant it then mankind would still be dead, spiritually. Now, concerning this salvation, the scriptures reveal, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). I don’t know how many "few" are in relation to humanity, but in relation to Noah and his day "wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water" (1 Peter 3:20), it is evident that man’s concept of salvation and the truth of the matter is as far apart as the earth from the heavens. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, revealed the attitude each individual must maintain to obtain salvation, when he said, "Know ye not, that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). Jehovah did not provide a myriad number of ways to obtain salvation. He provided "one": "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). So, in answer to the question, "How does a person know when they are saved?" is it not evident that it must come from a knowledge of God’s revealed word? Can you answer the question in a positive manner that you "know" you are saved because what you believe and what God revealed is in harmony? Or will you seek to establish your own conditions of salvation and refuse to subject yourself to the righteousness of God?
Life Expectancy (10)
Another year! My time in the flesh has amounted to fifty-one years, today. To some it is young, to others it is old; to those of my own age it is perhaps middle age. It’s difficult to figure out exactly what middle age is. If an individual is middle age at fifty, shouldn’t they live to be a hundred? Determining life expectancy has been a matter of public record over the years. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, life expectancy in 1900 was 48.2 for a male and 51.1 for a female. That number gradually climbed over the years and by 1960 it reached a whooping 66.6 and 71.1, respectfully. Then, by 1996 the number had grown to 73.0 and 79.0. By 2000 the numbers had risen to 74.1 for males and 79.5 for females. 286,196,812 individuals lived in the U.S. according to the 2000 census. Will we make the average?
Whether it is the U. S. Census, or the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, keeping a close eye on life expectancy, we can see that, though it has fluctuated from time to time, it hasn’t changed much for thousands of years. In the book of Psalms (90:10), a psalm attributed to "Moses the man of God", says, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years." A score is 20 years, thus the days of our years are sixty years and ten, or even by reason of strength eighty years. Hasn’t changed much, has it?
All that being said, it is evident that life is short. Whether we live eighty years or eighty seconds, the same comes to us all, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). David, King of Israel, petitioned Jehovah, and said, "Jehovah, make me know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; and my life-time is as nothing before thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity" (Psalms 39:4-5). We all live with knowledge that we will one day die, yet we all live with the hope that we have one more day. The day of death is a day over which no man has power. Neither wealth, fame, power nor ingenuity will be able to overcome the day of death. Solomon, King of Israel, said, "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power over the day of death…" (Ecclesiastes 8:8). The truth of that statement is reiterated on a daily basis.
There are only two approaches we can have to life: we either view our existence as purely mortal, or we view our existence as being physical and spiritual. If you choose the mortal option, one, you better be right then, as the apostle Paul said, "If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Corinthians 15:32). If, on the other hand, you choose the dual nature of man, then the words of Job ring loud, when he said, "And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26). Choosing the latter should bring us to the point of asking ourselves, "Where will I be in relation to my condition before God?" Job was confident that he would be well received, for he said, "Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger" (Ibid., vs. 27). On the other hand, Jesus revealed that "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The basic criteria is pretty simple, "And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35). Righteousness is a standard by which an individual lives. But it is not just any standard. As the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul identified the condition of his countrymen when, he said, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). If we are ignorant of God’s righteousness, we will not be able to affirm the position that we are acceptable to Him. Jesus "said to those Jews that had believed him, If you abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). There is no freedom without truth. Truth is found in Jesus and accomplishes its work when we abide in it. In addition, the apostle Peter said, "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jehovah has warned us that the earth has "been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" and that day "will come as a thief" (2 Peter 3:7, 10). Even if we beat the average, we will one day die. So, what do we do? That question is also answered in the scriptures: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). That gift is salvation. Those therefore, who have "turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), will be found acceptable to God. What provisions have you made for life and eternity?
Nothing New (11)
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, says, "That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us." The principle of the statement is forever showing itself to be true. No matter how "new" something may be to the "modern man" it is just due to a lack of knowledge or misapplication of the principle. An individual may reason that automobiles are new and didn’t exist when the writer penned the letter. Though the specific mode is different transportation is not "new." But it is not the trifles of life that the writer shines light on. The specifics of this truth resides in the passages before it: "What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us" (vs. 3-10). Within the text the writer identifies one principle worthy of contemplation. He wrote, "that which hath been done is that which shall be done" (vs. 9).
Being reared in an atmosphere where an individuals responsibility was equal to that of Ezra’s, "For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances" (Ezra 7:10), it generates a sense of wonder when information about how "religious services" are conducted today. Time and again statements are made that indicate that "some," not to indict the whole, have very little if any of God’s word being proclaimed. Though the situation may gender wonderment it is by no means new. The circumstances, which generate such, may be twofold in nature. It may come from the speaker or from the people. A few years before the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed through the prophet Jeremiah, "Then Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart" (Jeremiah 14:14). And again, "I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart? that think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers forgat my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah. Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah" (Jeremiah 23:25-32). The difference between the words of Jehovah and the words of men is compared to straw and wheat. Men will often attempt to dazzle in an effort to "draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). This type of preaching is called making merchandise of the unsuspecting: "And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you"(2 Peter 2:3), or making "spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit" (Colossians 2:8). However, in many cases the fault lies with the people. Paul warned, the young preacher Timothy, "preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This also, was not new. During the period of Israel’s history, when Ahab was king of the northern tribes and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoshaphat requested inquiry be made of Micah, a prophet of God. To this request, Ahab said, "I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil" (1 Kings 22:8).
In today’s religious community, when the sermon is over and the handshakes and howdys are made, does the praise go to man for his eloquence? When the preaching is over, is the preacher regarded as a masterful speaker, or is the word of God seen as "living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12)?
Jesus (12)
Jesus of Nazareth was a master at what he did. He was a master teacher. He was a master at getting people to make self-evaluation. He was a master at exposing faulty reasoning and thinking. He had the ability to correct error, always with compassion, though stern. Jesus was also a master at dealing with temptation. James defines temptation as a process of a man being "drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full-grown, bringeth forth death" (James 1:13-15). Everyone deals with the temptations. They may be different in form, but they all come from the basic source of "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life" (1 John 2:16). The scriptures reveal that Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Thus, seeing that "he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Having been tempted, Jesus is our example as to how to overcome the wiles of the devil. He was a master at resisting temptation. With the example of Jesus and the knowledge that "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13), we understand that we can overcome.
The example Jesus gives us came about after his baptism. He was "led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered" (Matthew 4:1-2). The devil utilized three scenarios in the temptations. In each temptation the devil challenges the deity of Jesus. In each, the devil says, "If thou art the Son of God." It’s a challenge wherein many fail. Children are often drawn into a devastating situation because peer pressure places upon them the "proving" mentality. Jesus did not fall for such. In dealing with the temptation Jesus simply said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). What Jesus appeals to is the principle of waiting for God. God can sustain life beyond the basics of the natural inclinations to eat. Isaac, of old, had two sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau had been hunting and failed to show any fruits for his labors. As he returns from his pursuits, he said to his brother Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint…and Jacob said, ‘Sell me first thy birthright.’ And Esau said, ‘Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me?’ …and he sold his birthright unto Jacob…so Esau despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:27-34). Esau will be remembered as a "profane person…who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright" (Hebrews 12:16). Esau looked at his physical circumstance and failed to trust in God’s ability to sustain him.
The second temptation by Satan questioned the promises of God: "If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Matthew 4:6). For Christ to do so would challenge the love of God. It would put His promises to the test. Once again, the Lord says, "It is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God" (Vs. 7). Jesus referred to Deuteronomy 6:16, which says, "Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your God, as ye tempted him in Massah." At Massah the children of Israel made trial of the Lord, when they said, "Give us water that we may drink…Is Jehovah among us, or not?" (Exodus 17:1-7).
In the third temptation, the devil offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world. From the standpoint of humanity, it had its temptation. Jesus had nothing, regarding the flesh. When Jesus was tempted he was "tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). In response to the devil’s offer, Jesus said, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). The temptations were compete, for a season, and following Satan’s departure "angels came and ministered unto him" (Vs. 11); which ministering justified the statement of Jesus that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Jesus kept his focus on the spiritual. He did not allow the flesh to rule his life. Jesus, as the master teacher, shows us how to overcome the wiles of the devil. The devices of men will not win the battles. Jeremiah once wrote, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is" (17:7). It’s no different in our own times. Man must trust in Jehovah and then depend on Him to bear us up in doing it.
Making The Right Decision (13)
The life of Jesus of Nazareth has attracted the attention of both atheist and theist. For centuries individuals have arisen that provided the people of their times with some religious hope. Many of these individuals, to their own dismay, were elevated to a position of reverence that belongs only to God. Multitudes have put their faith, hope and trust in the teachings of these individuals.
We all, though wrong they are, make decisions contrary to our well being. Everyday, we are called upon to make decisions. Some of those decisions are mundane and inconsequential. Others have the potential of both physical and spiritual ruin. There is no greater decision a person will be called upon to make that supercedes the one they make regarding their spiritual well being. Religious decisions are difficult because they require great determination. The apostle Paul said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
Paul’s statement, as he revealed God’s will concerning obedience, says that it requires becoming a sacrifice: a sacrifice that presents the body in a holy and acceptable service. The term "sacrifice" is defined as a "victim" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Merriam Webster defines sacrifice as "an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar." Paul was well aware of the requirements of obedience. He stated, concerning his life, "for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die" (Acts 21:13). And ultimately paid the price, as he wrote, "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-7). The term, "being offered" is defined as, "to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote (one’s life or blood, as a sacrifice)" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions), or "fig. used of one whose blood is poured out in a violent death for the cause of God" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Paul offered himself in the figurative as well as literal sense, of the word.
Making the right decision about one’s spiritual well being requires courage. Throughout the scriptures, individuals have been called upon to put their lives on the line for their faith: "And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:32-40).
As a Christian, an individual must be willing to do the same today. Jesus said, "And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Exercising courage is of such great importance that God said, "But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). Listed among those who commit the most hideous crimes is the fearful.
When considering one’s condition before God, one must decide to exercise courage and "obey God, rather than men" (Acts 5:29) and "press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). What decision have you made in regard to your spiritual service?
The Basis of Belief (14)
There are no greater questions to consider than those that affect the spirit. Jehovah revealed, through the writer of the Hebrew letter, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Men and women for generations have been called to face the fact that all die. We are told, by divine revelation, that a judgment is to follow. In reference to the judgment, Jehovah said, "he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). And, that man was Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9). Two points are evident: Jesus Christ will judge the world; and he will do so in righteousness. Righteousness is a standard. In the same way that the laws of our land set a standard of what is right and wrong, so God’s righteousness is the standard of right. In that regard, Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Such being the case, it would do us well to know what the words of Jesus are and how we measure up to the commandments of God. Many today will attempt to convince others that all they have to do is believe in Jesus and they will be saved. Before adopting that doctrine in your life, remember what the scriptures teach: "Thou believeth that God is one; thou doest well, the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren" (James 2:19-20). With this in mind let us consider what the scriptures reveal concerning salvation and how we can know if we have it.
Different individuals have different reasons for believing why they are saved. The question is, are they valid? Some say they "feel" they are saved. Yet, the scriptures indicate that "feelings" are not a safe guide. Saul of Tarsus once said, "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). Yet, what he "thought" was right was contrary to the will of God. Many "assume" they are saved. They haven’t given it much thought, just believe they are. Once again, the scriptures say, "There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 16:25). Some put their confidence in a preacher or a priest, yet the scriptures teach, "there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema" (Galatians 1:7-8). Others put their confidence in the "family religion," i. e., "it was good enough for my parents" or "my family have been ‘such and such’ for generations." Yet, to individuals that professed to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do…But because I say the truth, ye believe me not" (John 8:44-45). While still yet others will appeal to the majority and say "that many people cannot be wrong" while the scriptures warn, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). When we consider our relationship with God, we cannot base it upon the approval of man: "How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?"
Since mankind cannot rely upon feelings, assumptions, preacher, priests, parents or the majority in determining if salvation is granted, to whom do we turn? The apostle John wrote, "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13). In like manner, concerning characteristics the child of God must possess, the apostle Peter said, "Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11). So also, the apostle Paul said, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9). Jesus put into place a system by which mankind could obtain salvation through him. Jesus, "who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). Christ "suffered for sin once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Having provided the sacrifice, Christ also established the manner in which the message and requirements of salvation were to be delivered. Jesus said, concerning the message of salvation he gave to the apostles, "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word" (John 17:20).
The words of the apostles are the words of Christ. They were ambassadors "on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
These words are simply intended to cause someone to give serious thought to the basis of their belief that they are saved. As I, or anyone else, reflect upon my personal salvation, what is the basis of my belief? If you do not know by the word of God that your spiritual salvation is secure, you are encouraged to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10), by searching the scriptures and then doing that which you find that God requires.
Duties In Life (15)
Every morning, or evening as the case may be, individuals rise from their slumber to begin their day. Thoughts go to the duties set before each and every one. Most adults go into the work force, children to school, and the rest to their various and sundry duties. It’s called the way of life. Day in and day out, we have our routines: some we like, some we do not, but such is our way of life. What we do is determined by our belief system. The atheist, for example, will approach life from a strictly material perspective. The theist often approaches life in the same manner, but has some concept of spiritual duties that will regulate their conduct. Morals and ethics are governed by one’s approach to life. The atheist is his/her own standard, the theist is governed by a set of religious rules or revelation. Even then, the standard that supports their faith, and the writings that distinguish their religion from another, regulate the religious practitioner. The considerations of this article are limited to those who believe that the "Bible" is the revelation from God to man in reference to salvation provided through Jesus of Nazareth. If your hope is in Jesus Christ, the following passages should help in determining your day and duties.
A primary doctrine that separates a follower of Christ from the rest of the populace is one’s source of authority. Authority is basically a right to act. A follower of Christ is governed by a definite source of authority: "And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17). Another aspect of a disciple of Christ is an appropriate attitude toward the goal set before them. When one’s attitude is focused on the material, they encounter a number of frustrations and difficulties. A couple of basic comments in the scriptures reveal that a follower of Christ should not seek the material in order to satisfy life. Jesus said, "for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Such being the case, the follower of Christ will "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). And will not, therefore, "have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). Thus, the goal set before a follower of Christ is, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). If the follower of Christ truly desires to bring glory to God then they will, "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God." They will set their "mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth" (Colossians 3:2). Such an attitude will bring about a change in life. The apostle John once wrote, "Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). Such an endeavor requires a determined focus. The apostle Paul said, "I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). He had a goal and knew the obtaining of that goal required focus and sacrifice. When Paul wrote to the disciples in Rome, he said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
Every day, the disciples of Christ must set their determination on the fulfilling of those duties, to focus on "the way" or the path before them. If the disciple of Christ does not plan to succeed everyday, then they plan to fail. How did you start your day? Did you begin it with a determination to succeed? Did you begin it with a determination to glorify God in all that you put your hand to do? Or, did you fail to plan?
Try Your Own Selves (16)
When Paul wrote the Christians in Corinth, a city in Greece located near the south end of the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece, he told them, "Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Throughout the scriptures Jehovah has emphasized the necessity of doing a self-evaluation of one’s condition in doctrine and practice. In the Philippian epistle, Paul said, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (2:13).
