Exchanged Life Discipleship

Sorry for the change - moving this site and feed

2010-12-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

The maintenance of upkeeping this blog along with my website and other writing makes it impossible to keep current postings. I've consolidated my sites and created an RSS subscription feed on ExchangedLife.com

If you would like to continue subscribing and receive current messages, resubscribe by going to http://www.exchangedlife.com.

This will be the final posting on This Blog.

Blog redirect

2010-11-12T21:45:00.001-08:00

Due to time constraints, this blog is no longer being maintained. For discipleship material, go to http://www.exchangedlife.com. For blog postings, go to http://gesnipes.blogspot.com/

Eddie Snipes

Cultivating Fellowship within the Church

2010-06-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

In today’s modern church, true fellowship is often lacking. As group dynamics takes place, people naturally form into groups. This is plainly observed both in and out of the church. This point was driven home during a recent conference I attended. Three hundred and seventy-five Christian writers assembled together for five days, and I was amazed at how easy it was to get to know others. Everyone was eager to know each other, and within hours, we were sitting together and talking about our Christian walks and other interests. In a few days, I got to know more people, and had deeper fellowship, than I have experienced in church in the last three or four years.

This caused me to wonder. Why is it so hard to get to know people in church? When a visitor comes in, everyone rushes to greet them. They feel welcomed and often it results in a decision to join the local congregation. Each person looks at the church and asks one basic question: Will I find belonging here.

People have different reasons by which they evaluate church. Some are looking for benefits and look to church as a service provider. But every single person has a need for belonging. This is not a selfish attitude; it is something God has built within us. God never intended Christians to operate independent of each other. There are times when a Christian stands alone in the culture, but it is not God’s plan to make him or her stand alone in the church. God gives grace to endure isolation when it’s necessary, but the church is not something we should endure.

What I have observed in the group dynamics of almost every church I have been involved with is a series of closed circles – or cliques. Many people do not even realize they are cliquish, because they go out of their way to give a smile and a handshake. It is those who stand outside the circles that recognize the emptiness of standing alone. When people feel at home in their circle of friends, they have no need; therefore, they fail to recognize the needs of others. This is why many people come in, feel welcomed and join a church. Over time, they begin feeling isolated and discouraged as they work toward the back door of the church. Without being noticed, they are gone.

At first, they don’t feel rejected, because they are treated to friendly greetings, but hope fades as the loneliness of being outside the circle drags on. People join with the hope of belonging. The expectation is set by the welcoming atmosphere, but unless the church follows through, we have failed to live out the principles that scripture mandates. You see, it is human nature that divides us into groups, but the church is called to be intentional about showing love to the brethren. And love calls us deeper than a handshake.

Let me give an illustration from my past. I was eighteen and started attending a church where I met Charlie and Kathy. They were about ten years older, and were two of the most loving people I have ever met. They were outgoing, charismatic, and full of life. They and their two young sons attended every church event and involved themselves in every church function. This church even had a weekly meal after the service, and Charlie and Kathy were at every meal. They seemed happy and could talk to almost anyone.

One day at the end of the meal, Kathy stood up and announced their family was leaving the church. She gave a tearful explanation. They had been attending the church for more than two years and she said they had done everything possible to get to know people, but she was lonelier than ever. Kathy explained they had no meaningful relationships and didn’t feel close to anyone. After two years of trying, they had lost hope, had decided to leave to search for a church where they felt belonging.

I was shocked by her words and this incident never left my thoughts. How could a family so involved, and people so liked, feel lonely and excluded? Nearly thirty years later, I recognize the truth of her words, and the challenge of every church to be intentional about loving each other. Every human has a need to belong. Belonging doesn’t always equate to involvement. Like Kathy, everyone wants to have fellowship on a deeper level. It is the fellowship after the activities have passed that individuals long for. People long to have true, Christian fellowship. The kind of fellowship where I can be real with you, and I know you feel welcomed to be real with me.

This type of fellowship doesn’t just happen. It requires cultivation, commitment, and intentional effort. And it is all based on Christian love. I want to talk today about the three levels of fellowship among the believers, and how the Bible teaches us to live out these things. However, before we can have biblical fellowship, the love of God must be active among us.

Understanding Love

Every Christian must understand what it means to love. Even if you fully understand the concept of love, the Bible commands us to constantly put each other in remembrance of these things, lest at any time we should let them slip. Therefore, let’s do a quick examination of love and do so from the perspective of fellowship. Look at 1 Peter 1:22

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love (Philia) of the brethren, love (Agape) one another fervently with a pure heart.

In this passage, Peter uses both philia and agape. Philia is friendship love, brotherly kindness, or warm affection. Agape is the love of God. It is self-sacrificing, outward focused, giving love. In this passage, Peter is addressing the church – those who have purified their souls by obedience to the truth of God’s word. The natural result of a church in the Spirit is the love of the brethren. Even though love (philia) is already active in this church, the Bible commands the church to pursue love (agape) among one another, and to do so fervently. To be fervent means to be intense. It is to intentionally give agape to each other in the church and to do so with great effort.

But to give agape, one must receive agape from the Lord. Romans 5:5 tells us:

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

You cannot produce agape. It is a spiritual gift of God, but is one that every believer receives when he is born into the Spirit through Christ. It is not only a one-time gift, but a continuous filling, for the Spirit spreads it abundantly in our heart. Yet there is more to love than receiving it from God. The love resides within us, but we cannot allow it to stagnate in our hearts. We are commanded to make an intense effort to love our fellow believers.

We must realize that agape is not just something God gives, it is also agapao – a noun – something God uses in our life to call us to action. God does not allow his love to stagnate. Agape is the love of God that flows from the Holy Spirit and into the life of every believer. Yet, as we can see, many in the church are dead spiritually, and struggle to love others in the church. In fact, anyone who has been in church for a long time has likely met people from whose mouth flows bitterness, resentment, and discouragement. How can God pour life into someone, and no life comes out? Of course, the Bible instructs us to examine ourselves to see if we are indeed in the faith, but often times the issue is not one of salvation, but stagnation. Let me give an illustration of this.

The largest river in Israel is the Jordan River. It is filled with life, and it gives life to many. It is a primary source of life-giving water to much of Israel. Yet an interesting thing happens when it reaches its final destination. It becomes the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea takes, and takes, and takes, but gives nothing. It is filled with minerals, water, and other resources that normally benefit life, but this stagnate body kills every living organism that flows into it from the Jordan River.

The Christian life is very much like this. Those who take what God gives them and distribute to others find life, fulfillment, and the promises of God. However, those who receive, but neglect to distribute, what was meant for life stagnates, and becomes foul in the heart. Look at Proverbs 11:

²⁴ There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

²⁵ The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

It is a fact of life; those who do not give are never satisfied, but those who give are filled with abundance. The more self-focused and self-centered we become, the less content and satisfied we are. Agape is the life-giving love God has poured into our hearts, and agapao is our action to share that with those around us.

Once we understand what it means to love, we are equipped for the fellowship of the saints. Let’s now look at church fellowship.

Welcoming Fellowship

Greeting one another in Christian fellowship is a basic function of the church. It is interesting how often this is mentioned in the Bible. Here are two examples.

3 John 1:14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Titus 3:15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Greeting is an acknowledgement of the brethren, and a gesture of appreciation. In fact, the Bible actually commands us to greet each other Five times in the New Testament the church is instructed to greet each other with a holy kiss. Of course, in our culture we express greeting with a handshake, but in the Middle East, a kiss on each cheek was the custom of greeting friends, and is still in practice in that region today. The point is that as the church, part of our responsibility is to make all our fellow believers feel welcomed.

Take time out to look up the number of times the word ‘greet’ is used in the New Testament. Before ending a letter to the church, the apostles went to great pains to greet their fellows by name. Romans 16 ends with an interesting series of greetings. The Apostle Paul greets his acquaintances, and then Tertius attaches his own greeting with the letter.

To welcome each other in the fellowship of worship with a friendly greeting is a basic first step in the communion of the saints. It’s an important part of worship for it welcomes each other and acknowledges our appreciation for their part in the body of Christ. Every church should provide an opportunity for the saints to greet one another, and each member should be intentional about greeting and acknowledge the value of each member.

Friendship among believers.

As important as greeting one another with holy fellowship is to the assembly, fellowship does not end here. Greeting reminds each person that they are valued in the congregation, but friendship is where relationships are cultivated among the saints.

Jesus made it clear that the evidence we are following him is our love for each other. As we draw closer to Christ, a natural common bond should develop. Yet, in the church, there is a tendency to envy those who truly seek to know God, and this creates a barrier to fellowship. In part, the problem is that I am intimidated by the faith of another if I have no desire to follow Christ. So, often the problem with fellowship is a spiritual problem. If love is lacking in our lives, it is time to examine our own walk and see if my spiritual walk is becoming a hindrance to fellowship. Fellowship is a byproduct of a faithful walk with Christ. Look at 1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The truth is, two people walking down the same path have something in common. Two cannot walk together unless they agree. There has to be a common interest, and for the Christian, our faith provides that commonality that creates true fellowship. When I was in the military, I was frequently uprooted, and sent to places where I didn’t know anyone. When I first arrived in Germany many years back, I ended up in a unit with no Christian companionship. I could be friendly with others in my unit, but my faith conflicted with the lifestyles of those around me.

One day when I was feeling isolated, I looked out the window and saw two soldiers carrying Bibles as they headed for a study. I joined myself to them, and there was an instant bond. For the next two years, our friendship grew and the fellowship was always refreshing.

Every place I ended up, I found instant camaraderie. When I found believers, I found fellowship. In Acts 21, Paul was traveling to Jerusalem and had to stop at Tyre for the ship to unload her cargo. The Bible says he found disciples there and decided to stay with them for seven days. As Christians, we have the amazing privilege of having an instant connection with other believers because of our common faith. Truly, if we walk in the light of Christ, we will have fellowship with others who are also walking in that light.

There must be a genuineness in our faith. We must be intentional, and welcoming of others. We must reach out, and not put on a pretentious mask. There must be fellowship, not mere words. Look now at Romans 12:9-13

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

This is a perfect picture of fellowship. Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, abiding in prayer, and living out their faith will have a heart of fellowship. This is where true fellowship begins to take root in the local church. Once again, we have a passage that uses both agape and philia love. Agape causes us to live without hypocrisy, abhor evil, and cling to good. From this love, rooted in obedience and fellowship with Christ, pure philia love emerges. Brotherly affection becomes a part of our relationship with each other, and causes us to prefer one another. In other words, we want to be together. But it begins with an intentional obedience to love. It becomes a service to the Lord where we are diligent and fervent in our spirit of fellowship.

Hospitality is an important part of fellowship. It is welcoming brothers and sisters in Christ into your home, breaking bread together, and becoming involved in each other’s lives. It is not merely staying within our circle, but reaching out to others in the body as well. Cliques are part of human nature, but God calls us out of that way of living and into a brotherhood of fellowship. The Bible says, “The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all.”

Within the body of Christ, social classes must not be lines of division. Our commonality is not the things we possess or the status of our offices, but the fellowship of lives abiding in Christ. The church is not like the world. There are no meaningless lives or outcasts in the church. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,

²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

When this is lost, we have stepped outside of Christianity. Not only are we called to welcome those who are least in society, but we are called to give them greater honor. Those for whom honor comes naturally have no need. Those who lack are to be given greater honor. Intentional acknowledgement and intentional fellowship must thrive among the saints.

Those with charismatic personalities draw people to them. But what you will find is that those who are quiet and lacking in outward charisma have much to give. When we get beyond the outer shell, and past the reservations, you will find that most people are not much different than yourself.

In cliques, the circle is closed to outsiders. Even if we don’t realize it, we are excluding others by simply following our natural tendencies. It matters little if I feel that I would welcome anyone into my world if others don’t feel welcomed. Not everyone has the confidence or the personality to push there way into the circle. I must be intentional about reaching out to others, and lead them into the circle. And I must not only welcome those who can offer something I want. Fellowship for the purpose of fellowship alone is our calling – no, command. We are not called to make investments. If I extend myself only when I see something to gain in return, it’s an investment. Love is to give, looking for nothing in return.

The Bible says, he who loves another has fulfilled the law. The opposite is also true. If individuals are outside the love of the brethren, we have failed to fulfill the law.

Intimacy

Intimacy in our relationships is the highest form of love in the brethren – and the hardest to achieve. Intimacy is not something that comes naturally, but has to be cultivated by spending time with others. Usually, it is one on one time. Among men, this is a difficult task. I will not readily share my deepest needs with another man until trust has been established and I know this person will not reject me, slander me, or scoff at my weaknesses.

We’ve all heard about accountability partners, but this is rarely effective until a trusting relationship has developed. I have to get beyond friendliness, into friendship, and then true Christian intimacy can develop. It is difficult to obtain, but this level of love among friends creates a bond where two friends become stronger than two individuals. Christian intimacy makes personal discipleship thrive greater than one alone could ever be. Plus it provides a level of protection each person needs. Look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I would love to be someone who will never stumble or fall, but would be a rock solid Christian for my entire life. This, of course, is not possible. We all fall. We all stumble. We all have times in our life when we lose our way and don’t feel very spiritually minded. Yet, according to the Bible, intimacy is given by God for this very purpose. When I fall, and I am a lone Christian, I am left to flounder around with no one to pick me up. I may eventually get to my feet, but if my friend is with me, his hand is there to pull me up, and I am there for him. The warmth of friendship removes the chill of loneliness. Two friends standing up for one another is a powerful virtue. When three friends establish that level of intimacy, it is like a rope folded three times. It’s almost impossible to break.

Consider the ministry of the apostles. Paul didn’t travel alone. He always served with a companion, and he invested his life in that person. When Jesus sent the disciples out for ministry, he sent them by twos. God is not impressed with our rugged individualism; his plan is for each person to have deep fellowship and gain partners in both the ministry, and our walk of faith. When we serve as God has called, we will see God move as he has promised. The fruit of our lives, personal ministries, and church ministries will prove whether we have true fellowship.

The Fruit of Love

When I was a soldier, I often felt alone in the world around me. Surrounded by worldliness taxed my spirit, and because I had to live with a room full of men who opposed my lifestyle, the isolation was often hard to bear. Add to this, I was overseas and far from the securities of home.

An air force chaplain and his wife opened up their home to the soldiers as a part of his personal ministry. They created an atmosphere for Christian fellowship. Each Friday evening, there would be a meal where single soldiers and married couples would gather. After the meal, he gave a Bible study. Then his wife played the piano and we sang songs of praise. When all was done, I would sit for hours talking with fellow soldiers, or the chaplain, and we spent time learning what it meant to have true fellowship. This time became an anchor for my soul.

In our group of twenty or so people, I know of eight who went on to become missionaries and full time pastors. What pastor would not want 40% of their congregations to graduate into full time ministry? Could there be a better mark of success in one’s ministry?

Though the chaplain’s doctrine was solid, he wasn’t a dynamic speaker. He never built a church, or assembled thousands to hear him speak. To my knowledge, the groups he led never exceeded thirty people. But consider the impact this man had, and is having on the lives of those he touches. Every few years, soldiers are transferred and a new group slowly filtered into his fellowship. I can’t imagine how many ministers emerged from this small ministry.

It has been twenty years since I sat among those believers, and to be honest, I remember very little of the doctrine, but I hold the fellowship we had in my heart as a treasure. Although doctrine is important, doctrine without fellowship carries little weight. If love is absent, the hearts of the people will be hard as stone.

Fellowship was the power of his influence. His love for us, and our love for each other created an eagerness to grow in the faith. Because I had a heart full of desire, I carried myself to the scriptures and studied. His influence was not to teach me doctrine, but to teach me how to walk in fellowship with Christ and other believers so I was drawn to the doctrine. A desire to know the word came out of the communion with like minded believers. Fellowship without truth is a social club. Truth without fellowship is like seeding a barren ground. But when both are present, we will have given every person the opportunity to grow into the fullness of Christ.

To obtain these things, there must be intentional communion among the saints. It doesn’t just happen. It happens because you extend your soul to those around you. It only happens when we are not forgetful hearers, but doers of the word. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know you are my disciples, because of your love for one another.” You cannot expect God to add to the church if we are not investing our lives in cultivating love among the brethren – all brethren.

Eddie Snipes

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The Human Jesus? Part 2 of 2.

2010-05-11T02:45:00.000-07:00

Now look at a few claims made by The Human Jesus documentary.

God was born in human form in order to experience humanity for himself.

False. The purpose of God was not so he could overcome his ignorance and learn how it felt to be human. The purpose of Christ is explained in his own words, Matthew 20:

²⁸ "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Believing Jesus was God was the backdrop for the blood of martyrs.