Many times individuals go through life with the assumption that their relationship with God is a good one. They assume, because of their own standard, that God will accept them "as they are." This assumption is extremely dangerous because it’s just not true. Paul said, concerning his brethren according to the flesh, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteous of God" (Romans 10:2-3). Righteousness is a standard of right. The term originally comes from the concept of right-wiseness. The writer of Proverbs reveals that "There is a way which seemeth right unto man; but the end thereof are the ways of death" (14:12). These passages alone are sufficient to teach us that self-righteousness will not reconcile anyone. Therefore, it is necessary that each person make a self-evaluation based upon the righteousness of God. Remember the divine warning of God: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). With this in mind, consider the following questions in light of God’s revelation and apply them to your life and make a personal evaluation.
Do you believe there is a God? The scriptures reveal a very basic truth: "For every house is builded by some one" (Hebrews 3:4). The position is axiomatic: Individuals would deem you foolish if you attempted to convince them that your car, your house, your watch…or any other possession you have was a result of chance. The atheist would have us believe that the universe is the result of a "Big Bang" theory. Such a "theory" is as likely as a theory that your house is the result of the local lumberyard exploding and the foundation, walls, plumbing and fixtures fell into place. The scriptures affirm that "the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse" (Romans 1:20). What is seen in creation is evidence to the things, which cannot be seen, i.e., God. Genesis 1:1 affirms that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Do you believe there is a God? □ Yes or □ No? If not, why not? What evidence do you have that would nullify God’s evidence that "every house is builded by someone; but he that built all things is God" (Hebrews 3:4)?
Do you believe the Bible is the word of God? The apostle Peter affirmed that believers in God should be able to "give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). The scriptures affirm that God revealed truth through earthen vessels. The law and the prophets affirm that they are the word of God: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken" (Isaiah 1:2). Jesus also said, concerning the work of the apostles, "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). The apostle Paul affirmed "the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). Do you believe the Bible is the word of God? □ Yes or □ No? If not, why not? What evidence do you have that would nullify God’s evidence that he revealed himself through the written word?
Do you believe God? Not simply that there is a God, but do you believe God will do what He says He will do? James showed the invalid nature of believing in God, but not obeying Him, when he said, "Thou believeth that God is one; thou doeth well, the demons also believe, and shudder" (2:19). Just believing there is a God will not suffice for obedience. Paul said, "For Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3). Why? Because, "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance" (Hebrews 11:8). Just as Abraham believed God concerning the promises He gave, so also must we believe God will do what He says he will do. God says, "So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). God says, "For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (1 Corinthians 5:10). God said, concerning the righteous and the wicked, "And these (wicked, emph. mine, ret) shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46). Do you believe God? □ Yes or □ No? If not, why not? What evidence do you have that would nullify God’s promises: the blessing as well as the curse.
Are you working "out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:13)? However you answered the questions above, one factor is most essential: you’d better be right!
Being Prepared (17)
Are you prepared to meet your God? When Jehovah spoke through the prophet Amos, he said to Israel, "I…have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (Amos 4:6-12).
Preparing for future events is a part of life. Society recognizes the need for preparation by requiring children to obtain an education during their youth. Jehovah revealed, through the prophet Jeremiah, that "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth" (Lamentation 3:27). Throughout the world, people prepare themselves through education, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, all in an effort to provide the necessities of life, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Being prepared "to meet thy God" is the greatest of all pursuits. Being prepared to meet God has temporal as well as eternal consequences. This life will end. The body "returneth to the earth as it was" (Ecclesiastes 12:7), but "the spirit returneth to God who gave it" (Ibid.). Being prepared for that day is of great importance.
In preparing for the circumstances of life, the individual must first determine what it is that needs to be accomplished, then follow a course of life that will allow them to achieve what they seek. The same is true spiritually. A person cannot achieve a goal they do not have, nor can they accomplish their goal without preparation. The same is true spiritually.
Spiritual preparations require going to the source of spiritual blessings. If you want to be a journalist, you go to the teachers of journalism. If you want to be a medical doctor, you go to the teachers of medicine. So also, if you want to be spiritually prosperous, you must go to the source of spiritual knowledge. That source is God. To say that a person can follow their conscience and become spiritually prosperous is foolish, indeed. How can a person understand what they do not know? How can a person know what they haven’t been taught? How can a person be taught without a teacher? How can a person teach without first being guided? Jesus affirmed that he would send spiritual teachers into the world (John 17:18). Jesus affirmed that those he sent into the world would have a guide and be taught all things that pertained to life and godliness (John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:3). The Spirit of God would himself guide the apostles "into all truth" (John 16:13). In order to come to the source of spiritual blessings a person must be "taught of God" (John 6:44-46).
Truth is not subjective, it must come from the source, and the source of all truth is God (John 17:17). In order to be "approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15), an individual must be diligent in their handling of the word of truth. Each individual must "give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless in his sight" (2 Peter 3:14).
Preparing to meet God requires "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). It requires that repentance be followed by "works worthy of repentance" (Acts 26:20). It requires an individual to "confess with the mouth Jesus as Lord" (Romans 10:9). It requires that the individual "be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). And, it requires that the individual be "faithful unto death" (Revelation 2:10).
It is Jehovah that has been sinned against. It is only Jehovah that can set the conditions of pardon and reconciliation. Being prepared to meet God requires that mankind accept the terms of pardon. Are you "prepared to meet thy God"?
What the Bible Says About: Creation (18)
From where did we come? When did it all begin? These are questions that have entered the hearts of men for centuries. It’s difficult for beings of a finite existence to grasp the beginning and the end of the matter. Science (falsely so called) has attempted to explain the origin of all things through theories and suppositions, taking what is and applying it to what was is unreliable, at best. Beyond all the suppositions lies the fact that no human being was present at the moment of creation to reveal the process. What anyone believes concerning the origin of all things is based entirely upon faith. Many debates have been conducted on the subject and it is not the intention of the writer to enter such an arena. The purpose of this article is to set forth what the Bible has to say about the creation. The Bible does not argue the existence of God. It simply begins with "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). The term "beginning" refers to the beginning of the heavens and the earth, not the beginning of God. The Psalmist said of Jehovah, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (90:2). God is described as having no beginning and no end. In verse one we have the beginning of time, the operation of energy (God), the action of creating and the beginning of space, i.e. the heavens, and matter, i.e. the earth. Thus, "By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear" (Hebrews 11:3). The scriptures reveal that "God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). The scriptures also reveal that "in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day" (Exodus 20:11).
The term day is defined within the text of Genesis 1: "And there was evening and there was morning, one day" (vs. 5). The sequence of event is described as having taken place in the following order: on the first day God created Light, day and night; the second: the firmament, waters were divided; the third: land and water were divided and vegetation; the fourth: sun, moon and stars; the fifth: animal life, fish and birds and the sixth: beasts, creeping things and man.
Man was unique from all the creation, in that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27).
Whereas chapter one follows an order of time, chapter two follows an order of thought. Though the two chapters reveal the "who, what, when and where" of the creation, the writing was penned by Moses when the children of Israel were at mount Sinai. By writing as he does, Moses calls attention to the fact that in all the created world, woman is the only suitable answer to man’s needs. The focus is not on the order of the creation, but the relationship between man and woman.
Following the creation of man, and before God created the woman "God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof" (Genesis 2:19). After the woman was created and brought to the man, Moses reveals that God established at that time that man shall "leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). This identifies the marriage relationship. It was the first "institution" to be established by God.
When God first created man he was placed in a "garden eastward, in Eden. Though the exact location is unidentifiable, the scriptures tell us that "a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads. The name of the first (river) is Pishon, the second river is Gihon, the third river is Hiddekel and the fourth is the Euphrates" (Genesis 2:11-14).
That gives us a brief glimpse of the creation and how the universe came to be. Concerning the purpose of creation, God said, "every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made" (Isaiah 43:7). "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
What the Bible says about: The Fall of Man (19)
As we look at the conditions that prevail in the world within which we live, we become aware of the results of sin: sickness, suicide, parents without natural affection, covetousness, murder, deceit, covenant-breakers and a myriad of other activities that result in heartache and death. Just as violations of civil law leave in its path a score of victims, so it is when man violates the laws of God. But it hasn’t always been that way.
The Bible reveals a time when man was in a garden east of Eden. It was a time when man enjoyed fellowship with his Creator. A time when there were no victims, no heartache, no sorrow and no death. And man had access to the tree of life (Genesis 2:1-16). Being a creature of free will, God established laws to regulate the conduct of His creation. The scriptures may, or may not, reveal all of the laws first given to man, but they do tell us of one: "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). The law of God, concerning the eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, is the one Adam and Eve violated and is thus the one essential to the text and the explanation of why mankind suffers so many ills.
Genesis chapter three begins with the introduction of "the serpent." Centuries later the serpent is described as "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan" (Revelation 20:2). The serpent is described as having "beguiled Eve in his craftiness" (2 Corinthians 11:3). The first introduction describes the serpent as "more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made" (Genesis 3:1). It is not possible to describe what it was like in the first days after creation. What we do have are the particulars describing why things are as they are today.
The serpent said unto the woman, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" In answer, the woman said, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die" (Genesis 3:2-3). To the woman’s response, the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil" (vs. 4-5). The serpent did two things when he beguiled Eve. First of all, he changed what God had said: God said, "thou shalt surely die" and the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely die." Secondly, the serpent implies that God’s restrictions were to keep the man and the woman from being as God, "knowing good and evil." Children often believe their parents are trying to keep them from having fun when they restrict the activities of the child. After Satan placed the doubt in Eve, she "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat" (Genesis 3:6). The serpent appealed to the "lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life" (1 John 2:16). The woman "saw that the tree was good for food," she saw "that it was a delight to the eyes" and she saw "that the tree was to be desired to make one wise." These are the same tactics utilized by Satan today: an appeal to the gratification of the flesh in what it wants to make it feel good, what it sees and wants to possess, and the glory of having or achieving something that will make the individual feel important or powerful.
As a result of the man and the woman transgressing the law of God a curse came upon them. To the serpent, God said, "Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Unto the woman, God said, "I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." And, unto the man, God said, "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Often times, individuals will say that it’s their life and what they do doesn’t hurt anyone but themselves. Just remember, with Adam and Eve, there wasn’t anyone else yet, and what they chose placed a curse on all that would come through them.
What the Bible says about: The First Recorded Murder (20)
Two of the sons of Adam and Eve were named Cain and Abel. "Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground" (Genesis 4:2). The events that surround Cain’s provocation involved worship to God: "And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah" (Genesis 4:3). To offer the fruit of the ground, at least under the law of Moses, was an acceptable sacrifice: "And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein, that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which thou shalt bring in from thy land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee; and thou shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. And thou shalt come unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto Jehovah thy God, that I am come unto the land which Jehovah sware unto our fathers to give us. And the priest shall take the basket out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of Jehovah thy God" (Deuteronomy 26:1-4). Abel’s sacrifice of the "firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" was also acceptable: "All that openeth the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of cow and sheep" (Exodus 34:19). But, of these two offerings, it is recorded, "And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect" (vs. 4-5). Why did God have respect unto Abel’s sacrifice? "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh" (Hebrews 11:4). Faith is defined as "assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). This is seen in action when an individual believes that God "is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (vs. 6). When an individual believes that God is, whom he has not seen, and believes that God will reward those who seek after him, that is an expression of faith. Faith "cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Belief that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him comes from a belief in the word of God and from the evidence provided in and by the word of God. Righteousness is a term denoting right-wiseness. Righteous is a standard of right. It is said of the Jewish nation, "For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). Righteousness is a standard to which individuals subject themselves. Abel, having subjected himself to the righteousness of God, preformed that which God had commanded and thus "Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (Genesis 4:4). Cain, on the other hand, did not.
As a result, Cain was wroth. It angered him that Jehovah had not respect unto him or his sacrifice. The scriptures tell us that his "countenance fell." His "countenance" was his "face." Have you ever seen anyone that was angry or disappointed about a matter and their attitude was so affected that their facial expression changed? That same attitude is exhibited even today when individuals present an offering unto God and when they find out it was not of faith, that it was not according to the righteous standard of God, they get angry and lash out against those who do present an offering unto which Jehovah will have respect.
Cain’s circumstance could have been turned if he would have turned. Jehovah said unto him, "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? And if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it" (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain had control over the situation if he would simply heed the word of God and thereby present an offering for which Jehovah could have respect. But he did not: "And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him" (Genesis 4:8). As the first sin brought a curse, so also did the sin of Cain: Jehovah said unto Cain, "cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth" (Genesis 4:11-12).
How do we live our lives? Do we live them according to the righteous standard of God and live by faith, or do we go "in the way of Cain" (Jude 11) and have no regard for the commands of God or the life of others?
Cain’s circumstance could have been turned if he would have turned. Jehovah said unto him, "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? And if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it" (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain had control over the situation if he would simply heed the word of God and thereby present an offering for which Jehovah could have respect. But he did not: "And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him" (Genesis 4:8). As the first sin brought a curse, so also did the sin of Cain: Jehovah said unto Cain, "cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth" (Genesis 4:11-12).
How do we live our lives? Do we live them according to the righteous standard of God and live by faith, or do we go "in the way of Cain" (Jude 11) and have no regard for the commands of God or the life of others?
What the Bible says about: The progress of mankind toward evil. (21)
Following the death of Abel, and Cain’s subsequent punishment, the sacred record reveals a brief explanation of the genealogy of Cain. Then, the scriptures turn the readers attention to the generations of Adam through his son Seth, who was born after the death of Abel. The record follows the generations of Adam through Seth unto Noah. One of the striking facts of the record is the length of life possessed by the early inhabitants of the earth. Men lived eight and nine hundred years. One striking exception is the case of Enoch: "all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:23-24). In the New Testament, the scriptures tell us, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:" (Hebrews 11:5). Some doctrines teach that if Eve, and subsequently Adam, had not sinned, they would still be on the earth. The translation of Enoch shines some light on Jehovah’s desire to have mankind "change sides" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries). Methuselah, Enoch’s son, lived "nine hundred sixty and nine years" (Genesis 5:27, and is the oldest recorded life cycle. He passed from this life to the next the same year the flood waters came upon the earth. Methuselah was the father of Lamech, the father of Noah. Very little is said about the first sixteen hundred years of man’s existence. The genealogy of Adam is given to direct the reader to Noah. As the narrative unfolds it brings the reader to the time when Noah was five hundred years old and begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). In a brief description, the reader is told how the sons of God (those who served God) saw the daughters of men (those who did not serve God) and took them wives of all that they chose (Genesis 6:2). The record says "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thought of the heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). The condition of man had degenerated in such a fashion that Jehovah said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them" (Genesis 6:5-7). Considering Jehovah’s dealings with the nations of the world, it is evident that Jehovah gave pre-flood humanity every opportunity to repent. When Jehovah promised Abram the land of Canaan, he said, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full" (Genesis 15:13-16). When Jehovah destroyed the nations that possessed Canaan, it was due to their sins. Jehovah told Israel, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you; and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants" (Leviticus 18:24-25). Even today, when a person degenerates into a condition of no return and becomes a danger to society, they are put away, either by death or confinement for life. The wrath of God has been "revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18) time and again. So it was with those of the pre-flood days whose wickedness was great in the earth, "and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." The Apostle Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, said, concerning the days of the flood, that Noah was "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5) and that through him, Christ in the spirit preached unto those "that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing" (1 Peter 3:19-20).
Jesus once said concerning those who are spiritually prosperous: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). Noah was that salt, in his day. Thus, God "preserved Noah with seven others" (2 Peter 2:5). "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Hebrews 11:7).
For sixteen hundred years, mankind drew closer and closer, day by day unto destruction because the "imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." So it is today. Jehovah said, "the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7). Will we heed the warning, or be like those of old who failed to recognize God’s right to rule in their life?