False. This is probably the most unlearned comment in the documentary. It isn’t Bible believing Christians that are killing those who oppose them; it is always those who follow religious beliefs that persecute those who will not abandon the truth. Those behind the ecumenical movement are the ones claiming that biblical Christianity is a threat and must be eliminated. Rick Warren, a product of Fuller, said, “I'm saying some people are going to have to die or leave. Moses had to wander around the desert for 40 years while God killed off a million people before he let them go into the Promised Land. That may be brutally blunt, but it's true. There may be people in your church who love God sincerely, but who will never, ever change.”

Some in his circle are already beating the drums of war saying that Bible believing Christians will have to be eliminated before the world can enter into the next era of enlightenment. Persecution comes from those who depart from the authority of the word, not those who live in obedience to it.

It is also ironic that Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all their heart, but in the Fuller doctrine, people who love God sincerely will never change and are a threat to the movement. If the people in your congregation are showing that they love God, they are on the right track. Asking them to change is the real threat.

Trinitarians created their doctrine by taking the Hebrew word ‘echad’ - which means ‘one’, and making it mean plurality.

False. This is a fabricated straw man. The doctrine does not come from the word echad. The doctrine comes from the scriptures I cited in my study. It is God who called himself Yahweh, called the Spirit, Yahweh, and called the Redeemer he sent, Yahweh. To see the passages in both the Old and New Testaments that teach the Father, Son, and Spirit, go to http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com/2010/04/love-of-god-that-overcomes-condemnation_20.html.

People who worship Jesus have abandoned God and exalted Jesus to divinity.

False. Unless we receive Christ, we cannot receive God. John 3:13-16

¹³ "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
¹⁴ "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
¹⁵ "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Trinitarians place believing in the Trinity as a necessity and litmus test for salvation.

False. Believing that Jesus is who the Bible claims, yes, but placing the doctrine of the trinity as the litmus test of salvation is false. Like with all beliefs in all walks of life, you can probably find people who believe such things, but that doesn’t make it a biblical doctrine or a representation of Christianity. There are Oneness Christians who believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are roles, or offices of God. While this contradicts several passages of scripture, it does not mean that someone who believes in the oneness of God can’t be saved.

Unless someone understands the Trinity on a basic level, many of the things Jesus taught and the epistles teach are unclear. It’s not a question of salvation, but about believing the word of God. If someone can’t believe that Jesus is who he said he was and who the Bible reveals, they can’t be saved for as Acts puts it, “There is no other name, under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” If someone doesn’t believe this truth, they cannot be saved.

Because man seeks another way, they attempt to discredit Jesus, yet the Bible says,

John 10:6-11

⁶ Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
⁸ "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
⁹ "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
¹⁰ "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
¹¹ "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 8:23-24

²³ And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
²⁴ "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

This is the litmus test for salvation. If we do not believe that Jesus has come in the flesh, paid the penalty for our sins, and completed the work of salvation on our behalf, we cannot be saved. He that confesses the Lord shall be saved. Not confesses a false Jesus reconstructed in man’s image, but the one who believes in the Lord who came down from heaven to redeem us from our sins. Confession is not merely words, but a profession of the heart of the work of God, and their surrender to it.

Jesus, being a strict monotheist, did not believe in the Father, Son, and the Spirit.

This is so false it is almost comical. Only someone who hasn’t read the gospels could be compelled to believe this statement.

Matthew 28:19

¹⁹ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 15:26

²⁶ " But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

John 16:5-11

⁵ " But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'
⁶ "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
⁷ "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸ "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
⁹ "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
¹⁰ "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
¹¹ "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

All of these statements came from the mouth of Jesus. In case it is unclear, the Helper is the Holy Spirit. Jesus clarifies this in John 14:26. Apparently Jesus fully acknowledge the Father, Spirit, and of course, himself.

Jesus was just a man that God raised from the dead because of his obedience. Jesus is saying, “I did it, you can to.”

This is the heart of the debate. In order to exalt man, Jesus must be reduced to man’s level. The overarching theme is that man wants to be exalted, not humbled. Without reducing Jesus to mere human form, there can be no unified religion, for all world religions are focused on man’s merits, or his ability to achieve his own perfection. It is man’s quest for personal enlightenment, which, by the way, requires man to deny his own limitations and sinful human nature. It is the lie, told at the Garden of Eden. Satan declared, “God has not said…and, You can be like God.” The Bible says that God sent his only begotten son, but this false belief claims that he is like anyone else, only more enlightened.

Strangely absent was any theologian who attested to the virgin birth. Also absent was any theologian who testified to Philippians 2:5-8

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Why didn’t The Human Jesus interview theologians who respect the authority of scripture?

Another weak effort to prove their point was to interview unlearned church goers and make them look stupid by having liberal theologians try to corner them with questions they couldn’t answer. Their strongest evidence was interviewing random people who don't have knowledge of the scriptures, and don’t know why they believe these doctrines.

Where are the conservative theologians? Why didn’t they interview those who respect biblical authority? The ‘experts’ in the movie generalized Bible believing Christians and theologians into stereotypes they could reprove with false assumptions, but they carefully avoided exploring scriptural doctrines. I think the reason is clear. In order to refute scripture, they would have to present it to the audience, and that would admit the Bible teaches these things. The theme of the movie was intended to persuade the audience that the Bible doesn’t teach the things historical Christianity is founded upon. Therefore, they have to pretend it doesn’t exist in the Bible, otherwise they would have to admit they don’t believe the scriptures.

Jesus is only a human that God has exalted.

See the above scriptures. Jesus testified many times that he was sent into the world by the Father, and in John 8, he clearly states that he is not of this world, but came from above. If anyone does not believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be, they cannot be saved and will die in their sins. This isn’t my words. Nor is it tradition as the movie claims. This isn’t from a creed written in the 300s. This is the words of Jesus Christ.

So the question at hand is not, what do the theologians say. The question is, do you believe the scriptures? Do you want the Jesus of the Bible, or do you want a false Jesus, reconstructed into the image of fallen man. The word ‘reconstructed’ was taken directly from the movie. The theologians of Fuller Theological Institute are openly acknowledging that they are reconstructing Christianity into an ecumenical movement that will include all religions, and welcome anyone who will put aside any beliefs that threaten the consensus of the whole. Salvation is not found through consensus, but through faith in the completed work of Christ. Consider these passages of scripture:

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
² He was in the beginning with God.
³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Colossians 1:13-17

¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Let me conclude by explaining the meaning of firstborn. This passage says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, he created all things, and nothing was created without him. Yet he is called the firstborn over all creation. Firstborn is a position of honor.

In the Old Testament, the firstborn received a double inheritance and took over the spiritual leadership of the family. Usually it is given to the firstborn male child, but there are times when the firstborn is given to another. For example, Esau was the firstborn, but since he despised his birthright, it was given to Jacob. When Jacob was old, he blessed his grandchildren and declared that they would receive the inheritance with their father’s brothers. Joseph was the son, but his children were counted into the inheritance of Joseph’s brothers. The younger son, Ephraim, was counted as the firstborn over all the brothers. He was the youngest son of Joseph, and by far the youngest among his adoptive brothers, yet God declared, “For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”

By God’s declaration, Ephraim was given preeminence over his brothers and declared to be the one honored as the firstborn over the twelve tribes of Israel. In the same sense, Jesus, who was the creator of all things, was born of a virgin, humbled himself, became obedient unto death and was given a name above every name (Philippians 2:9). He was declared to be the firstborn over all creation. It is a position of honor. It is an acknowledgement that the name of Jesus Christ is above every name.

The choice we face is to bow to that name, or stand upon our own name. In the end, every knee will bow. We, who are born of the Spirit through his salvation will bow in victory and rejoice. Those who rebel will bow in defeat.

Man can deny the value of Christ, but even those who deny will one day acknowledge him as Lord and Christ – the mighty God, Emmanuel, God with us. As we can see from scripture, there is no denying the divinity of Christ. To deny does not change the fact that he existed in the form of God, humbled himself to fulfill the law and pay for our debt, and we will die in our sins unless we believe that He is who the Bible claims him to be.

The Human Jesus? Part 1 of 2.

2010-05-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

What is the one thing that sets Christianity apart from world religions? Here’s a hint from Matthew 16:13-17

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
¹⁴ So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

This is a note I receive concerning the Trinity I included in one of my studies.

The Human Jesus

On the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus

Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"

Of course, the doctrine I presented in my study was taken directly from the scriptures – both Old and New Testaments. Click here to view. The person of Jesus is a topic that has always been debated, and will always be debated among world religions. As the Bible is pushed out of its place in the church, the line blurs between Christianity and other religions, making room for ecumenical beliefs and a single world religion. This is something the Bible indicates as a fulfillment of the great falling away as foretold in prophecy.

To deny the person of Christ is necessary for agreement among world religions, but is detrimental to true faith. “Who do you say that I am?” is the question that divides the redeemed from the world. According to Jesus, this is an answer that reveals the work of the Spirit in our lives. We can only declare him as lord of our lives by the Spirit (1 John 4). Of course, when we declare him as Lord, it is to truly make him lord, not to just give lip service. Since the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Lord who came down from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47), and he existed in the form of God prior to taking on the role of a bondservant in human form (Philippians 2:5-8), and Jesus himself stated that he shared the glory of God before the foundation of the earth (John 17:5), it should be evident that we cannot remove the divinity of Christ without departing from the scriptures.

Since Fuller has presented this as an authoritative movie, I thought it good to watch it and answer some of its claims. Once I saw that the video was produced in coordination with Fuller Theological Institute, I already knew where it was going. Fuller is a school that seeks to unite Christian, New Age, and pagan religions into one. Obviously, this is not possible if you hold to Jesus as the source of salvation, since all these religions reject that notion. New Age and pagan religions welcome the idea that Jesus was a mere man who became great through human effort, since this allows them to be a god unto themselves. This also explains why The Human Jesus claims that believing in his divinity is the backdrop for martyrdom. I’ll point out a few things on the movie in a moment, but in case you aren’t aware of the stance of Fuller and their paganistic beliefs, here is a short insight in their leaders, both past and present. Afterward, we’ll look at some of the main points of the movie.

Paul Jewett was Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Seminary. In 1975 he published Man as Male and Female. In the book Man as Male and Female, Fuller professor Paul Jewett admits that he has been influenced by modern biblical criticism and claims that the Bible contains error because it was written by men:

“Historical and critical studies of the biblical documents have compelled the church to abandon this simplistic view of the divinity of Scripture [the traditional doctrine that the Bible is the Word of God without error] and to take into account the complexity at the human level of the historical process by which the documents were produced. Instead of the simple statement, which is essentially true, that the Bible is a divine book, we now perceive more clearly than in the past that the Bible is a divine/human book. As divine, it emits the light of revelation; as human, this light of revelation shines in and through the ‘dark glass’ (1 Cor. 13:12) of the ‘earthen vessels’ (2 Cor. 4:7) who were the authors of its content at the human level” (Jewett, Man as Male and Female, p. 135).

Of course when the Bible refers to us ‘seeing through a glass darkly’, it is not referring to the Bible as a weak emittance of light. It is referring to man’s limited ability to see the eternal. He has taken passages that refer to man’s limits and falsely applied them to mean the Bible’s limit and unreliability. The foreword of Paul Jewett's book was written by Virginia Mollenkott, chairman of the Department of English at William Paterson College in New Jersey.

In 1994, Virginia Mollenkott wrote a the book, 'The Divine Feminine: The Biblical Imagery of God as Female', Mollenkott calls God the “One Mother of us all” (p. 19) and suggests that the Lord’s prayer might be addressed to “Our Father/Mother who is in Heaven” (p. 116).

This is clearly an attempt to recreate God in man’s image rather than accepting what God has revealed about himself to us in scripture. In 1978 she co-authored (with Letha Scanzoni) the book entitled Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? In this book Mollenkott praises her own homosexuality as a divine gift and denies that homosexuality was condemned in the Bible. As a practicing homosexual, she has a clear motive for denying the authority of scripture.

Man’s condition is always contrary to God. This doesn’t only apply to the homosexual, but to each of us whether we have eyes to see it or not. What about men and women with sexual addictions? Is this a divine gift? Is a violent temper a divine gift? The reason for the Bible’s instruction is not to condemn, but to show the entire world of their need for redemption, so we turn our eyes to the only source of grace – Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more,” we are redeemed, not condemned. But we still have the command to go and sin no more. To justify our sins is to seek refuge in our own self-justification, rather than to turn to the redeemer of our souls to be made clean.

Charles Scalise is associate professor of church history and academic director of Fuller Theological Seminary in Seattle’s M. Div. program. He authored the book From Scripture to Theology: A Canonical Journey into Hermeneutics (InterVarsity Press, 1996). In this book he denies the historical accuracy of scripture, claims that Moses did not author the Pentateuch but it was written centuries later, and he challenges the infallibility of scripture throughout the book.

Siang-Yang Tan, director of the Psychology program at Fuller Seminary, was one of the attendees of the national conference on Personal Spiritual Renewal in October 1991. It was hosted by Renovare, an organization founded by Richard Foster. Speaking in the evening sessions, Foster called for unity in the “body of Christ” through the “five streams of Christianity: the contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice and evangelical.” He promoted occultic meditative techniques such as guided imagery and visualization. Another speaker was Renovare Steering Committee member Sister Bernard, a Catholic nun who is involved in the Buddhist-Roman Catholic dialogue. Fuller professor Tan “stressed the need to integrate psychology with spirituality” and “advocated inner healing, healing of the memories, and other occultic visualization techniques” (Christian Information Bureau Bulletin, December 1991).

Fuller / World Council of Churches

The Fuller Theological Seminary also hosted the World Council of Churches in 1995. Some excerpts from this follow:

Goddess Worship

The WCC-sponsored conference featured a standing ovation for a group of some 100 “lesbian, bi-sexual, and transsexual women” who gathered on the platform. On Sunday morning, the conferees joined in repeating a prayer to Sophia: “Our maker Sophia, we are women in your image. ... Our guide, Sophia, we are women in your image.” (Sophia is a goddess worshipped in New Age circles)

These, who claim that Jesus is merely a man and not to be worshiped, are promoting those who worship a non-existent goddess. Why don’t they discourage goddess worship? Or the worshiping of nature as shared at the council at Fuller below.

Chung Hyun Kyung spoke at the conference saying, “My bowel is Buddhist bowel, my heart is Buddhist heart, my right brain is Confucian brain, and my left brain is Christian brain. ... If you feel very tired and you don’t have any energy to give, what you do is ... go to a big tree and ask it, ‘give you some of your life energy.’”

Chung Hyun Kyung also summoned the spirits of the dead and “the spirit of Earth, Air, and Water.” Chung said, “I also know that I no longer believe in an omnipotent, Macho, warrior God who rescues all good guys and punishes all bad guys.”

So they are praying to trees for strength while, not only denying Christ, but mocking the idea of a powerful, omnipotent God.

Megatrends For Women, by Patricia Aburdene and John Naisbitt, is endorsed and sold in the Fuller library and in its online bookstore (http://fulleripac.fuller.edu/#focus). This is a blatantly New Age occultic book that challenges biblical Christianity and promotes Goddess worship. The Fuller online catalog promotes this book with the following quote:

To hell with sexism : women in religion -- The menopause megatrend --Collaborative couples -- Fashion : top down to bottom up -- The family revival -- The goddess reawakening -- Save the world : women as social activists -- Women in the new world order.

The inside cover flap has the following promotional comments:

Whether theologians or nuns or New Agers, women are transforming both religion and spirituality by rejecting the notion of a male divinity and embracing the archetype of the Great Goddess.

I point all of this out to show the foundational beliefs of the Fuller Institute and the scholars they employ to discredit the divinity of Christ. Both past and present, this theological seminary has a proven track record for dismantling the belief in the scripture, and recreating a new spirituality that masquerades as Christianity in name only. This new spirituality is critical of the Bible, only looking at scripture as a dim fraction of light that is hindered by the humans who penned the bible. They believe it is unreliable, unauthoritative, and only to be taken when it agrees with the world spirituality they follow.

As we approach this movie, keep these things in mind and realize that this is not a movie that examines scripture to determine who Jesus is. It is a movie whose makers view the Bible through the lens of pagan beliefs, and they filter out the passages that contradict their claims. The strength of their argument is not an examination of passages, but the claims of those who set themselves up as authoritative. They have substituted their own authority in place of the Bible.

Next, we’ll examine some of the claims of The Human Jesus.

The Love of God that Overcomes Condemnation (Part 5 of 5)

2010-04-27T00:38:00.000-07:00

Why does our loving God condemn?

So why won’t God allow those who reject Christ to enter into fellowship with him? Maybe a better question would be, how can we expect someone who is in rebellion against God to have fellowship with the God they are challenging? How can love remain perfect if we allow imperfect self-love to enter into the fellowship of agape? Perfection and imperfection cannot coexist.