What the Bible says about: Handling Aright the Word of Truth. (22)
Bible History can be divided up into time periods: (1)Antediluvian period recorded in Genesis 1 through 6 and (2)Postdiluvian period chapters 7-11; The (3)Patriarchal period Genesis chapter 12 through 50. The book of Exodus covers the (4)Egyptian Bondage, chapter 1 through 13 and then (5)Israel at mount Sinai in chapters 14 through Numbers chapter 9. Numbers chapter 9 through Joshua chapter 3 relate to Israel’s (6)40 years of wilderness wandering. Joshua chapter 4 through Judges 2 relate the (7)Conquest of Canaan. Judges chapter 3 through First Samuel 7 address the period of the (8)Judges. First Samuel 8 through 1 Kings 11 (with First Chronicles 10 through Second Chronicles 10) cover a period known as the (9)United Kingdom, beginning with the reign of Saul the son of Kish and coming to a close at the end of the reign of Solomon, the son of David and the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and Jeroboam, the first king over the ten northern tribes of Israel. (This period included the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah). First Kings 12 through 2 Kings 17 (with 2 Chronicles chapter 11 through 18) cover the period of the (10)Divided Kingdom. The remainder of the Kings and Chronicles focus on the tribe of (11)Judah alone (2 Kings chapter 18 through 25 and 2 Chronicles chapter 19 through 36. This period included the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah). Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the period of the (12)Babylonian Captivity lasted seventy years (The prophets during this time were Ezekiel and Daniel). Following the seventy-year captivity in Babylon, the children of Israel were allowed to return to Jerusalem. This is the (13)Post Exile period (This period is recorded in the prophets Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi). Malachi is the last of the literary prophets, under the Jewish Dispensation. Approximately four hundred years passed before the preaching of John the Baptist (Baptist being his occupation not his religious preference). The New Testament is comprised of the four gospels and twenty-three letters addressed to various individuals and churches. Thus, the New Testament reveals the (14)Life of Christ, (15)Death of Christ and (16)Church of Christ (the phrase church of Christ referring to the church that Jesus said, "I will build" [Matthew 16:18]). Thus, the Bible can be sectioned into sixteen periods in all.
Recognizing the periods of Bible history is necessary to establishing the will of God for man today. When the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) wrote a letter to a young evangelist named Timothy, he said, "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul instructed Timothy to "make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): — rightly divide" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries). Timothy had an obligation to correctly expound the divine message. Whenever an individual studies the sacred text, attention must be drawn to the who, what, why, when and where of the text. For example: Noah. Before Jehovah brought the flood waters upon the earth, Noah was commanded to build an ark of gopher wood (Genesis 6:13-14). The New Testament writer says, "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). Though the command was to the saving of his house, the same is not a command today. Jehovah commanded different people to do different things at different times for different purposes. The Ten Commandments are similar in application. Many will go to the Ten Commandments as a body of laws to be observed today. It is true that the Ten Commandments contain many aspects that are true to all men of all times. Yet, as a body of laws, the Ten Commandments were given to the children of Israel to be observed throughout their generations. When God judges the people that lived concurrently with the Jewish nation, they will not be judged according to the Ten Commandments, as a body of laws. Rather, the ("…Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:14-16).
The point of the matter is that man today cannot base his obedience upon what Jehovah commanded someone else to do in a dispensation gone by. The apostle Paul spoke of "the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:25-29). Jehovah said, through the apostle Paul, "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: 31inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). When looking to the scriptures for what God would have man to do to be saved, let us look to him that will judge us in the last day.
What the Bible says about: The lineage of Seth. (23)
The scriptures set forth Jehovah’s plan to save mankind from the consequences of sin. Beginning with the beginning, the scriptures tell us where we are, how we got there and what Jehovah has done to help mankind. As the scriptures unfold, there is a narrowing of focus. Having identified the creation, the fall of man and man’s progress toward evil, the scriptures turn their attention to the development of God’s plan to save. After the death of Abel the scriptures reveal "Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For, said she, God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel" (Genesis 4:25). The scriptures reveal that after Adam begat Seth "he begat sons and daughters" (Genesis 5:4). Even though such is the case, the scriptures confine themselves to the ancestry of Seth. It was to be through the lineage of Seth that God’s plan of salvation would be realized. There are three individuals in this lineage of special note: Enoch, Methuselah and Noah. Of Enoch, the scriptures say, "Enoch walked with God: and was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). The New Testament sheds more light upon the subject by revealing, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death: and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God" (Hebrews 11:5). During his sojourn on earth Enoch is said to have been the "seventh from Adam" and that he "prophesied" (Jude 14). Methuselah is remembered for his age: "all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years" (Genesis 5:27). Methuselah begat Lamech who begat Noah. Methuselah and Lamech were not far removed from the society of Noah. Methuselah was three hundred and sixty-nine years of age when Noah was born. And Noah was "six hundred years old when the flood waters was upon the earth" (Genesis 7:6). According to these ages, Noah’s father died five years before the flood and Methuselah died the year of the flood. One factor of note, in the genealogies of Seth to Noah, is the phrase, "and begat sons and daughters" (Genesis 5:7,10,16, etc.). Although many sons and daughters were born the scriptures focus on one branch. It was not just through Seth that the plan of salvation would eventually come, but through the lineage that brought Noah into the world.
As the scriptures bring us to Noah a fuller explanation is given of the events of his life. "Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth" (Genesis 5:32). Noah was the type of man that "found favor in the eyes of Jehovah" (Genesis 6:8). The attributes of Noah are expressed throughout the scriptures. During the time of Judah’s final days, the scriptures set forth "Noah, Daniel, and Job" (Ezekiel 14:14) as men whose righteousness was elevated. The New Testament reveals "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith"(Hebrews 11:7). Noah is also referred to as "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). The events surrounding the life of Noah and the flood are compared to the spiritual salvation of man: "…the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:20-21).
As the lineage of Seth continues to expand the generations, it is through Shem, the son of Noah, that the promise will be realized. Shem begat Arpachshad, who begat Shelah, who begat Eber, who begat Peleg, who begat Reu, who begat Serug, who begat Nahor, who begat Terah, who begat Abram (Genesis 11:12-16). Unto Abram, Jehovah said, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3). Of this man, the sacred writing reveals, "By faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8). The remainder of the scriptures will focus on the fulfillment of God’s promise through Abraham.
If you have a desire to learn more about the promises of God and how you can benefit from the salvation provided through Jesus Christ, please give us a call to set up a Bible Study at no cost to you.
What the Bible says about: The Deluge (24)
The period before the flood or the antediluvian period is described as one of wickedness. A wickedness which the full impact may be difficult for us to grasp. The scriptures identify a time "when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose…and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them" (Genesis 6:1-4). The scriptures are not identifying a distinction of species, i. e., angel/human, but one of character. The distinction is made between the daughters of men (the ungodly) and the sons of God (the godly). What the scriptures introduce is a time when the sons of God failed to make a distinction of character and chose that which was pleasing to the eye. The result was the spiraling decline in the moral fiber of mankind. Thus, "Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years" (Genesis 6:3). The antediluvian world was rapidly approaching a spiraling decline to destruction. The decline was so great that "Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). The decline was such that "it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). The term repented is defined as "to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted" (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions). The resulting conclusion was that "Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them" (Genesis 6:7). This destruction was to come because "the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and, behold it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth" (Genesis 6:11-12).
All was not lost, however, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah…Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:8,9). In the midst of all the evil, one man shone forth like a beacon. The righteousness of one man resulted in the preservation of the earth.
Throughout the scriptures Noah is depicted in a very positive context. He is identified as one who "being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Hebrews 11:7). It is also said of Noah that he was "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). There are many things that the mind would have a difficult time grasping. I believe that the destruction of the earth and preservation of Noah and his family rank among the top. The question always comes to this: If God determined to destroy the world today, and preserve mankind in the being of one man and his family, who would God choose?
Jehovah "said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before me…Make thee an ark of gopher wood" (Genesis 6:13-14). Jehovah gave Noah specific instructions concerning the construction of the ark and its occupants, i.e., "And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee: they shall be male and female…Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female: of the birds of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 6:19; 7:2-3). After Noah completed the task before him, Jehovah said, "yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him" (Genesis 7:4-5). Thus, "In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and Jehovah shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days" (Genesis 7:13-24).
What the Bible says about: The period following the flood. (25)
A week before God brought the flood upon the earth, Noah was told, "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him" (Genesis 7:1-5). "And it came to pass after the seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:10-12). "And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth…And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heavens were covered…And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days" (Genesis 7:18-24). "After the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. And the ark rested…upon the mountains of Ararat" (Genesis 8:4). And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth…And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah" (Genesis 8:13-20).
Following Noah’s departure from the ark, there is very little recorded about the years ahead. Noah had been given instructions concerning his diet and the consequences of shedding blood. In addition, God made a covenant with Noah and all the following generations that "neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11). And, "this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9:12-15). Every time a rainbow is seen it should remind us of the covenant God made with Noah and all flesh.
The scriptures also reveal an event that resulted in the cursing of the lineage of Ham, Noah’s son. "And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard: and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without" (Genesis 9:20-21). This event was of such significance that when "Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him" he said, "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant" (Genesis 9:24-27). The fulfillment of this prophecy was readily seen when the descendants of Ham, the Canaanites, served the children of Israel after their release from their own servitude to Egypt. Thus, the Canaanites became servants of servants.
Genesis chapter 10 reveals the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth. From this lineage the scriptures reveal the origin of the nations of the world, even to this day.
As time progressed and the earth began to populate, "the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there" (Genesis 11:1-2). Having come to the land of Shinar "they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:4). It was at this point that God said, "Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city. Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:7-9). Thus, the scriptures account for the various languages known even today.
The scriptures reveal the answers to questions that men still seek today. The problem is that men seek their answers according to their own knowledge rather than the knowledge of God. God knows what our questions are and what we need to settle our minds. Having confused the languages and scattered the people, the world became populated as it is to this day.
What the Bible says about: Jehovah’s promise to Abraham (26)
Having preserved Noah and his family from the flood, the scriptures direct the reader’s attention to the generations of Shem. Shem was a son of Noah. As the scriptures begin to focus on Jehovah’s plan of salvation for mankind, they focus on the descendants of Shem’s firstborn son, Arpachshad. From Arpachshad the genealogy covers the space of eight generations to Abram. Abram lived in Mesopotamia, in Ur of the Chaldees. Ur was located close to the Persian Gulf. Abram went with his family to Haran and dwelt there.
The scriptures tell us, "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10). The promise Abram (Abraham) received involved three distinct parts: "Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3). And also, "And he brought him forth abroad and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). And, "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee, throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:5-8). Concerning the land "Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18). The river of Egypt was "not the Nile, but the river called Sichor, which was before or on the border of Egypt, near to the Isthmus of Suez" (Adam Clarke). In these passages we understand that Jehovah’s promise to Abram involved the land that stretched from the river of Egypt in the south to the River Euphrates to the north. That his seed would be as numerous as the stars of heaven, that nations would come from him and in them all the families of the earth would be blessed. Jehovah also said to Abram, "be thou a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). The promises given to Abraham were not for him alone. They were to affect the whole world. Before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him" (Genesis 18:17-19).
All that God had promised to Abraham has been fulfilled. Israel became a mighty nation while in Egypt and during Joshua’s conquest, he said, "not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof" (Joshua 23:14). During the reign of David and Solomon all the land had been subjugated and under their control. The ultimate expression of the promise is seen in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The scriptures tell us, "if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
Have you taken advantage of the promises of Abraham? Have you been cleansed by the blood of the lamb? If not, why not find out what God has to offer you?
What The Bible Says About: The Birth of Isaac (27)
The promise God gave to Abraham was, "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:2-3).
The main difficulty, in human terms, is that at the time of the promise "Sarai, Abram’s wife bare him no children" (Genesis 16:1). When Jehovah gave the promise both Abram and Sarai where well into their years: "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:1-8). Of Sarai, it is said, "Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him" (Genesis 17:17-19). Abram and Sarai were well past their childbearing years, yet God said "Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son."
The problem that arose before Sarah was with child involved the handmaid of Sarai. The scriptures do not tell us what was in the mind of Sarai and Abraham but, "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes" (Genesis 16:1-4). To this union, "Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old (86), when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram" (Genesis 16:15-16). For many years Abram supposed that Ishmael would be the heir apparent, for "Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him" (Genesis 17:18-19).
In some religious circles, Ishmael is described as the heir apparent through which the true religion exists, and even the sacrifice of Isaac, in Genesis 22 has been attributed to Ishmael. The scriptures, however, reveal that it was not Ishmael, but Isaac, through whom the covenant would be established.
As per God’s promise, "Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken. And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh. Every one that heareth will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? For I have borne him a son in his old age" (Genesis 21:1-7).
The birth of Isaac ushered in the beginning of God’s promise to Abraham and would be followed by hundreds of years before the nation would grow and ultimately bring to the world a savior who would indeed bless all the families of the earth.
What The Bible Says About: Sodom and Gomorrah (28)
During the time of Abraham there were five cities located at the southern end of the Dead Sea: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Genesis 14:2). It was to Sodom that Lot, Abraham’s nephew, pitched his tent. Concerning the inhabitants of Sodom, the scriptures say: "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly" (13:13). The race that inhabited Sodom descended from Canaan, the son of Ham, the son of Noah (10:15-20).
The most infamous of these cities is Sodom. Associated with this city was the practice of Sodomy. The Sodomite is defined as "a male temple prostitute, one of the class attached to certain sanctuaries of heathen deities, and ‘consecrated’ to the impure rites of their worship" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) but has come to refer to the practice of the unnatural vices associated with the city. Accordingly, the scriptures reveal the judgment of Jehovah that was brought upon Sodom, Gomorrah and the plains thereof.
As the record unfolds, Abraham was residing "by the oaks of Mamre" (18:1), about 35 miles northwest of Sodom. Three men came to Abraham as they journeyed to Sodom. For, "Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know" (18:20-21). Having disclosed to Abraham the intent to consume the cities, Abraham said, "Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?" (18:23). Abraham interceded for the city in an effort to save the righteous. Ultimately, Jehovah told Abraham that the city would not be destroyed if ten righteous persons could be found (18:32). Though ten could not be found, Jehovah made provisions for "righteous Lot" (2 Peter 2:7) and did not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Thus, "the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth; and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn aside, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your way. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door" (19:1-11).
With the destruction of Sodom eminent, "the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah: and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it…And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city" (19:12-16). Having delivered Lot from the impending destruction, "Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground" (19:24-25).
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah have long since passed from this world. Yet, they stand as a reminder of God’s displeasure concerning immoral conduct: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire" (Jude 7).
Jehovah "would have all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). If the "wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and…return unto Jehovah…he will have mercy upon him…and…will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). For those, like Sodom who were intent on ungodliness and unrighteousness, "God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due" (Romans 1:26-27).
What The Bible Says About: The Benefits of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. (29)
When an individual is introduced to the Bible, they are immediately faced with two major divisions: The "Old Testament," containing the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets, (Luke 24:44) and the "New Testament," containing the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and various letters sent to a number of churches, and/or Christians.
The various writings often gender questions concerning what is intended for the godly in our day and age. For instance, if the Law of Moses is the "Old Testament," what benefit does it have? We often hear of some reference made to the Ten Commandments, as a body of laws given by God and binding upon humanity. One of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Paul by name, revealed "Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). In Romans 7:1-11, Paul uses the analogy of the marriage relationship to reveal the binding and loosing of the law. He revealed, "Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." Therefore, the question arises, "If our era is dead to the law, what benefit does it serve?"