Man enters God’s perfect love through Christ as he lets go of the things that ensnare his soul. Anything else is corruption, and God will not compromise his perfect character, nature, or love. Someone once illustrated this well. If someone had a gallon of pure water, and added one drop of sewage to it, would you drink it? What about half a drop? The truth is, any amount of sewage introduces something harmful to the water and makes it impure. A few bacteria can start a disease that will destroy our bodies. The same is true with God’s perfect love. To allow man to bring his corrupt nature into fellowship creates an impure love that is no longer agape. We cannot expect God to cease from his perfection in order to have fellowship with man. It is as if many are asking God to fall and corrupt himself, rather than allowing him to redeem and cleanse fallen man.

With what we have learned from scripture, we can understand what it means to love God with all our heart. The Bible says that when we surrender to the love of God through Christ, we are born again as a new creation, born after the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). As part of that new birth, the Spirit of God indwells us (1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 John 3:9). And the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

Loving God is taking the love that God has poured out in our heart, and giving it back to him through our lives by abiding in fellowship and obedience. Through fellowship with God, we naturally have fellowship with those who are drawing near with us, and we will do good works to those God is touching through our lives. We give, because we have received. Our new lives are born after the Spirit of God, and in order to draw near to God, all we must do is walk in the Spirit. This is accomplished through studying and yielding ourselves to obey his word.

The scripture has been given to us as a glimpse into the infinite nature of God. We know him by seeking the Lord through the word. Because God is infinite, we never exhaust the depth of what there is to seek. Think of the scriptures as a fraction of infinity. God has taken part of himself, and revealed it to us. I can divide the scriptures infinitely, and never exhaust what he can reveal about himself through the Bible. This is why we can study the Bible all our life, and continuously discover new truths in passages we’ve read hundreds of times.

Consider this passage from 2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Notice that God instructed us to ‘rightly divide’. To rightly divide, means to take a portion of scripture, dig it out to examine it closer, search its depths, and keep it within the whole of scripture. To divide the word, we examine another fraction, but we do not divide it from the whole. To rightly divide the word, each passage and doctrine must remain in harmony with the rest of scripture. To divide one scripture from another is to separate it from God’s perfection, thus making it corrupt. We can then no longer accurately call it the truth. We divide by exploring, not separating. The scriptures show us all that God has revealed about himself, but not all that God is. Yet through this small revelation of God, we can explore God to the limits of man’s ability to understand as the Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding.

Through the word, salvation is revealed, our path is made clear, we are cleansed from our sins, and we learn to have fellowship with God. Let’s conclude this study by looking at John 14:23-26

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
²⁴ "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
²⁵ " These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
²⁶ "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Through keeping the word, we discover the love of God, and find the promise that both the Father and Son will abide in us. God indeed loves us, and came to deliver us from our condemnation so we could be partakers of the divine nature through Christ.

Eddie Snipes
http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com

The Love of God that Overcomes Condemnation (Part 4 of 5)

2010-04-26T00:35:00.000-07:00

Works Born through Love.

I want to take a moment to look at works. The Bible speaks volumes on this topic and there is much to be discussed, but I want to address one important misconception of works. Often it is taught that salvation is by grace, through faith, plus works. Yet the Bible says if we seek grace by works, it is no longer grace. Also consider Romans 9:31-32

³¹ but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
³² Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

Israel pursued the righteousness of God by trying to keep commandments, yet they missed the grace of God. In fact, grace became a stumbling stone that caused them to fall. In Galatians, the Church attempted to please God by keeping the ordinance of circumcision, thinking their works would please God, yet they were told, “You have fallen from grace.” The problem was that they shifted their focus from faith in Christ, to needing to do something extra by their own efforts.

It is true that God does not save us so we can live contrary to his will, but we also must realize that those who belong to Christ will be judged by their works. Not judged for their salvation, but for their reward. Consider 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
¹³ each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
¹⁴ If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Even those without works will be saved, but there is no reward. This is why the Bible warns us not to fall into the trap of Esau, who sold his inheritance for a bowl of stew. Esau had a birthright and would have inherited a lifetime of benefits, but he despised his inheritance and chose to give it up for a moment of gratification. We make the same decision in our daily Christian walk. We can sell our inheritance for a moment of gratification in this life, or we can sacrifice the cravings of our flesh and reach for the promise.

Works do not justify man. Works cannot justify man. God has declared that he will not allow any flesh to glory in his presence. Anything you do for God is wood, hay, and straw. Jesus said that the flesh cannot produce the things of the Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of Spirit is spirit. That means, by human effort, we can never please God. The same principle that applies to the world trying to merit salvation also applies to the Christian trying to merit rewards.

Fruitless works are what we do for God; precious works are what God produces in us. Look at the words of Jesus in John 15:4-5

⁴ "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
⁵ "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
…
⁷ "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
⁸ "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Jesus explained that one day men will stand before him and declare all the good works they have done in his name, yet he will declare their works to be lawlessness. How can we do good in the name of Jesus and have it be a lawless act? The reason is that man cannot bear fruit of himself. The Spirit bears fruit and this will only happen if we are abiding in Christ and his words abiding in us. Even our asking is for the purpose of glorifying God and bearing fruit to him. If you treasure his word in you, so you abide in Christ, fruit is a product of a healthy relationship with him. Also consider this foundational passage in Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.
¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Works are not something we do for God; it is the work of God that we walk in once we understand faith. The problem is that many Christians are putting works ahead of faith instead of the other way around. Works cannot produce faith. Faith is a gift of God. Works cannot merit grace, for then grace would no longer be grace (Romans 11:6). Your works can never merit anything of God, for then we would have something to boast of. Our efforts would have earned favor, and then we could glory in God’s presence, and 1 Corinthians 1:29 says that God will not allow this. In the passage above, we see the same thing explained. Works cannot merit grace, because it is a gift. We can never boast about the Lord’s blessings or favor in our lives, for his grace is always a gift.

Only after we have received unmerited grace do we see works mentioned. Even then, it is not our work. We are God’s workmanship, created for good works that God prepared before hand that we should walk in them. Does it say, “Find something to do for God?” Does the Bible say, “Get busy for God?” No, works have been prepared by God beforehand, and all we must do is walk in them through our abiding fellowship in Christ.

Another example of this is found in Hebrews 4. The Bible explains how Israel could not enter the rest God prepared for them because of their unbelief, and then scripture says something interesting about works. Look at Hebrews 4:

³ For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

This is the same principle found in Ephesians above. The works of God were finished before the world was founded. We are not doing anything for God that he has not already established within his own foreknowledge and plan. I have several children. Each of them delighted in doing things for their daddy. Their assistance was never needed, in fact, their help was a hindrance. When a three year old helps their father, they think they are doing something big. For them it is a mighty effort and a big task. They would falter in their efforts and then say, “I helped daddy.”

They could not see that I was guiding them in the work, preventing them from doing irreparable harm, and patching up their futile efforts. One of my young daughters helped me replant strawberries early this spring. She put forth her best effort, but left the roots showing, dug the holes too shallow, and watered too little. As we worked, I deepened the holes, covered the roots, and made sure it was watered. Unbeknownst to her, I continued to sustain the plants long after she finished her work. The other day we were looking at the blooming strawberry plants, some with twenty or more budding strawberries. They are producing much fruit. She looked at one of the productive plants and said, “That’s one that I planted!”

She saw the fruit of her labors, knew she helped her father, but has no idea that if I left her work to her efforts, the plant would be struggling or even dead. So why do I let a three and four year old child work with me in the garden? I can be more productive without them. The work would be fast, efficient, and productive. I bring my children into my work because I love them. I want to have fellowship with my kids, and their role in the work serves no other purpose than for them to know the joy of enjoying the experience with me. They look at the garden, eat the fruit of the work, and are satisfied with both the relationship of working with Dad, and knowing that they were part of the work.

Do we, as mortal men and women, think we can do anything for God that he cannot do for himself? He created the world, stars, universe and all that is within it. God created life and sustains all things by the word of his power(Hebrews 1:3). And he accomplished this without our help. Yet, he calls us into the work, knowing that we will dig too shallow, goof things up, and leave messes for our heavenly father to clean up. Why does God do it? It is for one thing, and one thing only. Love – agape.

God calls us to walk in his works, which he prepared before hand and has already finished, so that we can share in his fellowship and enjoy the fruit produced through his hand. It is the work of God that he desires to share with us because he loves us. We see the fruit he is producing, and he gives us the benefits that in truth we don’t deserve. Like my children sitting at the table and saying, “I helped grow this,” God invites us to the table of his fellowship and allows us to enjoy the fruit of a life in Christ. The fruit of our life is a gift of love, not a merit from our labor.