There is much benefit to be derived from the Old Testament, though it is not in force as a body of laws to be observed. An analogy can be seen in the fact that the citizens of one state are not bound by the laws of another state, though both states may contain the same laws concerning the same set of issues. Individuals who live in Nevada cannot appeal to some other state’s laws for justification in action. In a court of law, an attorney may refer to another state’s laws in regard to verdicts that have been rendered in those states, concerning similar laws. So it is with the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament tells us many things about Jehovah, His attitude toward certain ethical questions and gives us hope for the road set before us. Paul revealed three important characteristics of the Old law: 1. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). 2. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come (emph. mine, ret). Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). 3. "But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:23-29).
It is evident that the law, although not a body of laws to be observed in our era, is necessary to bringing us to Christ, revealing to us ethical standards acceptable to and punishable by God, and "that through patience and comfort of the scriptures" we might have hope.
What The Bible Says About: Abraham and Abimelech (30)
In the last issue of "What The Bible Says," we considered the benefits of the Old Testament, in obedience to God. One of the benefits was that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). The scriptures lay bare the lives of the champions of faith, good and bad. Among them is Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. The apostle Paul revealed concerning Abraham, "For Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness…For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:3, 13-16). Abraham is set forth as an example of faith, yet he was a man and had his own set of difficulties.
One event in particular involved Abimelech, king of Gerar. Though Sarah was about ninety years of age, she was apparently still a fair woman to look upon (Genesis 12:11). As Abraham journeyed into the realm of Abimelech he feared because of Sarah his wife. Abraham thought, "Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife’s sake" (Genesis 20:11). Therefore, Abraham said, "She is my sister" (20:2). Believing that Sarah was the sister of Abraham, "Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah" (20:2). As a result of this action, "God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man’s wife." (20:3). Abimelech having not come near Sarah, said unto God, "Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation? Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this" (20:4-5). God said, therefore, "I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. And if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine" (20:6-7).
There are many interesting aspects concerning this event. Even though Abraham is the father of faith, even though he was willing to offer up his own son Isaac, he was still man and had moments where he did those things that were not right. Now, what Abraham said was not a "lie," as we find that Abraham ultimately tells Abimelech, "moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife" (20:12). Though his actions are not to be taken as authorization to act in the same manner, they do nonetheless provide us with hope. The scriptures do not give all the details concerning this event but it is interesting to note Abraham’s reasoning: "Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife’s sake" (20:11). One question that arises in my mind is the attitude of Abraham’s society regarding adultery. Adultery is defined as, "sexual intercourse of a man, whether married or unmarried, with a married woman" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). Hundreds of years before God gave the law to Israel, in which He said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), the laws of the land recognized adultery as a violation of God’s laws. The book of Job, believed by some to reveal events that took place during the patriarchal age, had this to say about adultery: "If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door; Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her. For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges." (31:9). What’s interesting about the case of Abraham and Abimelech is that Abraham believed the king would take his life in order to obtain his wife. Our society puts a high moral value on life, and rightly so, but not on adultery. Abraham’s society appears to put a higher moral value on adultery than murder.
Whatever the situation, God’s laws have not changed from the time of Abraham to the present. During the time of the Jewish kings, the scriptures reveal, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished." (Proverbs 6:27-29). And so, during our own era, Jehovah says, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men…shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
But all is not lost because God, being desirous to save the lost has made provision, through the gospel to those that have a "love of the truth, that they might be saved" (1 Thessalonians 2:10), and have applied to them, that which was also applied to the Corinthians, saying, "And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God" (6:11).
What The Bible Says About: Memorials to Christ (31)
During the holiday season, there is much to do about goodwill toward man and an attitude of giving, rather than receiving. It is in this time of year that many retail stores will either flourish or fold. Holiday shoppers have been flooding the market place in an effort to find that perfect gift for the perfect person. The holiday has a religious base in the sense that it is called Christmas. Which actually comes to us from Catholicism and Christ’s festival or Christ’s Mass. It is defined as, "A Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus." When an individual goes to the sacred writings they will not find the term Christmas, or anything like it. Christmas is described as "an annual festival, held on December 25, to celebrate the Nativity, or birth of Christ. The origin of the festival is unknown. Scholars believe that it is derived in part from the pre-Christian rites of Germanic and Celtic tribesmen held in celebration of the winter solstice. Christmas festivals, generally observed by Christians since the 4th century, include a number of heathen customs such as the use of holly, mistletoe, Yule logs, and wassail bowls. The use of Christmas trees probably originated among the Romans of pre-Christian times from whom it spread to the Germanic peoples and thence to the peoples of the British Isles. In later times Christmas celebrations acquired a wide secular and social significance, expressed in many countries in the exchange of presents, the sending of greeting cards, and the suspension of school and work. Early Dutch settlers brought to the New World the custom of celebrating St. Nicholas’ (Santa Claus’) day on Christmas Eve" (Universal Standard Encyclopedia). Historical evidence reveals that Christmas was not something practiced by Christians for three centuries following the death of Christ. Such being the case, what is it that the sacred writing has to say about how Christians are to remember Christ?
Jehovah established a number of memorials so man would not forget important events. The first festival given to the nation of Israel was the feast of the Passover and unleavened bread. When Jehovah delivered Israel from the Egyptian bondage, God slew all the first-born of Egypt but passed over the first-born of Israel. Throughout Israel’s biblical history, the Passover was kept in remembrance of that event. Jehovah told Israel, "this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Jehovah: throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever" (Exodus 12:14).
The Christian era is no different. The scriptures reveal, "For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ" (1 Corinthians 5:7). But what is it that Jehovah has placed as a memorial, to be observed by those benefited by the Christ? Is it His birth? If it were, then the scriptures would have identified it as such. The very silence of such a memorial is evidence that God did not intend for His worshippers to observe the birth of Jesus as a memorial. When worship is offered unto God, it must be according to His will and His standard. Jesus said, "God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). In like manner, the apostle Paul, said, "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written…" (1 Corinthians 4:6). If an individual is devoted to worship God in spirit and truth, they will abide by the commands of the Lord.
The memorial that God would have his followers to observe was instituted by Jesus, the night he was betrayed and the apostle Paul referred to it as the "Lord’s Supper" (1 Corinthians 11:20), when he said, "For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). This memorial is to be observed not once a year, or once a quarter, but once a week. The scriptures reveal, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." (Acts 20:7). In connection with this, the apostle Paul, said, "If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment" (1 Corinthians 11:34). As important as the birth of Jesus was to the world, it does not compare to the value of his death, for it was not his birth that saves us, but his death upon the cross. Let us keep the memorial that God has given unto us to observe.
What the Bible Says About: The Genealogy of Jesus Christ (32)
Why does the gospel according to Matthew record the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth? What does the genealogy tell us? When considering the Word of God, it is interesting to consider why God revealed what He did. Nothing was by accident or without purpose. Though we may not be aware of that purpose, we can rest assured that there is something about the information that God wanted us to know. In the gospel according to Matthew, the reader is immediately presented with the lineage of Jesus Christ from Abraham to "Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (1:2-16). There are several interesting aspects of this genealogy, in areas of what it says and what it doesn’t say and what it infers.
The genealogy begins with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. God’s scheme of salvation hinges on the promise given to Abraham that stated, "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). The scriptures also tell us that this prophecy was to be fulfilled in one individual: "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). The genealogy of Christ is important on the one hand because it connects Jesus with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. Not only so, but the genealogy also connects Jesus with David, king of Israel. Connecting Jesus with David does two things: 1. It fulfills the prophecy of Jacob, that "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come" (Genesis 49:10), and 2. It connects Jesus with the promise Jehovah made to David, when He said, "When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever" (2 Samuel 7:12-16). In response to this promise, David said, "Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come; and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah" (7:18-19). When Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, "The son of David" (Matthew 22:42). That the Christ was to be of the seed of Abraham, through the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David is well documented. Matthew’s reference to the lineage of Jesus gives him a legal right to the throne. The importance of establishing the Messiah’s legal right to the throne of David infers that if Jesus was not the Messiah, then there is to be no Messiah. Since the Messiah was to come through the lineage of David, it would be necessary to prove it. In 70 A. D., the Roman general, Titus, defeated the nation of Israel, burned their city, their temple, and their genealogical records along with them. From that time, no one in the nation of Israel could prove what tribe they came from, much less what family. The nation of Israel ceased to exist. Today, an individual may know they are of Hebrew descent and may know what tribe they came from, but they could not prove such in a court of law. Our own society requires proof of citizenship, residency and in some cases, age before certain offices can be occupied. And though the individual, the family, the community may know that the individual is a citizen, and resides in a certain geographical area, and is of the right age, without sufficient "proof" they will not be allowed certain privileges or offices. The records that verify such proof must be of a legal nature. The same would be true of the Messiah. Thus, it is adequately inferred that the Messiah has come into the world and Jesus of Nazareth has shown his credentials and "was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4)
What the Bible Says About: The Birth of Christ (33)
The Bible tells us, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11), a principle echoed by the apostle Paul when he said, "for we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is not a matter of believing something without evidence. The scriptures also reveal that "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Many look at faith as something an individual follows blindly. Jehovah does not expect us to follow blindly in areas where the truth can be verified. In areas that cannot be verified, God gives us ample evidence of the reliability of His word. It is foolish to argue the subject of faith, because everyone applies it in life. Even the atheist that believes in the "Big Bang" theory accepts it by faith. Any belief that is not based upon empirical knowledge is based upon faith. A recent article was published that affirmed the "current theory holds that the universe began with the Big Bang, an event that caused space to expand in a fraction of a second from a tiny speck to an immensity bathed in heat and radiation. It took an estimated 300 million years for the universe to cool and for the first stars to form from hydrogen and helium" (Paul Recer, Associated Press Writer). The same astronomers that contrived their admitted "theory" would possibly laugh at someone who held the position "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Yet, they cannot tell you where their "speck" came from nor what caused it to explode into "an immensity bathed in heat and radiation." Regardless of the position a person holds regarding creation, it requires "faith." This article isn’t intended to debate, nor address the skeptic. It is to affirm, out of faith (that comes by hearing the word of God), how God brought His Son into the world.
The scriptures tell us, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:18). The scriptures say, concerning the Messiah, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body didst thou prepare for me" (Hebrews 10:5). When Jesus said, concerning the Messiah, "If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his Son" (Matthew 22:45), he established the fact that the Messiah pre-existed David. Matthew chapter one expresses how the body came to be that the Messiah would utilize to the glory of the Father, in the giving of himself for the salvation of mankind. The scriptures tell us how this came about. The apostle affirms that the statements of Isaiah, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (7:14), applied to the Messiah. The virgin birth of Christ is not something that can be proven by empirical knowledge. But prophecies necessitated that such was to be the case, and it should not seem impossible, even to the atheist that believes the universe grew from a speck to "an immensity bathed in heat and radiation" in "a fraction of a second," that a God, who is purported to have created the heavens and the earth in six days could cause a virgin to bring forth a child. Other prophecies related to the birth of Christ foretold where he was to be born. When Herod the king heard that the King of Jews had been born, he made inquiry of the scribes, and they directed him to the scripture, saying, "And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth a governor, who shall be shepherd of my people Israel" (Matthew 2:6; Micah 5:2). What brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem was the enrollment: "And it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled…And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered" (Luke 2:1-6).
The particulars of the birth of Christ are not only interesting but also a matter of prophecy. The birth of Jesus was well-planned and well-executed by God, that He could bring about salvation for all mankind. Have you thought about your relationship with God, in connection with Jesus of Nazareth?
What The Bible Says About: Choosing Our Companions (34)
All that we are in life, we learned. Our characteristics are largely due to the environment in which we were reared. The cliché, "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree" is indicative of the influence parents have on their children. Being a "chip off the ol’ block" could be either positive or negative. As we grow to maturity, various situations and events surround us. Our likes and dislikes are formed. We learn to love certain things while we hate others. When God created man he gave him laws to live by. The first written law, given by God to the Hebrew nation, indicated that the statutes commanded by Jehovah were given "for our good always" (Deuteronomy 6:24). In order to preserve Israel alive, God revealed laws to govern them. When Jehovah brought the Hebrews out of Egypt He told Moses, "Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children" (Deuteronomy 4:10). Jehovah was concerned about the influence the nations round about Israel would have on them. Jehovah told Israel, "When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee" (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). The scriptures tell us, "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). The truth of this manifested itself even in the life of the wisest of men. Solomon, of whom God said, "I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee" (1 Kings 3:12), "loved many foreign women…of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love" and "it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods" (1 Kings 11:1-2, 4). As it was with Solomon, Israel continued to toy with evil companionship. Hundreds of years after the time of Solomon, the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity and "married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab" (Nehemiah 13:23), the same nations that Jehovah warned them not to form covenants with. As a result of these unions, their "children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people" (Nehemiah 13:23). In response to this, Nehemiah said, "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things…nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin" (Nehemiah 13:26). The companionships we choose in life will either lead us to, or away from God. If they are evil companionships, the direction will be away from God because we learn the evil. The proverbs of Solomon set forth this fact when he said, "Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul" (Proverbs 22:24-25). Rather than foster evil companionships, Jehovah says to those who have developed evil practices, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well…" (Isaiah 1:16-17). Jesus taught his disciples to "Take heed what ye hear" (Mark 4:24). With what do we surround ourselves? What do we allow to enter our minds? Are we learning things carnal or things spiritual? Do we approach our lives carefully or carelessly? The Lord tells us that as we measure attention unto Him and things spiritual, He will measure back to us knowledge. If we give our time and attention to the physical, then we will perish. Parents want the best for their children, and Jehovah wants the best for His children, as well. Jehovah would have us to be free from sin that devastates so many lives. But in order to be free from sin, we must become "dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). We have choices to make in life. God tells us, "Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:16-17). Just as we learn to do evil, we must learn to do good, that we can join with the Psalmist, that said, "With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:10-11). Are your companions drawing you closer to God?
What The Bible Says About: Same-sex Marriages (35)
A great deal of attention is being focused on same-sex marriages in our society. Individuals say, "I don’t want special rights. I want equal rights." Liberal and conservative groups will be on the battlefield, each not willing to give the slightest ground to the other. What they will be fighting for is the right to establish what constitutes marriage. As we look at the historical aspects of the marriage relationship, we cannot but take the blame for the degradation that is plaguing our society. We hear about the "sanctity of marriage" and the necessity of defending it. But we live in a society where divorce is rampant and the "sanctity of marriage" is defiled everyday. We’re hearing plaintiffs saying, "same-sex couples and their children deserve the same legal protections afforded to heterosexual married couples." Although I understand how same-sex couples can acquire children, it still sounds strange to use the terms "same-sex couples" and "children" in the same sentence. It is interesting that the "children" are being brought into the arena. Whenever you want to get public sympathy, bring in a child. The women of same-sex marriages are able to bear children, but they are not able to do so without a biological father. They say they have children "born to them," but in reality that is just not so. Children cannot be born to same-sex partners. Somewhere in the equation, there is a biological mother and a biological father. An appeal is made to the 28% of same-sex couples that are raising children, as if the numbers legitimize the relationship. The point is, single women can rear children, single men can rear children, but the number of single men or women that are raising children has nothing to do with the legitimacy of one’s sexual orientation. I’m not up to speed on all the "legal protections" that are afforded to "heterosexual married couples" which are not afforded to the population as a whole. Some say, "It’s a matter of fairness." Are there special rights being afforded heterosexual married couples that are not being extended to, let’s say, unmarried heterosexuals? If the rights of heterosexual married couples are "special", i.e. "held in particular esteem," what are they? And if they are "special," then what the same-sex advocates seek are "special rights" and not just equal rights. As for "equal rights," what of the unmarried: are there rights being withheld from single individuals? Is not legal protection provided to the citizenry of our nation, regardless of marital status?