Paul said it best when he said that he was called to preach the gospel. “If I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, I still have the dispensation of the gospel given to me.” In other words, obedience is necessary in order to remain in fellowship with God, but the reward is not for the labor, but our heart of willingness. We are willing because we act out of love for our God. The work is already finished. We are just called to walk in it. If we pout and grumble, we have no reward. If we refuse to work, God will chastise us. If we are never chastised, the Bible warns that we may not be children of God at all. But if we serve willingly, because we are making God our first love and walking in fellowship with him, he rewards us. Look at Hebrews 11:6

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The reward is not in the labor, but in a heart that believes the Lord and seeks him diligently. It is a child who says to her father, “I want to go with you,” and is then willing to be led, and does so by taking joy in the fellowship with her father. My three year old has no fear of fouling up the work, because her focus is on the fellowship. Those who are fearful of the work have missed the point. They are focused on their abilities rather than God’s completed work. It is completed within his plan, but we are walking in it as we journey to that final day of completion, which God has already foreordained.

Also, those who serve God out of fear are missing the joy of fellowship. If I am only serving out of fear, I am not working out of love. Like Paul, who said (to paraphrase), “I have a reward if I do this willingly, but if unwilling, I am only fulfilling my required duties,” I am missing the reward. The reward is in the joy of fellowship. God has called me to enter the fellowship of love within himself, and I am missing the greatest gift if I am only looking at labor as an escape from fear and not looking at the joy of walking in God’s will. It is not my salvation that is at stake, it is the joy of fellowship I am striving to obtain. Look at 1 John 4:17-19

¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.

Any who serve God out of fear, has not been perfected by love. So works must begin with a heart of love. Working to appease is worthless and has no merit. Working to appease is a failure to realize that our labors are not to accomplish God’s will, but to join him in his labors, and experience the unmerited reward of his fruitful work. God wants to give us what we don’t deserve, and produce fruit that our labors cannot accomplish. It is all rooted in the love of God. The fruit will be produced, with or without your help. The finished work was built into creation and will be accomplished. The labor is God’s love, offered to you, so you can share in the rewards of what God is producing. It is unmerited, undeserved, pure love. It is God’s gift to you, not your gift to him. God calls you to walk in the works he established before the world began so you can share in the fruit that will be produced by his hand.

Eddie Snipes
http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com

Concluded on Part 5.

The Love of God that Overcomes Condemnation (Part 3 of 5)

2010-04-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Why God Judges Unbelief

Now that we have looked at what the love of God is, let’s look at why a loving God would allow people to die in their sins if they do not believe on Christ. What we fail to realize is that through our sinful nature, we are fallen from grace. It is not that God is angry because we haven’t believed. It is that we are already under condemnation as part of our natural state. Look at John 3:17-19

¹⁷ "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
¹⁸ "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
¹⁹ "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The Bible tells us that Jesus wasn’t sent to condemn the world, yet any who don’t believe are under condemnation. We are already under condemnation, or as Romans 3:23 puts it, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. By nature, man falls short of God’s glorious nature and cannot enter into the perfect fellowship of God’s love. We are already under condemnation because we have sinned from the time we could act upon our own will, and anything that contradicts or rebels against the nature of God cannot have fellowship with God.

Sin is anything that rebels against God’s nature and character. There are those who love sin and choose to remain under condemnation because they love evil. Evil is anything that opposes the goodness of God. Each sin marks us for condemnation, and since we have a fallen nature, we cannot produce the righteousness necessary to stand in God’s presence. The commandments in scripture are the instructions that lead us to God’s character so that we can conform to his image, draw near to him, and abide in his love. And the first command we must obey is to come to Christ so our sins can be lifted from our burden, and born by him.

Those who oppose God say, “How can God condemn me for not believing in him?” But the truth is that they are already under condemnation, and faith calls them to redemption. When man loves his fallen state, he will not love the goodness of God. Unless we believe and surrender to the redemption of Christ, we remain in our current state. We are fallen, born in sin, and have minds that naturally oppose God. We may be born with a fallen nature, but it is our own sin that condemns us. From birth, we are selfish and sinful. Even a toddler rebels against what is good, and continues to grow in rebellion as they reach adulthood. We may learn to curb our behavior through the fear of consequences and the desire for benefits, but in our heart, we remain self-serving.

Jesus declared, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” Jesus, God in the flesh, entered into our world, fulfilled the law that man could not keep, and bore the penalty of our sins so we could be reconciled to God. It is the love of God, poured out for us on the cross that created a door for us to pass from fallen humanity, and into a redeemed life where we can become partakers of God’s own divine nature. Or as the Bible puts it in 2 Peter 1:3-4

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

It is God’s divine power that transforms us so that we are partakers of his nature. We, who are not divine, become partakers of God’s divine nature. God reaches out his loving hand to guide us into fellowship with him through Christ. We then have the incredible privilege to enter into the fellowship of agape love. It isn’t our love, it is God’s love that we are walking in and experiencing. We then take the commandments (that are not a burden) and obey them so we are guided deeper into the love of God, which puts us deeper into fellowship with our Creator.

God’s love is not greater for one person than another. The difference is how we experience the love of God. As we grow closer to God, we experience a deeper fellowship of love. When we walk contrary to God, we lose that fellowship. This is explained in 1 John 1:6-9

⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It is impossible to have fellowship with God and walk in our own self-centered ways. When we sin, we are stepping out of the fellowship of God’s love, and walking into darkness. It’s not a loss of salvation; it’s a loss of fellowship. God guides us back, convicts our heart, and even chastises us so we see the futility of our own ways and repent. Repentance is turning from our ways, confessing our sins, and allowing God to restore us into fellowship with him.

The glory of God is the central theme of the gospel. The Bible says that works cannot please God because the flesh cannot produce good (Romans 7:18, John 6:63), and God will not allow anything of the flesh to glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:29). Instead of bringing what we hope will make God accept us, we are laying down all that is of the flesh, and receiving the love of God into our lives by taking on the new nature he as created for us. We are answering the call to enter into the union of perfect love so we can have fellowship with God. We are receiving the love of God, abiding in it, and giving his love back through our obedience and keeping his commandments.

Continued on Part 4.

Eddie Snipes
http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com

The Love of God that Overcomes Condemnation (Part 2 of 5)

2010-04-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

Understanding Agape through the fellowship of the Godhead

1 Corinthians 13:¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Why is the greatest attribute in the Christian life love? Why did Jesus say, “The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind soul and strength. And the second commandment comes out of the first – to love your neighbor as yourself?” He also explained that on these two commands, hang all the law and the prophets. The entire fulfillment of scripture is summed up with, love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Yet people say, “I love God,” but deny him with their actions. Jesus said that if we love him, we’ll keep his word and if we disobey, we don’t love him. In the epistle of 1 John, we are told that if we say we love him, but don’t show love to each other, we are a liar. And if we love the things God hates, the love of God cannot abide in us. In John 15, Jesus explained that we keep ourselves in the love of God by walking in his commandments. Yet, by nature, man does not shun his own selfish desires, and obedience becomes a miserable experience when we are trying to enter God’s love through our own obedience.

Love produces obedience, but obedience without love produces legalism and an illusion of righteousness—a false righteousness that cannot please God and often oppresses man. The Christian obeys joyfully because the love of God is poured out in our hearts when the Holy Spirit is given to us (Romans 5:5). Love must first begin with God, for God is love. So let’s look at love from its source.

God is love, and only his love is the source of perfection. Keep in mind that the love of God is the Greek word ‘agape’, which is self-giving, self-sacrificing love. Agape is only attributed to God for he is the source of agape. Agape is a love that seeks the good of another, even at the cost of self-sacrifice. Love is why Jesus became obedient, to the point of death—even death on the cross. This is also why Jesus said in John 15:9-10

⁹ " As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
¹⁰ "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

God is the father of love. Love is a gift, given to us without merit. It stands true, and we must choose to abide in it by living in the commandments that allow us to have unity with God. Love is found in God, for God is love. Outside of fellowship with God, agape love is absent. Love firsts exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Creation does not exist because God needs to be loved; creation exists because God is filled with perfect love, and the Lord desires to share the overflow of his love with us. He is not asking for you to produce love for him; he is asking you to abide in his love so you can experience the love of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Some miss this important principle in scripture. It is argued that three persons in one God is impossible to comprehend; therefore, it can’t be true. This argument is flawed, for God himself is incomprehensible. Does God cease to exist because we can’t comprehend an infinite God with our limited mind? Does math cease to exist because we can’t grasp it through limited minds?