Debate after debate can be held about the "pros and cons" of same-sex marriages. But upon what basis will they be conducted? What standard will be utilized? Is there a moral standard of right and wrong in reference to sexual preferences, or are we controlled by our own lusts? If we’re simply controlled by our own lusts, then man has no right to impose upon anyone a preference. What prohibits an individual from taking your husband, wife, daughter or son? Is it not "law?" And if just man’s law, by what standard is one law set above the other? There are nations that have no laws concerning bestiality. Is that what we want in this society—individual’s defining their own personal sexual preferences? If there is no standard higher than man’s, then our society is set for destruction. There is, however, a standard that claims to be divine in origin, a standard that comes from the Creator, to His creation. That standard is the word of God, the Bible. Although the ignorant will deny its origin, it does not need man’s approval to be seen as righteous. It’s not just man’s standard that prohibits murder, yet even those who oppose God’s word cry out about the atrocities of murder. If they reject the word of God as the standard, what right do they have to impose their standard on others? The fact is, man wants to pick and choose his vices: pick and choose what he wants to do and then force the rest of society to kow-tow. Without a standard of right and wrong, there is no right or wrong, there is simply preference. Someday we must stand for something or we will have nothing to stand for. In reference to the topic of same-sex marriages, the Lord says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). "For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due…who knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them" (Romans 1:26-27, 32). Jehovah warned Israel about such practices when He said, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you; and the land is defiled…Ye therefore…shall not do any of these abominations…that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you" (Leviticus 18:24-28). There’s more at stake than just sexual preference.
What The Bible Says About: The Jehu Syndrome (36)
The history of the nation of Israel, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, reveals a time when Jehovah spoke to those utilized to carry out His will through the prophets. During the reign of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, the kingdom had been divided and what emerged from the division was the northern kingdom comprised of ten tribes, and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jehu was the 10th king of Israel, the northern kingdom. When he is first introduced in the scriptures, he was serving as a captain under king Joram. Jehu had served in Israel’s army when Ahab, the father of Joram was king. By referring to his conduct as a syndrome, the intent is to identify the actions of Jehu that formed an identifiable pattern in his life. In short, a conclusion can be drawn by what Jehu did, as to why he did it. This is paramount in an individual’s service to God, for not only does God weigh the deed, but also the motive behind the execution of a deed: "I Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 17:10). Why do we do what we do? Is it because it’s the will of God, or because our will just happens to be the will of God, also? How many times do we justify our actions and attribute them to our "zeal for Jehovah" (2 Kings 10:16)? In all that we do, it must be for the right reason. Even a right action carried out with a wrong motive is as accountable as the wrong action with a right motive. Elisha the prophet sent "one of the sons of the prophets" to take a "vial of oil, and pour it on his [Jehu’s] head, and say, Thus saith Jehovah, I have anointed thee king over Israel." When the young man came to Jehu, he said, "I have an errand to thee, O captain…Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of Jehovah, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Jehovah, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab every man-child…" (2 Kings 9:1-8). Joram left Ramoth-gilead in Jehu’s charge and went to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Syrians had given him. So, Jehu went to Jezreel. "And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled...And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot" (2 Kings 9:22-24). Eventually, Jehu made a thorough sweep and "smote all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake to Elijah" (2 Kings 10:15-17). What zeal!!! Jehu was faithful in his charge. Jehu’s zeal was further exhibited when he "destroyed Baal out of Israel" (2 Kings 10:28). The zeal of Jehu is amazing. He received his charge, and attended to it immediately. Jehovah even "said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel" (2 Kings 10:30). Every thing seems to be have followed a just course. Jehovah’s retribution was exercised upon the house of Ahab for his sins, and Baal was destroyed out of Israel. But the story didn’t end there. Approximately a hundred years later, Jehovah said, through the prophet Hosea, "for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease" (Hosea 1:4). Jehovah was holding Jehu accountable for his dealings in Jezreel. When we look back at Jehu’s career, we see two responses that tell us that what Jehu did, he didn’t do because he had a "zeal for Jehovah" (2 Kings 10:16). Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years, "Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan (2 Kings 10:29). Jehu ridded Israel of Baal, but retained the sins of Jeroboam. Thus, it was not an aversion to idolatry that motivated Jehu’s zeal. Jehovah also said, concerning Jehu, "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin" (2 Kings 10:31). So, in Jehu’s case he did what was right, but it wasn’t because his heart was devoted to Jehovah. Jehu did what Jehovah wanted done, because it also agreed with what Jehu wanted done, and for that God held him accountable. Do we have a zeal for Jehovah? Do we wave a banner of righteousness? Is our zeal motivated by personal advantage, or a heart that is right with God?
What the Bible Says About: Christ’s Church (37)
When Jesus Christ was on earth, He said to His apostles, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). There was something the Lord intended to establish, of which He was the designer. He called it "my church." The term church is a collective noun, much like a chain. A chain is made up of individual links that, once bound together, make up a chain. The term "church" is used in several senses in the scriptures. The term is translated from the Greek word "ekklesia," which is defined as "a calling out." The "calling out" is not automatically identified by the definition. It may describe "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). It may refer to "an assembly of the people convened at a public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating" (Thayer’s). Though the term is generic in its application, the predominate use of the term in the scriptures refers to "a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake" (Thayer’s). The term is also used to describe, "the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth" (Thayer’s). Thus, it is seen that the term is used in two senses: In a universal sense the term "church" refers to the institution for which Jesus died and which is composed of all those called out of the world into God’s service (Ephesians 5:23-25). Thus, it is said of the Lord Jesus Christ, that "he is the head of the body, the church," (Colossians 1:18), of which "there is one" (Ephesians 4:4). Jesus did not say, "I will build my ‘churches,’" but rather "my church." In the universal sense the church is an institution (a relationship, Webster’s) made up of individuals in fellowship with Christ, not congregations. A much narrower view of the church applies to local congregations composed of individuals that have been called out in any locality who worship together. The apostle Paul referred to the Corinthian brethren, as "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2). He also used the term in this sense when he said, "All the churches of Christ salute you" (Romans 16:16). Such being the case it would behoove the Bible student to determine in which sense the term "church" is being used before establishing a doctrine and practice from any given passage.
As opposed to some doctrines that teach that the church is a substitute for something else God intended to set up, the scriptures teach us that the church was in the eternal purpose of God. Paul said, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God, who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:8-11). It was the eternal purpose of God to reconcile both Jew and Gentile "in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:16). Those who have been reconciled to God through Christ are "no more strangers and sojourners but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22).
In each case, universal or local, the church is described as being under authority. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian brethren, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers…" (1 Corinthians 12:27-28). He also said, "Christ…gave some to be apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of the ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:7-12).
Christ told his apostles, "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Of these men, Jesus said, unto the Father, "As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believeth on me through their word" (John 17:18-20). Jesus sent the apostles to proclaim life in his name.
In the next few weeks we will be looking into the scriptures to determine what they say about authority in the church: how it was set up, by those men who were appointed by Christ to reveal the gospel. Such an investigation will allow the Bible student, who is endeavoring to worship God in spirit and in truth, to evaluate their doctrine and practice, concerning church government, by God’s standard.
What The Bible Says About: The Importance of Obedience (38)
It is interesting to consider all of the religious practices in Christendom and man’s attitude toward them. On the one hand, you have individuals that believe membership into their communion will assure salvation. Others believe it doesn’t matter what you believe, or even if you believe, just so long as you are sincere. As you travel about, you will see church marquees with little catch phrases, such as, "The Bible Our Only Rule," "We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent," "Nothing but the Bible taught here," or "Christians Only." The phrases are intended to tell the public something about what the group stands for, a marketing ploy to get the community to come in and get a taste of that "ole time religion." So, you polish up the car, put on your best duds, and head out to church. When you get there, you have flashbacks of going to the grocery store, picking up a can of corn, anxious to savor the taste when you get it home, only to peel back the lid, and find that someone has switched the labels! "This isn’t corn," you say, "it’s beans!" Now, you can call it a vegetable, but it is not what the label promised. A lady once commented concerning a local religious group she attended, "I would take my Bible with me, but it would feel lonely." That’s a sad commentary for the condition many "churches" get themselves into. It reminds me of the scripture that says, "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). With some folks, going to church is no more than a social function, intended to leave the impression with other people that we really are who and what we want them to believe we are. When in reality, "ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27).
The concept of saying one thing and doing something else is by no means new. When the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt, by the hand of God, Amalek was the first of the nations to rise up against Israel. As a result, Moses said, "Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16). During the time when Saul, the son of Kish, reigned over the nation of Israel, Jehovah gave him charge when He said, "I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey" (1 Samuel 15:2-3). "But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen…" (1 Samuel 15:9). When the prophet Samuel came to Saul, "Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of Jehovah: I have performed the commandment of Jehovah. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear" (1 Samuel 15:13-14). Saul attempted to justify his actions when he said, "the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God" (1 Samuel 15:15). What could be greater? Today, Christendom says, "we follow the Bible as our only rule of faith!" Yet, in many cases, what is being practiced is not even hinted at in the scriptures, and many things are in direct violation to it. Yet, the worshippers say, "the worship I offer is a sacrifice unto Jehovah, I just know God will accept it." When Saul violated the commandment of Jehovah, he was told, "Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim" (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
When we consider our relationship to God, we need to remember that we have been created "to do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31), not the other way around. The apostle Paul said, to the brethren in the first century, "in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). It does, therefore, behoove the true worshipper of God to take heed to their teaching and practice and know that "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Can you find the work and worship you offer unto God in the scriptures? In many cases, it is as simple as writing your doctrines and practices on one side of a sheet of paper, and what God says on the other: are they from heaven, or from men? In our next article, we will consider what the Bible says about the whole counsel of God, and its consequences.
What The Bible Says About: The Whole Counsel Of God (39)
Mankind has an innate desire to worship. For thousands of years of recorded history, various avenues have been pursued in an effort to find favor with the Creator. Finding favor with any identity is a result of knowing what the identity finds pleasing, and the only way to know that is through revelation. The Holy Spirit put it this way: "For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). This fact was revealed through the apostle Paul following his statement that what he spoke was God’s wisdom and God had revealed it "through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:10). Such being the case, it should not come as a surprise that "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Believing God’s instructions regarding His standard is among the first steps required to be found acceptable to God. In reference to the law given to Israel, it "was given through Moses" (John 1:17). The treasure of the gospel was committed to the "earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7) whom Jesus commissioned to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15). Jesus said, concerning the apostles, that others would believe on Him (Jesus) "through their word" (John 17:20). The apostles were commissioned with the responsibility to "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you…" (Matthew 28:19-20). When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he said, "…as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:3-5). Paul also instructed the young evangelist Timothy, "And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). The procedure utilized by God, to reveal his will unto man was to "guide you (the apostles) into all the truth" (John 16:13), and empower them with the ability to impart to others, through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18), the gift of prophecy and other gifts necessary for the revealing of God’s word (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Jesus gave unto his body, through apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors (i.e., shepherds/elders), the necessary tools "for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ…from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:11-12, 16). Through this means the body could "attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:13-15).
Within the realm of authority, the apostles were guided into all truth, and left those truths in a written form that all generations could benefit from them. Since the imparting of spiritual gifts was accomplished through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, both the apostles, the prophets and the various gifts ceased to be exercised once the apostles, and those they had laid their hands on, had passed from this life. But the word of God, which they spoke, remained. As it was with the Law of Moses, so it is today: there was no need for the law to be given in a miraculous way to each succeeding generation. Even the prophets of old did not legislate; they simply instructed the people to execute the dictates of the Law. Since the apostles had been guided into all truth, there are no new truths that were to be revealed after their passing. The apostle Paul affirmed this, when he said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema" (Galatians 1:8-9). Jude echoed this principle, when he said, "I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Note that Jude said, "once for all." The phrase "the faith" is defined as, "the religious beliefs of Christians" (Thayer’s). In like manner, the apostle Peter revealed, "Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:2-3). When compared with the statement that Christ offered up himself "once for all" (Hebrews 7:27), it is evident that before the death of Paul, before the death of Jude, and before the death of Peter, the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) had been delivered unto the saints, once for all. These men spoke as the Holy Spirit guided them; thus it was God who said "once for all." To ascertain that the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) was not "once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), is to do the same thing Satan did to Eve: God said, "thou shalt surely die," (Genesis 2:17); Satan said, "Ye shall not surely die." In all the word of God, the Bible, not one error can be found that "pertains to life and godliness." Heed the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, who said, "Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
What The Bible Says About: God’s Plan For Church Organization (40)
It’s obvious, even to a casual observer, that religion appears to be like a smorgasbord. People just take what they want and leave the rest, and kick back fat and sassy, believing they’ve tended to their duties before God. This is seen in most every realm, but especially in the realm of the organization of the church. Some churches derive their names from their particular method of church organization. This confusion is not a result, nor lack of God’s ability, to direct His people; it is a result of man’s rebellion against God’s established order.
As noted in the writings of the apostle Paul, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul affirms that the man of God has been furnished with every good work from the inspired scriptures, not continued revelation or some feeling that man may have. Feelings are deceiving and to follow one’s feelings above the inspired word of God is to commit intellectual and spiritual suicide.
In regard to the organization of the church, God has provided His people with the necessary information to function as God wishes. Two passages are of note in this regard: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:28-29), and "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:8, 11-12). The term "gifts," as utilized in Ephesians 4:8, is the same term used in Matthew 7:11 and Phil. 4:17, and does not refer to miraculous gifts but to "a present" (Strong’s Hebrew Greek Dictionaries). The present He gave was "apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." These "gifts" were also given the means necessary to carry out their work, i.e., the apostles were guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), the prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21), evangelists, pastors and teachers took what they heard and read and committed it to faithful men, who were able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Some of these offices required the exercise of divine intervention while others did not, as will be seen in an investigation of the qualifications of each. Even in areas where the exercise of a particular office may have required divine intervention, it was not to continue indefinitely. Paul said, "but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The term perfect is not defined as "sinless," but rather "complete" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions), or "wanting nothing necessary to completeness" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). James said, "he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth…this man shall be blessed in his doing" (James 1:25). So it is that Paul spoke of the temporary gifts that would be rendered obsolete when the complete revelation had been made known. The act of prophecy would cease, but not the truths that had been prophesied. Though the apostles have passed from this life to the next, the words they left have turned the hearts of men to God for generations. Though the prophets of old have passed from this life to the next, the truth they revealed is as vibrant today as it was centuries ago. An inspired writer said, concerning the word of God, "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Men have charged that the Bible is error-ridden, that it is correct only as it is properly translated, i.e., if it doesn’t agree with their doctrine, it hasn’t been properly translated. More than one religion has attempted to attack the accuracy of the scriptures and have written their own. Yet, they cannot identify, nor substantiate, any errors in moral or ethical conduct imposed upon mankind, nor in things that pertain unto life and godliness. Is man so bold to believe that God, who created the heavens and the earth; that God, who sustained the law of Moses for thousands of years; that God, who sent his Son to be a propitiation for the sins of man, and provided "words, whereby thou shalt be saved" (Acts 11:14) could not preserve His word? That is bold indeed. In the next article, we will investigate what the scriptures reveal concerning the qualifications of the early offices in the "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16).
What The Bible Says About: The Apostles and the Church (41)
The last few articles have attempted to focus on God’s dealing with mankind through the church. We have considered God’s standard and man’s rebellion against it. We have considered the provisions God gave that the body of Christ could build itself up and not be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error" (Ephesians 4:14). In this endeavor, we will consider God’s appointment of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We will consider their qualifications, their area of work, and how the church benefited from each, in the first century as well as our own.