The question is not, can we understand all that God is; the question is, how has God revealed himself to us in scripture. He has given us glimpses of his attributes, but even if we know the scriptures, we can’t know all that God is. The Bible reveals what we need to experience faith and love, but they do not reveal all that God is. However, to understand what God has given us, we must accept what he reveals about himself. Consider Isaiah 48:16-17

¹⁶ "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."
¹⁷ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Add to this Isaiah 44:6

⁶ " Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

When the English translation of the Bible puts the word ‘LORD’ or ‘GOD’ in all caps, it is to alert us to the fact that the word ‘yhwh’ is used. This is translated as Yahweh or Jehovah. It is a reference to the highest name of God. So in Isaiah 44, Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, who is also called Yahweh, declares that he is one God and there is none beside him. In Isaiah 48 we see the same thing. GOD (Yahweh) and his own Spirit has sent the Redeemer, who is the LORD (Yahweh). There is another passage from the Old Testament we should especially consider. Look at Zechariah 2:10-11

¹⁰ " Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD.
¹¹ "Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

The Redeemer who promises to dwell in the midst of Israel is calling himself Yahweh and foretells that Israel will one day know that Yahweh has sent him (Yahweh the Redeemer) to Israel. Chapter 13 tells of the last days when the people of Israel will ask what the wounds in his hands and side are, and then they will recognize that they have killed their Messiah. They will mourn over their sin and receive God’s grace, ending their judgment for rejecting God. The point for us to consider is that Yahweh is declaring that he was sent by Yahweh.

Now, let’s look at the New Testament. Start with 1 John 5:5-7

⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
⁶ This is He who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
⁷ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

The Gospel of John begins with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.” John goes on to explain that Jesus is the Word, and in his letters to the church, he continues to refer to Christ as the Word. The word ‘Trinity’ is not found in scriptures. It is a Latin word that the church has adopted in order to identify with these passages that explain the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity means three unified in one. It is merely a single word to explain a complex doctrine about God found in both the Old and New Testaments.

Man can’t fathom what it means to be three distinct persons who have fellowship and perfect love, but declared to be one God. How can Yahweh, the ruler of Israel, and Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, declare “I am one God, and beside me there is no other God?” The human mind can’t grasp this concept because God does not exist within the realm of man, nor within the finite boundaries we can understand. That is why people come up with analogies that fall short. I’ve heard people explain that the Trinity is like a man who is a father, son, and husband. He is known by each role, but is one person. This example completely misses the point. I am a father, son, and husband, but I cannot have fellowship and perfect love with myself. I am one person and one being. God is three persons and one being. Consider these three passages:

John 8:¹⁶ "And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

John 8:²⁹ "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

John 16:³² "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

John 5:³⁰ "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

If I’m alone, I am alone. I cannot have fellowship with myself, obey myself, send myself, deny my own will to obey the will of myself, etc. God is complete, self-sustaining, self-existent, and in perfect fellowship and love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I went through this scriptural look at the Trinity to make this main point clear. God expresses and experiences perfect love through the fellowship of himself as the Father, Son, and Spirit. This is why Jesus, who is Yahweh, can say that he abides in the love of the Father, Yahweh, and how he can declare his own love in return. If God existed alone in the universe, his love is still expressed perfectly within his own being, without need of anything or anyone. His love is perfect in him alone. Nothing can give what God does not already possess. Nothing can exist without God’s sustaining power. Our love is not what we have produced to give him. True and perfect love is what God has given to us and we express in return by abiding in that love.

If we understand the love of God, we understand the Christian life. The Bible is not complicated once we realize that everything good comes from God and we are dependent upon him for everything. If we shift the attributes of God, and put it upon man, the gospel becomes complicated as we try to reconcile contradictions that cannot be fulfilled by mere religion. Jesus said that he came to give the blind sight. When the religious leaders thought they could see through their own abilities, Jesus said their blindness and sin remained. Those who look to God will have their eyes opened, will have the faith to believe, will have the righteousness of Christ, and will accomplish good works as the Lord does his work through them.

Love comes from God alone. God is love, and we must enter his love to experience love. Love cannot be found any other way. Look at 1 John 5:3-5

³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.
⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This goes with what Jesus said in John 6:28-29

²⁸ Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. This is the work of God, that we believe on Jesus. We’ve already seen that Jesus warned that we will die in our sins if we don’t believe he was the one sent for our redemption, now let’s explore why this statement is true.

Continued on Part 3.

Eddie Snipes
http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com

The Love of God that Overcomes Condemnation (Part 1 of 5)

2010-04-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

My goal in this study is not merely to look at what the Bible teaches about condemnation, but primarily to understand what it means to love God. We can only understand how to love God when we understand God’s love for us. There is a reason why the Bible tells us that we love God because he first loved us. As we explore the scriptures, my hope is that we’ll end this study understanding why love covers a multitude of sins, and see the doorway of love, given through Christ, that leads us out of condemnation.

1 John 4:7-8

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God is love. If God is love, then how can a loving God bring condemnation upon those who reject him? This question is asked dozens of ways and is a point of confusion to both the church and the unchurched culture. How can this statement, which seems like a contradiction be true? There are some who try to deny that God will avenge anything, and even deny the Bible teaches these things. In order to honestly examine the topic of a loving God and a God who judges, let’s bring in a few more verses. We’ll start with looking at the judgment of God, and then see how it ties into the loving God we base our hope upon. Look at 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

⁷ And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The purpose of this passage is to give the persecuted church rest, knowing God sees, and will avenge the hardships we endure for living the faith. However, the question at hand is, why would a loving God repay vengeance on those who do not know him? Why would the Bible say in Jude that those who deny Christ have been marked out for condemnation along with the angels who didn’t keep their proper state? Also, consider the words of Jesus in John 8:23-24

²³ And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

²⁴ "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

In each of these passages, we are told that judgment and condemnation come to those who don’t believe and don’t obey the gospel. Why must we believe that Jesus is our savior in order to keep from dying in our sins? How can God condemn or judge a person for simply not believing, and still claim to be the God of love?

To understand this, we need to look at the nature of love and the character of God as he has revealed himself to us in scripture. The first thing to keep in mind is that we are finite creatures, living in a finite world. God has revealed himself to us in finite terms that we can understand, but we still cannot grasp the infinite. God is infinite; therefore, it is not possible to wrap our minds around God, or to fully understand even a single attribute of his infinite character. So as we move forward, keep this in mind.

Man cannot grasp infinity. As an illustration of this truth, think of the number line you probably learned in third grade math class. In the center of the number line is a zero. To the right, the numbers start at one and go forward until you reach an arrow that represents infinity. What is the biggest number? There isn’t one. Regardless of how high we count, there are always more numbers to add. We stop seeing the numbers when we stop looking, but our limitations do not end the infinite span of numbers.

What if we go the opposite direction to discover where numbers begin? The same infinite problem faces us. While zero may represent our starting point, it does not represent where numbers begin, for we can go backward to infinitum.

What if we divide a number? As children, we used to say, “You have until the count of ten to hide.” But when we played with a younger kid, we’d reach nine and see they were still trying to find a hiding place. So we would say, nine and a half, nine and three-quarters, nine and nine-tenths. We could continue to delay as long as we wanted. If we divide the number between nine and ten, we can fraction it to infinitum. We can also divide each fraction forever. Each portion of that fraction can be divided forever. It never ends.

Each effort of man to explore any portion of mathematics finds the limitation of his own patience and ability. Man ends at the limit of his own mind, but infinity remains beyond him. No matter how far he gets, he has not begun to understand or touch what is available. It’s never ending, infinite, and unattainable by the human mind. The so-called super computers have only touched a fraction of infinity. Through technology, man has taken a larger portion of information, and made it accessible to the finite mind. Even with these major leaps forward, mankind will never begin to ascend the infinite scale of the simplest task of counting or dividing numbers.

If we honestly look at God as an infinite being, we realize that it is impossible to understand God or even know him. In Galatians 4, Paul says, “You have known God, or rather are known by God.” He stopped himself in mid-sentence to correct the assumption that man could ever know God. We know him within our world, but we are only grasping the attributes God has revealed within a world we can understand. We can understand that we do indeed know him within our personal relationship of Christ, but we cannot know him as he is. Our knowledge of God is bound within our limited point of view.

To understand judgment and love, we have to understand how God has revealed himself to man, and that he has done so for the purpose of revealing his love to us. I’ll explain this more fully as we go farther into this study, but be aware that God’s love originates within himself, and he is calling us to enter that love through Christ.

Continued on Part 2.