The "first" in order (1 Corinthians 12:28) is that of the Apostles. An apostle is (1) "a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. (2) Specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Also, "a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle"), (with miraculous powers)" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions). The apostles fulfilled various functions and duties in the universal scope of the body of Christ. Their functions and duties (though they may have been associated with a local congregation) were independent of their association with a local congregation. Jesus said, concerning the apostles, "As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world" (John 17:18). Thus, Jesus commissioned the apostles when He said, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things what-soever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus said the apostles would "be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Concerning truth, Jesus said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13). It was thus, through the words of truth, spoken by the apostles (John 17:20), that the world would have the opportunity to believe on Jesus. Jesus conferred upon the apostles the right to enact laws: "Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). The great salvation that had "first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). Conferring of the Holy Spirit was accomplished "through the laying on of the apostles’ hands" (Acts 8:18), allowing others to work miracles. The apostles also had the power to raise the dead (Acts 9:36-43). The duties and powers of the apostles were many, and their qualification and characteristics were stringent. To be an apostle, one had to have been an eyewitness of the resurrection. When the office of Judas had been vacated by his death, it was determined that another should "take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away" (Acts 1:25). Those individuals who were qualified to fill the office of one of the twelve had to be a man "that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection" (Acts 1:21-22) Any one who did not meet those qualifications could not even be considered as one of the twelve apostles. An apostle also had to have seen and heard Christ after he arose, and have been appointed to an apostleship by Christ Himself. When Jesus met Saul of Tarsus, he said "arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:16-18).
Any man who is not an eyewitness to the resurrection of Christ, any man who is not appointed by Christ Himself, any man who cannot work miracles, by the power of the Holy Spirit (including the raising of the dead), any man who cannot confer these gifts upon others, is not an apostle of Jesus Christ. A crowning requirement of an apostle is that they were eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Christ and by that qualification alone can have no successors.
In the next article we will see what the scriptures tell us about other offices that "God hath set…in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28).
What The Bible Says About: Prophets and the Church (42)
The last few articles have been devoted to an investigation of the various offices that God set in the church so the body of Christ "may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error" (Ephesians 4:14). In order to accomplish this, Christ "gave some to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). The apostles, having been guided by the Holy Spirit proclaimed the gospel to a lost and dying world. The Bible is a record of the work they completed as they were guided by the Holy Spirit, so that "when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ" (Ephesians 3:4), and "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God affirms that being complete comes from knowledge, not feeling or emotions. Thus, this series of articles has been designed to see what the scriptures say about the various offices God set in the church, so we do not have to rely upon the feelings and conjectures of man, but rather be "transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). To that end, we want to see what the scriptures tell us about the second group "God hath set…in the church," i.e., prophets.
Prophet is defined as, (1) "an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things (2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation (3) if men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men (4) they are associated with the apostles…they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions).
Prophecy was one of the gifts of the Spirit imparted to certain individuals to "profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7, 10). Peter said, "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). Prophets, as apostles, were not limited to a local work, though we do find prophets "at Antioch, in the church" (Acts 13:1). In this text, Paul, an apostle, is mentioned as one of the prophets. Thus, all of the apostles were also prophets, evangelists, (some pastors), and teachers. Only a few of the prophets are mentioned by name, among whom was Agabus: "Now in these day there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world (Acts 11:27-28)." As a result of this prophecy, "the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judæa" (Vs. 29). Others included Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32), and the four daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:9). As it was with the other gifts, prophecy would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8) though the truths spoken by them did not and are left to us in the scriptures. Once they had accomplished their purpose and the perfect (complete) word of God had been revealed, prophecy was no longer needed. Since the gift of prophecy was imparted by the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts 8:18-19), it is evident that the gift was no longer imparted after the death of the last apostle, and would cease to be utilized, having fulfilled its course.
Though apostles and prophets were not to maintain a physical presence in the church, it is easily understood that their work remains. The scriptures tell us that God’s "divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4). The apostles and prophets accomplished their work by "declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), relating to "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." Having seen that the office of the apostles ended with their death, so also did that of the prophets, who received their gift through the laying on of the apostles’ hands.
What The Scriptures Say About: Evangelists and the Church (43)
God’s desire for the body of Christ was that it "may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15). In order to accomplish this, Christ gave gifts to men: some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. Some of these gifts required divine intervention to accomplish them, i.e., the apostles and prophets, others did not. Whereas the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, and the prophets received their gift through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, the qualifications and work of an evangelist are set forth under a different criteria.
An evangelist is "a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist…the name given to N. T. heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). The term is also defined as "a preacher of the gospel" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions). "In its order in the ministry, the evangelist precedes that of the pastor and teacher, a fact which harmonizes with the character of the work each is still recognized as doing. The evangelist has no fixed place of residence, but moves about in different localities, preaching the gospel to those ignorant of it before. As these are converted and united to Jesus Christ by faith, the work of the pastor and teacher begins, to instruct them further in the things of Christ and build them up in the faith" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, "But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5).
The work of an evangelist (Philip is called an evangelist in Acts 21:8) is described as: proclaiming Christ (Acts 8:5), preaching Jesus (Acts 8:35) and preaching the gospel (Acts 8:40). Some, but not all, New Testament evangelists could work "signs and great miracles" (Acts 8:13). Apollos is described as "an eloquent man…and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:24-26). Having been thus instructed, he came to Achaia and "he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (Verse 28). The work of evangelists included the baptizing of those who obeyed the gospel (Acts 8:38), reproving, rebuking and exhorting with longsuffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2), and to do so with all authority (Titus 2:15). The work also included the helping of a local church to be properly organized as a working unit (Titus 1:5). Other work involved the guarding against error (1 Timothy 1:3), teaching others to teach (2 Timothy 2:2), staying with a local church to provide help (1 Timothy 1:1-13) and to teach the church (1 Timothy 4:16).
The qualifications of an evangelist are simple: to be "an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12;); to show "thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned" (Titus 2:7-8); to "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15); with the ability to "speak and exhort and reprove" (Titus 2:15); "And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves" (2 Timothy 2:24-25). The evangelist’s source material consisted of "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As is true with the apostles and prophets, the term evangelist identifies a work rather than a religious title.
The apostles and prophets had, and evangelists have, a work that precedes the local church and finds fulfillment in the church universal. Having provided offices necessary for the proclaiming of the gospel universally, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the remission of sins through his blood was proclaimed that the lost may, through their obedience, become "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins" (Colossians 1:12-13).
What The Bible Says About: The Organization of the Church (44)
When Jesus said to Peter, "upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18), He was not speaking of a number of local churches that would be organized under the umbrella of a worldwide government. The body of Christ universally is not tied into some man-made machine. The church universal is made of all the saints that have ever been or ever will be. It is the "general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23). Some are still on the earth, some have not yet been born and others have passed from this life to await their reward. When Philip preached the gospel of Christ to the Ethiopian, he began from a passage in Isaiah and "preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?…and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:35-39). He did not become a member of some human organization, but he was a member of the church that Jesus said he would build: the body of Christ is not an organization, because it is not organized, but every local church is a complete organization within itself and has Christ as it’s head, the apostles and prophets as its teachers and evangelists who proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at its disposal.
Though the church universal is not organized, the local church has organization. The local church is a co-operative effort of those who are in Christ, and live in a local area, to do the work of the church. Each local church is autonomous from top to bottom. When Paul wrote the church in Corinth, he said, "But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him…But now they are many members, but one body…Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof" (1 Corinthians 12:18, 20, 27). The church in Corinth was not a part of a whole; they constituted a fully organized body, with Christ as their head and each part fulfilling its various duties.
The organization of the local church, as revealed in the scriptures, was first made up of individual brethren in a local area, who met together to work and worship. Not long after the apostle Paul had preached the gospel in the area of Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, they returned to those cities, "And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord" (Acts 14:23). In compliance with his actions, Paul also told Titus, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge" (Titus 1:5). Each of these churches, that were set in order, had a plurality of elders in each church. The church in Philippi was comprised of "saints… bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1). The only fully organized church known to the saints of the first century were local churches, with Christ as their head and qualified elders (also referred to as bishops and pastors) with deacons and saints.
There are three terms in the original text that designate the office of the eldership: Elder = an aged man; Bishop = an overseer or superintendent; and Pastor = a shepherd. The original term translated pastor is translated shepherd in seventeen other instances. All of these terms are utilized to describe the same office. When Paul called for the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17), he told them, "Take heed…to all the flock" (Verse 28), the duty of a shepherd, or pastor, "in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops" (Verse 28). When instructing Titus to "appoint elders in ever city" (Titus 1:5), he said, "For the bishop must be…" (Verse 7). Peter confirmed this usage of the terms when he said, "The elders therefore among you…Tend the flock of God which is among you (the duty of a shepherd or pastor, emph. mine), exercising the oversight" (the work of a bishop) (1 Peter 5:1-2). These three terms well express the duties of an eldership: Bishop = "oversight, overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions), Elder = "advanced in life, an elder, a senior…among Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches). The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably (Thayer’s), Pastor = "a herdsman, especially a shepherd…of overseers of the Christian assemblies" (Thayer’s). In addition to the eldership, there were deacons in the first century church. Deacon = "one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister" (Thayer’s).
The required qualifications for each of the offices are quite stringent. An elder, (bishop or pastor) "must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;…not a novice…(and) must have good testimony from them that are without" (1 Timothy 3:1-7). The deacon, "must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre…husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well" (1 Timothy 3:8-13).
As you consider the religious world and its varied organizations, do they meet with God’s design of the church? God gave men gifts. He gave us what we need to be successful in our pursuit to serve him. He gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, "that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of the error" (Ephesians 4:14).
There are no new revelations, no modern day apostle and prophets that function with the Lord’s authority. But there are the scriptures, "that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). Won’t you put your faith in God’s plan?
What The Bible Says About: Finding The Right Church (45)
One question often asked by truth seekers involves finding a church where they can worship God in spirit and truth. It is no new revelation that the world looks at the religious divisions around them, and then uses the religious division to blaspheme the name of God. Finding a church can often be a traumatic ordeal for individuals. They go from place to place, attend for awhile, only to migrate to another location and start their search all over again. I have known individuals that have joined themselves to almost every "Christian" church imaginable: all in a search for truth. They begin their new religious experience with a euphoric zeal. They just "feel" that they have finally found what they had been looking for, only to learn that the "church" to which they now belong practices things contrary to the will of God. Then, they are off to parts unknown, in search for something that would pacify their longing, and search for God. The syndrome reminds me of Paul’s warning about being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error" (Ephesians 4:14). Two areas that find a home in man’s gullibility are the written word and the religious realm. It seems that folks will accept something in a written format that they would not accept if they heard someone say it. It seems that paper and ink give it a sense of credibility, for some reason. But, as we look at some published authors, it is evident that a person doesn’t have to know what they’re talking about to be published. Thus, it is imperative that a reader does the necessary research to verify the truth of what anyone has to say, written or otherwise. The apostle John put it this way, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone into the world" (1 John 4:1). Truth does not shy away from investigation. Truth is not afraid of questions and inquiry. Another area where man’s gullibility is seen is the religious realm. Individuals often have a concept that because someone claims to be spiritual, they are. Men in our society wear certain clothing to manifest to the world that they are religious and worthy of respect. One minister told me that it’s amazing how differently he was treated when he wore his evangelistical collar. This is nothing new, however. Elijah, a prophet of prophets, was described as "a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins" (2 Kings 1:8). "A rough garment of goats’ hair, coarse wool, or the course pile of the camel, was the ordinary garb of God’s prophets" (Adam Clarke). In the course of time, false prophets wore the same in order to deceive the people. The prophet Zechariah said, concerning these prophets, "neither shall they wear a hairy mantle to deceive" (Zechariah 13:4). In many cases, those who are "tossed about by every wind of doctrine" believe that every minister wearing a backward collar is righteous, and they follow along as sheep to the slaughter.
The only way to avoid being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error" (Ibid.), is to have one standard to determine right and wrong, good and evil, what God accepts and what He does not: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This one rule will assist the truth seeker in every realm of life. The reason people perish is "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Rather, because they "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12), they believe in lies and the workings of error.
Now, back to our question of "how can we find the right church?" We can only find the right church when we follow the path of God that leads us there. We must first become a child of God, by God’s means, not man’s. We must believe in his Son and believe that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Those who believe must respond to that belief (James 2:18-20). Believing that God will do what He said will motivate the believer to be sorry that they wronged God (2 Corinthians 7:10), and work repentance in their lives. Repenting, and turning unto God, will motivate the believer to respond to God’s method of removing past sins (Acts 22:16), so they can be "raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Those who have been baptized into Christ, "did put on Christ" and having done so, "are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26-27). Once individuals obey the commands of God, they become Christians. Their next responsibility is to assemble with people of like precious faith that are worshipping God in spirit and truth, as is dictated in the scriptures. How do you find them? Compare their doctrine and practice with the word of God. If you find something that is either a direct violation of God’s word, or cannot be found in God’s word, then you have not found the house of God.
What The Bible Says About: The Importance of Identifying The New Testament Church (46)
So you’re looking for a church that worships God in spirit and truth? The journey can be a tedious one, but a necessity none the less. There is no greater decision you will make in life, than that of tending to your spiritual well being. No matter what you do in life, it will decay, pass away, or simply wear out. The phrase, "you can’t take it with you" is a valid one. The writing of Job puts this reality this way, "Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah" (Job 1:21). There is no advantage to those who are born to wealth or prestige, "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preëminence above the beasts: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21), "and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Though Job understood that he would depart from this life the same way he came into it, he said, "And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26). Understanding that this life is not all there is, and understanding that "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36), it is imperative that mankind tends to the spiritual, and a failure to do so is eternally destructive. Therefore, "finding a church" is the greatest pursuit, greatest path, or greatest adventure in which you can engage. We’re not talking about finding a building where people assemble to perform some type of religious service. We’re not taking about a collective of people that meet two or three times a week to fulfill their idea of what God wants and appease Him. We’re talking about the diligent effort of those who wish to please God, and bring glory to his name. We’re talking about finding the "church" to which Jesus Christ referred when He said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). The church Jesus promised to build was not some physical building where individuals assembled. The church Jesus promised to build was not some organization through which individuals signed up and are found acceptable because they are members of the organization. The church Jesus promised to build was, and is, a living organism that is made up of the souls of men. Paul said to the brethren in Ephesus, concerning Jesus, that he is "head over all things to the church, which is his body" (Ephesians 1:22-23). About this "body," God reveals, "For in one Spirit were we al baptized into one body…For the body is not one member, but many…But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him…But now they are many members, but one body…And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof" (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The apostle Paul utilized two analogies to explain to the brethren in Corinth their relationship to God, through the church. 1He identified their individual relationship when he said, "Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As members of Christ, our bodies belong to him. 2On a collective basis, because each individual is a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (Ibid.), "Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (1 Corinthians 3:16). The only way the collective can be a temple of God is if each member that makes up that body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is therefore necessary that the church, "Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened" (1 Corinthians 5:7). One thing the body of Christ can be assured of is "The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Timothy 2:19). When Jesus told his disciples, "I will build my church," he told Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom" (Matthew 16:19). Access to the kingdom, the church, would be provided through the teaching of the apostles. Those who obey "the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins" (Colossians 1:12-14), have the opportunity to be "fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). As citizens of the kingdom, "in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:21-22), Christians wait for "the end, when he (Christ) shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father" (1 Corinthians 15:24). If you hope to be a part of the kingdom, the church of Christ, the "one body" (Ephesians 4:4), that will be delivered up to the Father, then finding the right one is worth every moment it takes.
What The Bible Says About: Identifying The New Testament Church. (47)
When Jesus was upon the earth He affirmed, "I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The truth of that is seen in the fact that his death did not prohibit him from accomplishing what He said he would do. The church is described utilizing various construction terms, i.e., foundation, building, stones, holy temple in the Lord, builded together for a habitation of God, "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), and various other designations. The statement of the Hebrew writer affirms what we know to be true in every realm, i.e., "For every house is builded by some one" (Hebrews 3:4). When we see a house, we know there was an architect that designed it, a blue print given to the builder and a builder that constructed it according to the blueprint. A blueprint is, "a detailed plan or program of action" (Webster’s). Concerning Moses and the tabernacle: "even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8:5). When the apostle Paul spoke of his work, he said, "For we are God’s fellow-workers: ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). Paul’s "work," as he identifies in 1 Corinthians 9:1, was the Corinthians themselves. Jehovah has delivered unto mankind a blueprint, a pattern by which the church was to be constructed. When a contractor takes the blueprint or pattern of a structure and follows the dictates of the blueprint, the end result will be the same, regardless of who does the building. The same is true with the church of Christ. One of the striking aspects of the church is Jehovah’s desire that brethren "speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10), and God does not require that which cannot be attained. What separates men today, religiously, is the same thing that separated them throughout the centuries: doctrine and practice. The apostle Peter spoke of the epistles of Paul, of which the "ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). What separates religious groups today is not matters of opinion, but rather matters of doctrine that will separate men from God. Men who "with feigned words make merchandise" (2 Peter 2:3) of other men, men who are "speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:30), prey upon those who would come to God. They claim to use the pattern, the word of God, as their standard, but the building constructed looks nothing like what Jesus wanted built. In the majority of cases, the key doesn’t even fit the door. Jesus told Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). Peter, and the rest of the apostles, were given the authority, as they were led by the Holy Spirit, to set forth the condition of entrance into the kingdom. On the day of Pentecost, individuals who had been guilty of crucifying the Lord’s Christ, asked the question, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). To this question, Peter replied, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). This is in agreement with the command of Jesus, in Matthew 28:19; Acts 22:16 and also Acts 10:48, when Peter "commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." In addition, every act of conversion (entrance into the kingdom) in the New Testament included the act of baptism, without exception. Even though there is so much said about the necessity of baptism in order to be saved, individuals spend more time, through earthly wisdom and analogies, convincing people that God didn’t mean what He said, than they do exhorting people to submit to the commands of God without murmuring and questioning. It is God that required crossing the Red Sea between Israel and their deliverance from Egypt: "our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). And, it is God who placed baptism between repentance and salvation, in every single case in the New Testament, and by extension today. Will you spend your life "fighting against God" (Acts 5:39), in support of the traditions of men, or will you be as those who "justified God" (Luke 7:29) through their obedience, and enter into the kingdom of God.
What The Bible Says About: Identifying The New Testament Church. (48)
If you misplaced something and an ad came out in the lost and found, indicating that an article similar to yours was found: you would be ready to identify the specific characteristics of the item. Let’s say you misplaced your keys, you call in regard to an ad, and the caller says, describe your keys to me. You may begin by describing certain particulars about the key ring: some special identifying characteristic, i.e., the color, texture, whether it had a fob on it, and what logo or insignia it may have on it. You could then turn your attention to the keys, approximately how many were on it, what type, color or any other unique characteristic. Based upon the description, the individual that found the keys would be able to know if they truly belonged to you.
In like manner, Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). The fact that the church existed in the first century (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2), is indication enough that Jesus did what he said he would do, and the church of Christ has existed ever since. Today, individuals are called, through the gospel, to be a part of the body of Christ. Since there are many groups who lay claim to being the body of Christ, it is imperative that individuals be able to determine the true from the false. But how can a person do so? They can do so through certain indicators that identify the right of ownership. If the church is truly the church Christ promised to build, then it will carry the marks of ownership in its doctrine, worship, work and mission. If you were asked to describe the characteristics of Christ’s church, what would you say? If you are unable to describe the characteristics of Christ’s church, how do you know you’re a part of it? Let us look at some of those characteristics of ownership.
1. In doctrine: The apostles were very avid about a strict adherence to the doctrine established by Christ. John said, "he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him" (1 John 3:24), and "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). The apostle Paul said, "If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37), and "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:8-10). The very fact that Jesus, through His apostles, warned of the dangers of being led away by the perversions of men, is a strong indicator that not all religions "hold fast the word" (1 Corinthians 15:2), which was preached. Have you committed yourself to all that God has to say in the scriptures, or have you pledged your alliance to a codified set of beliefs, written by men, that do not contain all that God has revealed, yet contain doctrines He has not?
2. In worship: Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). It takes more than sincerity and zeal to offer up worship that God will accept. Paul said, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). Self-righteous worship nullifies the worship all together, as is noted by Jesus, when he said, "This people honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:8-9). It’s obvious that not just "any" worship will be acceptable to God. Acceptable worship is that worship that has been authorized and implemented by God. Many offer up instrumental music as worship to God. Many have said, "God has given me this talent and it makes me feel good to utilize it in His service." When that is done, the individual becomes the author of the worship, not God. It is an act that God neither implemented nor authorized in the New Testament, nor was it introduced into the church until after 600 a.d. The term "A Cappella," has an etymology that comes from the Italian, meaning, in chapel style: without instrumental music" (Webster’s). Now, where do you suppose the etymology came from, if instrumental music was used in the chapel? Do you worship God in spirit and truth? Are you "speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19), or do you not sing at all, but listen to others do so? Or if you do sing, is the melody created in your heart, or by some mechanical device manipulated by man?
What The Bible Says About: Identifying The New Testament Church. (49)
Identifying the New Testament Church is an exercise with which every godly individual needs to concern themselves. How do you know if you’re in a proper relationship with God if you never ask? Many people go through their lives believing they are in a proper relationship with God, simply because that’s what they wish. But wishing will make nothing either true, or false: it’s just wishing. Paul told the Corinthians, "Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate" (2 Corinthians 13:5). The charge to "Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith" requires a standard by which something can be proven. If you are called upon in a court of law to prove something, you will have to have enough evidence to substantiate your case. It has been said, "if Christianity were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" The same is true with identifying the church that belongs to Christ. Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). The question is, "how can we know we’re a part of it?" If an individual presents a painting and claims it was a Van Gogh, would it be accepted at the word of the owner? Certainly not; there would be a series of investigations, authorities would be brought in to determine the truth. It would not be labeled authentic based upon the word of the owner, but upon the merits of the painting itself. The same is true with the church of Christ. If an individual is truly in the kingdom, truly a part of the church that Jesus built, and that will be delivered up to the Father, then there are specific indicators that will authenticate the claim. Those indicators are a consistency in doctrine, worship, work and mission. We considered doctrine and worship in our last article (August 27th). In this article we will consider the work and mission of the church.
In work: Work is defined as, "that which one undertakes to do" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Paul told the brethren in Corinth, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). The "work of the Lord" would be any undertaking that the Lord authorized. If it’s something man devised, then it is not of the Lord. Paul told Timothy, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Religious groups of our era build and run hospitals, daycare centers, nursing homes, recreational facilities, food distribution centers, and now some are getting involved in the political arena. Although these areas are "good" and authorized because of our humanity, they are not authorized by God for the "church" to build, maintain and run. Let’s say you’re a member of the Cancer Society. You are devoted to the development and research of cancer-fighting methods. How would you respond if the Cancer Society took your contributions and built, maintained, and supported basketball, or baseball teams? In our society we see religious groups supporting "church league" softball teams and then set rules that before an individual can play, they must attend a certain amount of "church functions" on a monthly basis. Recently, a big to-do was held in our community that provided all sorts of entertainment, all in the name of Jesus. The apostle Paul said to Timothy, "thou mayest war the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18). The battles the church has to fight are spiritual in nature. We fight against the lust of the flesh, lust of eyes, and the vainglory of life. Paul warned about a time to come when "men shall be…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
The work of the church is best described by it’s mission of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in a manner approved of in the sacred writings: "For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord…in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth" (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The responsibility of the church and it’s teachers is to "preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2). All of the devices that "seemeth" right unto man, will not save one soul from death. Only the word of God has the power to do that. The church cannot compete with the social, recreational, humanitarian, or political organizations of our time, but there is not a one of them that can do better what the Lord has commissioned the church to do: "preach the word," and then keep the saved saved by exhorting "one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13), and through the edification provided by singing, teaching, and praying (1 Corinthians 14:1-27). Godliness is not fun and games. From Genesis to Revelation you cannot find one notion, either suggested or hinted at, where God utilized the pleasures of this world to bring the lost to Him. If the church is involved in any activity that was not expressly commanded or practiced by the first century churches, then it is the product of man and nullifies any claim of the practitioners of being the church which Christ built.
What The Bible Says About: The Blessing and the Curse of law. (50)
A few days preceding the nation of Israel’s entrance into the land of Canaan, Moses charged the children of Israel with a solemn charge, when he said, "Keep silence, and hearken, O Israel: This day thou are become the people of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day" (Deuteronomy 27:9-10). Moses then charged the people, saying, "when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Benjamin" would stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people while, "Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali" would stand upon mount Ebal for the curse" (Deuteronomy 27:11-13), and in the center was the ark of the covenant, with "the priests the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah" (Joshua 8:33). The gathering at Gerizim and Ebal emphasized the agreement that Jehovah made with Israel. When Joshua and the children of Israel fulfilled this charge, "Joshua built an altar unto Jehovah, the God of Israel…an altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron…And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel…And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners that were among them" (Joshua 8:30-35). These two mountains, towering on high in the heart of the land of Canaan, would serve as a continual reminder of the covenant that God made with the children of Israel. This law was described as "the blessing and the curse" (Joshua 8:34), "life and good, and death and evil" (Deuteronomy 30:15).
In response to the laws God imposed upon Israel, He said, all the statutes are "for our good always, that he might preserve us alive" (Deuteronomy 6:24). The purpose for law has not changed. Laws are given for the benefit of those that are ruled by them. The laws of God gave a man the right to marriage, when Jehovah said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." The devastating effects of adultery are witnessed everyday in our society. Jehovah would save us from that devastation. The law gave a man the right to life, when it said, "Thou shalt not kill," i.e., commit murder. The phrase, "thou shalt not kill" dealt with premeditated murder. Though consequences were associated with manslaughter, they did not require the life of the taker. But early on, God mandated laws concerning the taking of a life, when He said, "And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:5-6). Why is it that killing man is punishable by death, but killing a beast is not? If man is simply a product of evolution, and there is nothing beyond this life, wherein lies the difference? It’s the fact that we are created in the image of God, and God’s laws have been instilled in the innate morals implanted by God. The laws of God also gave man the right to property, when Jehovah said, "Thou shalt not steal." And God’s laws provide man with the right to justice, when Jehovah said, "Thou shalt not covet" (Exodus 20:13ff; Romans 13:9). God’s laws provide each individual with the right of justice being meted out against those who would take what belonged to another, under any circumstance.
There are three areas where laws are necessary to govern, for the benefit of all: The family, the government and the church. A family without laws, and discipline for the violation of those laws, presents to the society lawless citizens. A government without laws, and discipline for the violation of those laws, presents to the world a lawless nation. And, a church without laws, and discipline for the violation of those laws, presents to the family, the nation and the world an ungodly society meet for destruction.
Just as Jehovah placed before Israel a blessing and a curse, so also does He with us. The laws of Christ have been delivered so that mankind can be reconciled to God, become a light to the world and salt to the earth. The preserving nature of godliness falls upon the shoulders of all that would live by faith in Christ Jesus: faith in His laws, and faith in His promises. Faith in these things requires obedience. The scriptures tell us, "Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?" (James 2:19-20). If you have faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, put that faith into action through full obedience to his will.
What The Bible Says About: The Civil Government (51)
We’ve all heard the statement, "you don’t talk about religion and politics." Both topics have a tendency to pull at the emotions and cause tempers to flare. Republican, Democrat or Independent, etc., are options the voting public has, each of which have an agenda concerning how the nation will be run. Regardless of what political affiliation an individual may have, God has given specific instructions as to how a person is to view the powers that be. As we participate in the "process," let us do so with a proper attitude toward the government officials, knowing that God will hold us accountable.
When Jehovah gave the law to Israel, He said, "Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people" (Exodus 22:28). When the apostle Paul spoke of this he said, "Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people" (Acts 23:5). It is evident that God expected those under authority to be respectful to those who are in authority. Solomon said, "Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter" (Ecclesiastes 10:20). Not only should we not speak evil of a ruler of the people, but even our thoughts are to be kept in check. It is true that our society provides every individual freedom of speech. But what we must realize is that God does not provide his children with the same freedom. One event that took place at a political convention involved a twelve-year-old girl who chastised the vice-president. What does a twelve-year-old girl know about politics? What does a twelve-year-old girl know about running a country? Nothing happens by accident at the conventions. This chastising of Vice-president Cheney was planned. Not only did the twelve-year-old chastise him, but also it brought adults to their feet in praise of the action. What is society teaching our children in regard to those in authority? God said, "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, and avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor" (Romans 13:1-7). The acts of the child and the hearty approval of the adults was to their own shame, and not to the glory of God. The scriptures reveal that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Daniel 4:25). This fact should cause an individual to give serious consideration to how they respond to, or about, those in authority: They are God’s ministers. Not only did God say, "Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people" but He also gave positive instruction concerning them: "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" (1 Timothy 2:1-3). God tells us what is good and what is not and also warns us "that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).
The political process and the rights we sustain as citizens of the nation are a blessing. We live in a nation where we can lead a peaceful and tranquil life. Let us not abuse the freedoms we enjoy, and remember, just because we have the right to do something, does not mean it is the right thing to do. Following the November elections, we will have a commander-in-chief who will lead the nation for the next four years, Lord willing. Speaking evil of the candidates will not change the process, but can very well change our condition in the eyes of God. What will you chose: To exercise your "civil rights" to the fullest, and speak evil of the rulers of thy people, or bridle your tongue and your thoughts and thank God for them, and the nation within which we live?
What The Bible Says About: Serving God (52)
It’s always interesting to speak with individuals about spiritual concepts and how to serve God. I had one lady tell me that she didn’t have a religious preference. She said, "I just have a relationship with Jesus." That’s one of those statements that generate a curious dog look: One of those, what-did-I-miss looks. Language is intended to convey thoughts. Words are simply vehicles upon which thought travels. Now, the problem with the statement above, concerning a religious preference, is that the individual assumed I understood what she meant by the statement "I just have a relationship with Jesus." In some cases individuals will say, "All you have to do is follow Jesus." That’s all well and good, as a general statement is concerned, but what does it mean to "follow Jesus"? Therein lies a problem among men. It is true that an individual needs to have a "relationship with Jesus," but that "relationship" must be defined by scriptural principles. Let’s put this in the realm of our responsibilities to the government, regarding taxes. Every year the government requires everyone who has income, subject to taxation, file a tax report. You walk into an accountant’s office and ask the question, "What do I need to do to file a tax report?" The accountant says, "Mail in the appropriate paper work." Now, the statement is a true statement: To "file" a tax report all you have to do is mail it in or efile it through the Internet. What the statement doesn’t address is the gap between bringing in the income and the mailing. When you begin to examine the "gap" you find that before you can mail or efile the report, you must gather your receipts, put them in their proper category, total them up, make sure the deductions you are taking are according to the laws which regulate taxes, put the proper figures on the proper form, in the proper place, total them up and subtract your non-taxable from the total income to arrive at the total amount on which you are required to pay taxes (And it is best to have a working knowledge of the tax laws before you begin (or consult the books) or else you'll use completely different definitions of income and deductions than what the government does). After you have completed the task, and arrived at the correct amount, then you "file" it. Once it’s filed, it is then subject to an investigation on whether or not your deductions were in accordance with the tax laws. The same is true regarding a "relationship" with Jesus. Prescribed laws define the relationship. When Jehovah gave Israel the law, He command that incense be burnt every morning, and every evening. (Exodus 30:7-8). The law regulated who could burn incense: "no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah" (Numbers 16:40). When Uzziah the king "was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense" (2 Chronicles 26:16). When he did, "the priest went in after him…and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto Jehovah, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honor from Jehovah God. Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, …And Azariah the chief priest, …thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him" (2 Chronicles 26:17-20). Uzziah did not abide by Jehovah’s prescribed laws. In like manner, an individual can only affirm they have a relationship with Jesus, if they abide by the word Jesus spoke, for he said, "The that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake , the same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" (John 12:48-49).
There are numerous "religions" in the world, but there is only one that provides salvation: that one being through Jesus Christ. But just wearing the name or claiming to have a relationship with Jesus is insufficient, unless that relationship is defined by the prescribed words of Jesus. What divides "Christian" religions are the same things that divide Paganism from Christianity, i.e., doctrines and practice. Just claiming to be a Christian does not make one a Christian. Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21): "true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). Truth is based upon God’s standard of righteousness. All of the zeal in the world will not replace the necessity of knowledge and adherence to it. The apostle Paul said, "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). If the doctrines and practices you adhere to are not found in the pages of the word of God, then they are vain. Jesus said, "well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:8-9). Will you examine the doctrines and practices to which you adhere? And if you find them to be lacking scriptural authority, will you do as Uzziah did when he had been told he trespassed against Jehovah, and become angry? Or will you turn from them and honor God, and not man?
What The Bible Says About: The Benefits Of God’s Blessings (53)
God’s dealings with Israel has been described as being, "written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). When we read the sacred word, given by the prophets of God, we are able to take comfort in God’s dealings with mankind and have patience to "hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14). Great lessons are to be learned that our confidence in God will continue to grow and His word will have free course in our lives.
One event in the Chronicles of Israel took place during the reign of Asa, king of Judah. Asa was of the lineage of David, as God had promised concerning his descendants reigning over Judah. The scriptures tell us that "Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God" (2 Chronicles 14:2). During his reign, the Ethiopian army came out against Asa with a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots. "And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou are our God; let not man prevail against thee" (2 Chronicles 14:11). Asa put all of his confidence in Jehovah, the God of Israel. Asa understood that the success of his campaign was in the hands of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Though the Ethiopians were strong, Asa knew that Jehovah could deliver: "So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled" (Vs. 12). The criteria upon which Jehovah assisted Asa was delivered by Azariah, the son of Obed, when he said, "Jehovah is with you, while ye are with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2). These words were such an encouragement to Asa and the people of Judah that they "entered into a covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; and that whosoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman…And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Jehovah gave them rest round about" (2 Chronicles 15:12-15). As we think about our lives and the problems that often arise, do we do so with our focus set on Jehovah? When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he said, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-3). As it was in the days of Asa, so also it is in our own day. If we want to "lead a tranquil and quiet life" we must be praying for our rulers, etc., and God’s favor shown to them, as a result of prayer, will allow us to live that tranquil and quiet life "in all godliness and gravity," or honesty. Godliness is a characteristic that recognizes God’s right to rule in our lives. Just as Asa was a good ruler, in his early years, the nation was exalted. In the same manner, good rulers today can exalt the nation, so also can evil rulers bring upon our nation a reproach. Jehovah’s protection of Asa and Judah did not mean they didn’t have to fight. But Asa and the people understood that the victory belonged to God. How Jehovah goes about accomplishing his work is within his own providence. Man’s confidence that God will accomplish His work is a matter of faith. Faith that is built upon thousands of years of recorded history where Jehovah said he would do something, and did it. It’s not a blind faith, but one based upon evidence.
Just as God showed himself faithful with Asa, so also will He show himself faithful now. The apostle Paul told Timothy, "Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-12). God will be faithful to his promises, and what mankind must understand is that His promises are based upon conditions. Jehovah desires to help us. The prophet Hanani told Asa, "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9, NASV). If we’re seeking Jehovah’s favor, we must also give him our lives. Are you seeking a tranquil and quiet life? If so, you will find it with God.
What The Bible Says About: Being Faithless (54)
The Bible defines faith as an "assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). This is further defined in verse 6 of the text, where it says, "without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him." In this text, the reader can understand that an "assurance of things hoped for" is a deep seated confidence that God "is a rewarder of them that seek after him," and "a conviction of things not seen" is a deep seated confidence that "God is." If both of these characteristics exist in the mind, i.e., believing God does exist and He will do what He says He will do, then the worshipper can be "well-pleasing unto him."
The skeptic often frowns at faith. The skeptic believes that faith in God is a crutch. Since the skeptic has never seen God, he assumes that God does not exist. The problem a skeptic has with God is directly related to the consequences of belief. A few years ago, I was introduced to a book dealing with the Hebrew scriptures as a code. According to the author, there was evidence that suggested the Hebrew scriptures contained a code that could be utilized to tell of future events (I am not affirming nor denying the findings). This Bible Code (Torah Code) involved the reading of a text by skipping certain letters. The Hebrew scriptures are written with a specified number of letters per row and a specified number of rows per page: this consistency would preserve the code. Ben-Zion Netanyahu was reported to have said, "If this is real, then I will believe in God, not only God, but the God of Israel, and I will have to become religious…It has to be supernatural. No man did this. If there is a code in the Bible, then it is 2000 or 3000 years old. And it reveals what happens now. If it’s real, there is a God" (The Bible Code, Pg. 79). Becoming religious would involve obedience to God. Whether there is a "code" in the Hebrew scriptures or not, there is ample evidence to prove that it revealed events in the nation of Israel, hundreds of years before they came about, in clear and specific speech. Many aspects of the Hebrew scripture substantiate that it had a supernatural author. Becoming religious would necessitate that an individual lives godly. Godliness (not God-like-ness) is a term that describes an individual’s attitude toward God. The term is one that describes an appropriate attitude toward that which deserves reverence, i.e., God. A godly individual is one that recognizes God’s right to rule their life, by virtue of creation. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). Paul addresses two factors: 1. An attitude that says God will not rule in an individual’s life, i.e., ungodliness. 2. The consequences of such an attitude that manifests itself in one’s conduct, i.e., unrighteousness. Righteousness is a standard of right-wise-ness. Webster defines righteousness as "acting in accord with divine and moral law." This is also seen by the apostle Paul’s statement, concerning Israel, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). So what makes a person ungodly is a failure to be subject to God’s standard. This attitude toward God, and failure to be subject to Him is "unbelief," or a lack of faith. The ungodly either does not believe that God is, or they do not believe that God will do what He says. Sometimes individuals take the same approach Thomas took. Regarding the resurrection of Jesus, he said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe," to which, Jesus replied, "Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing" (John 20:25, 27). There is no doubt that the hands--on experience changed the mind of Thomas. However, Jesus said to him, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). John reveals how this belief was to be realized, saying, "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). This statement agrees with Paul’s statement, "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Individuals who profess they believe that God is, but say, "I don’t believe God would do this or that," (when God specifically says He will), are faithless because they do not believe that God "is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6). Regarding faithlessness, the scriptures say, "Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). In short, if we are faithless, rest assured that He will remain faithful and do exactly what he said He would do, i.e., "if we shall deny him, he also will deny us" (Ibid.). Are you faithless, or faithful?
What The Bible Says About: The Resurrection of Jesus (55)
The term resurrection is defined as, "a standing up again, that is, (literally) a resurrection from death" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries). Teachings concerning the resurrection of the dead are, and have been, various. The scriptures tell us, "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both (Acts 23:8). The Sadducees were a prominent sect of the Jewish nation: the high priests were from the Sadducees, in the Lord’s day. This difference in doctrine is still a prominent conflict: some believe that there will be a resurrection, while others believe the body is purely physical in nature and once buried, to never be alive again. Christianity is a doctrine that teaches a "hope that all people, good and bad, will surely be raised from the dead" (Acts 24:15). Belief in the resurrection is of such importance that God said, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Not only is belief in the resurrection taught in the sacred writings, but it is a foundational doctrine because Jesus "was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). The sacred writings further emphasize the importance of the resurrection, by revealing that, "if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:13-17). Thus, the hope of a Christian resides in the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead, and "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:9) gives the Christian hope that he too, may become dead unto sin and alive unto God. The doctrine of the resurrection is one of faith. Faith being an "assurance of things hoped for and a conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). No individual today was present when Jesus was raised from the dead. Yet, a lack of empirical knowledge does not remove the ability to believe that he was. Mankind believes many things through faith. By faith, we believe that George Washington was the first president. Not because we were there, but because reliable witnesses have recorded events substantiating the facts of the matter. The same is true in regard to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, we have records, both secular and sacred, substantiating the facts surrounding the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The facts are so overwhelming that a rejection of them is not only futile, but also foolish, because a denial of those facts has eternal consequences. The sacred writings affirm that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead, to die no more. His resurrection is mentioned some 84 times in the scriptures. Of the eight writers of the New Testament, six of them mention the resurrection. Of the twenty-seven divisions of the New Testament, nineteen mention the resurrection of Jesus. Mankind has a tendency to rationalize things in a way that eliminates the consequences of the truth: called denial. Some individuals deny that Jesus ever lived. Such denial doesn’t change the facts of history. In most cases denial is a means by which an individual is not required to deal with the consequences of the truth. An individual is diagnosed as having a drug or alcohol problem. They may deny it, but it doesn’t change the truth. Accepting the truth would necessitate an action, if the individual desires to be freed from the addiction. The same is true with religion. Many deny that they have a problem. If they accept their problem, then they also must accept the fact that they can, in and of themselves, do nothing to correct it. Once they recognize they need help, they must turn to the only source God has provided to save them, "And in none other is salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name, is "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Vs. 10). Accepting Jesus as the only source provided by God necessitates obedience to Him in all things. Jesus said, "if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal" (John 12:47-50). Jesus is not saying there will not be a judgment, quite to the contrary. For he also said, "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). When individuals deny the facts concerning the resurrection, they often do so because they are not willing to accept the consequences of the resurrection, i.e., a responsibility to turn away from their sins and "serve a living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9). What they need to come to grips with is the fact that denial will not change the facts.
Included in the sacred revelation of the resurrection of Jesus is the secular evidence. Josephus, a highly regarded secular historian, said, ""Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure…He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day" (Antiquities of the Jews, pg. 548).
Both secular and sacred writers affirm that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead. "By the resurrection from the dead" Jesus of Nazareth was "declared to be the Son of God with power" (Romans 1:4). God affirms that if you believe that, and thereby respond to the provision God has made, "thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Baptism (56)
I am often queried about the subject of water baptism and what the scriptures have to say concerning it. Over the centuries, the battle lines have been drawn and sides have been taken in defense or rejection of the necessity of water baptism as it relates to salvation. As you drive about town, you may see the signs of various religious groups that claim to use "Just the Bible." A very noble position, indeed. And, if it is so, they are to be commended. If not, then it is simply a ploy to either dupe the members of their own number or to present themselves as something they are not. I am not making a judgment on whether a particular "group" is doing this or that, simply stating a fact revealed in the scripture that "even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). There are too many warnings such as, "I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29) and "believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out in the world" (1 John 4:1), for individuals to scoff at the possibility that their leaders are teaching error.
When considering mankind’s position before God, many make the mistake of believing they have the freedom of determining the conditions of reconciliation. They look for a "church" that meets their personal physical or emotional needs. Whether it is the laws of the land or the laws of God, it is the violated and not the violator that determines the conditions of reconciliation. We may live in a country ruled by democratic principles and enjoy certain freedoms, but God’s rule is not a democracy. It is a theocracy.
Since the people of God follow the divine standard, God’s righteousness, it is axiomatic that God’s conditions of pardon are accepted as the only means of obtaining reconciliation. So, what does God say concerning the conditions of reconciliation? The scriptures say, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreated by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). God committed unto the apostles the right to reveal the conditions of reconciliation. The words they spoke came from God, through the Son, delivered to the apostles by the Holy Spirit. When the apostles spoke, it was by divine influence. Therefore, when we read what they wrote, we are reading the conditions of reconciliation set forth from God, who said He, "reconciled us to himself through Christ" (Ibid.). Therefore, we can be "alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11) because there is "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The question is how do we get "in Christ Jesus"? Again, the scriptures say, "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27). When an individual is "baptized into Christ" they "put on Christ." Mankind has access to the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. But God has placed baptism as the mechanism through which that access is acquired. Thus, Jesus told his apostles, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). In the fulfillment of this charge the apostles, in making disciples, "commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:48), and "they then that received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). Two things are accomplished when an individual submits to the waters of baptism. Saul of Tarsus was told, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). Peter says, concerning "water" it "doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). In whom will you put your trust: A man that tells you to "say the sinners prayer," that cannot be found in the sacred scriptures; or in submission to the waters of baptism that is commanded by the Lord and his apostles for the purpose of obtaining the remission of sins and thereby a good conscience before God?
What The Bible Says About: Dying and Living (57)
As the apostle Paul was approaching the end of life, he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul was a man of conviction and had a definite goal in life. He boldly proclaimed his goal, when he said, "Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:8-11). The goal Paul chose is one that Jesus said would only be achieved by a few (Matthew 7:13-14), and thus Paul understood it required discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27). A discipline he achieved and was thus able to say he had fought the fight, and he had finished the course. What a marvelous way to end one’s life. How would you like to be able to say that, at the end of your days?
There are two aspects of Paul’s life that will help us achieve the same goal. The first of which is, "If I want to die like Paul died, I must live like Paul lived." Paul affirmed this truth, when he said, "Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample" (Philippians 3:17). Paul further affirmed the necessity of obedience, when he said, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We can go through life, do what we want, and live as we wish, but if we want to stand at death’s door with the same hope as Paul, then we must live as he lived. The second aspect affirms that, "If I want to live like Paul lived, I must die like Paul died." One of the reasons Paul had confidence in his preparedness is because his life was not his own. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20). Every aspect of Paul’s being was devoted to God, in Christ. Paul said, "Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). The concept of dying in this life so we can live, is one that Paul repeatedly expressed. To the Colossians, he said, "If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God." To Timothy, he said, "For if we died with him, we shall also live with him" (2 Timothy 2:11), and to the Romans, he said, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:1-14). If we fail to die as Paul died, we cannot hope to live as he lived. If we fail to live as he lived, then we will not be prepared to die as he died.
Jesus once said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). This admonition definitely emphasizes the requirements of obedience. Many attempt to remove the necessity of obedience by saying, all that’s necessary to salvation is faith. But they fail to heed the words of James, which says, "Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own self…But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing" (James 1:21-22, 25). And again, James says, "Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect" (James 2:18-22). Warnings are too numerous for a successful contradiction of these facts. If we hope to "die the death of the righteous" (Numbers 23:10), and our "last end be like his!" we must "Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6), and "walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called" (Ephesians 4:1).
Have you died like Paul died, that you might live as Paul lived? If not, you are encouraged to heed the words of the Holy Spirit and be "buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin…Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:4-7, 12-13).