Eddie Snipes
http://exchangedlifediscipleship.blogspot.com

Understanding Regeneration / Salvation (Part 2 of 2)

2010-04-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

Let me take a moment to talk a little about faith. Understanding faith is critical to becoming a Christian and living the Christian life. Faith is not a complicated concept but there is much to learn. I will hit on this topic several times on this blog, including a post dedicated to understanding faith. Since faith applies to every area of the Christian life, I will be discussing it all along the way.

When you boil all the doctrine about faith down to its core, faith is simply believing God and trusting Him. Faith isn’t just believing, but a trust based on that belief. An illustration of this that comes to mind was the daredevil Charles Blondin. In 1859 he became the first person to cross the Niagara Falls on a tightrope. One of his many stunts was to push a wheelbarrow across the falls blindfolded. After completing the journey he asked the enthusiastic crowd if they believed he could cross the falls with a person in the wheelbarrow. Everyone said they believed with excitement, but when he began to ask people to get in, not one person was willing to trust him with their life. They believed, but they did not trust.

The same is true when it comes to trusting Christ. Many say that they believe, but faith without works (or action) is dead according to the scriptures[1]. To say, “I believe that Jesus died for my sins” is not faith. Putting your trust in His completed work is faith and the evidence for that faith is laying down your life in surrender as you trust in God to create a new life that has eternal significance and value. Letting go of your life in this world is an act of faith. Some have claimed that this is works, but this is not so. Let me illustrate this by a real life example from my own children.

When my oldest daughter was about four years old, we spent an afternoon at a river. In the area where we were picnicking the river was very wide but fairly shallow. In the middle of the river there was an island that I waded to with my father. My daughter called from the shore saying she wanted to come to the island with us. I waded back to shore and took her by the hand, but when I did, she reached back and grabbed a branch on the shore and held on tight. I said, “If you want to come, you have to let go of the branch”. She replied, “If I do, I will sink.” I explained to her that there were safe rocks for her to step on and even though she could not see them, I would guide her feet to them. I also explained that if she did miss one, I had her by the hand and would not let her sink. She could not hold on to the shore and go with me to the island. She was afraid, but she also wanted to go – so she let go. Very timidly she stepped where I directed her and as we went, her confidence grew and soon she was reaching out for each step. This is exactly what God has promised us in Psalm 37:23-24

²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

This is how faith works. God reveals to us His gift of salvation and our new life in Christ as He stirs in our hearts to surrender to Him. We often resist because we want to be in control of our own lives and do not understand how much God delights in guiding our way to His amazing promises. When we surrender by faith, we put our trust in our Savior and let go of our old life. We have not earned our salvation nor have we merited anything. In fact, the only human effort in the whole process is when we are trying to hold on to our old life. There is no work involved in letting go. When we believe God’s promise of eternal life, we stop resisting, and we put our trust in the Lord. Romans 5 states the following:

¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We believe God and by faith we receive the gift of salvation. The scriptures teach that faith comes by hearing the word of God[2] and the message preached from the word calls us to salvation[3]. When we hear the gospel, we are drawn by the Spirit of God and if we believe and put our trust in Jesus Christ, we receive our new eternal life and inherit the promises of God. Consider the words of Jesus in this passage from John 5:

²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Notice that Jesus is not saying that He will enrich your old life, but there is a transformation that occurs – you are passing from death to life. We are not divorcing the world; we are dying to the world and our old sins. Romans chapter seven has a wonderful explanation of this. This passage explains that the law has dominion over us as long as we live. Since we have violated the law through sin, we are under inescapable condemnation as long as our life is in the flesh. This scripture uses the illustration of marriage by explaining that a woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. If she runs off with another man she would be an adulteress; however, if her husband dies, the law that bound her is released and she is free to marry another.

The same is true for each person. Through sin, we are bound by the law to the condemnation of our old life (which is united to sin) and we will be judged for our sins unless we die and become a new creation. Look at the rest of this explanation in Romans 7:4-6

⁴ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. ⁶ But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Hopefully it is becoming clear why works alone cannot save anyone. The oldness of the letter is referring to the law of condemnation and the sins that are written against us. When we turn to Christ, all of the offenses written against us are taken out of the way and applied to the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion[4]. It does no good to add trophies to our life of condemnation; we must die to this world and be raised as a new creation. This is why the Bible says that we are buried with Christ through baptism and raised as a new creation[5]. Baptism is the burial of our old sinful life and a resurrection of a spiritual new man. It is through the death of the old man through the cross that our sins are removed. This is explained further in Colossians 2:11-15

¹¹ In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: ¹² Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

This passage communicates a lot of information. Consider the concept of circumcision. The Old Testament mandate of circumcision was to cut away the flesh so that the new child could be a partaker of the promise. Any who were not circumcised were cut off from God’s people and His promises. This was a symbolic ordinance that pointed to a New Testament principle that would one day be fulfilled through Christ. Just as each male had to have this flesh removed to join the covenant of the Law, each person born again must have the flesh removed from their heart so they can inherit the New Covenant of salvation through Christ. In both the Old and New Testaments God stated that true circumcision is that of the heart[6]. This is what the death of the old man is all about. Our sinful heart of flesh is removed and a spiritual man is born. Then our sins are taken out of the way because our old man was crucified with Christ. Jesus states that He calls us out of the world and we no longer belong to the world[7]. We leave the world and its fleshly desires behind as we pass from death to life. When we lay down our life in faith, the Spirit of God regenerates us into a new creation. Look at Titus 3:4-7

⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Also look at this passage from 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

We can see that the Bible is very detailed on the subject of redemption. We enter into new life as our old life of sin passes away. We put to death the old nature and become a new creation through faith in Christ. If you do not have a new life in Christ, the Bible promises that any who receive Him and call upon His name will be given the right to become a child of God[8]. The scriptures instruct us to believe on Jesus Christ, recognize our need for redemption from sin[9], confess Him as Lord[10], let Him put to death our old life of sin[11], and call on the name of the Lord through baptism[12] to fulfill all righteousness[13].

The Lord alone must draw us to Christ[14] and He does this through the preaching of the word of God[15]. When we proclaim the word, God will draw those He is calling to salvation. When anyone feels the calling of God, it is important for them to understand that they cannot choose when to be saved. We must respond to the calling or risk falling under the condemnation of those who suppressed the truth God revealed to them[16].

The Lord has redeemed us by His own sacrifice for He has taken upon Himself the judgment of our sins and gives new life in Christ to all who respond to His call. No sin can keep us from God for all things have passed away and all things have become new when we receive His amazing grace.

[1] James 2:17-20

[2] Romans 10:17

[3] 1 Corinthians 1:21

[4] Colossians 2:12-14

[5] Romans 6:4

[6] Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:29

[7] John 15:19

[8] John 1:12

[9] Romans 5:6

[10] Romans 10:9

[11] Romans 6:6

[12] Acts 22:16

[13] Matthew 3:15

[14] John 6:44

[15] 1 Corinthians 1:21

[16] Romans 1:18-19

Understanding Regeneration / Salvation (Part 1 of 2)

2010-04-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have come to realize that many Christians do not truly understand what it means to become a Christian or as Jesus put it, to be born again. Since many do not understand this scriptural principle, it has an adverse affect on how we view evangelism and church outreach. Cultural Christianity often does not align with biblical Christianity. Many want a religion that will enrich their lives but without interfering with their lives. Biblical Christianity is quite different. Jesus taught a hard doctrine when He told His followers that unless they forsake their lives they cannot be His disciples[1]. Christianity is not taking your life and fixing it up or making it better, but laying down your life in the flesh to take up a new life born through the Spirit. There is a transformation that takes place, not merely a renovation. Look at Jesus’ teaching from John 3:

³ Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

^…

⁶ "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

Jesus also said that finding the kingdom of Heaven was like a man who found a treasure in a field. He sold everything that he had to buy that field for the purpose of obtaining that treasure[2]. In other words, when we truly recognize the value of the new life God is offering us, we will be willing to lay down everything in our old life for the joy of gaining the treasure of this new, eternal life. We can’t have both; we must either cling to the old life or lay it down and grasp the new life.

Throughout scripture we are told that the old life in the flesh is dead spiritually and destined for condemnation. What the unbeliever does not yet realize is that Jesus condemned sin in the flesh by taking judgment upon Himself so that we could be redeemed from our old nature of sin. Look at how the Bible explains this in Romans 3:23-26

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

There are a few things we should take special note of in this passage. First, all have sinned – no one is excluded. Some mock at the idea that we were born with a sin nature, but anyone who has children should recognize this truth by personal experience. I did not have to teach my children how to have fits, stomp, hit, back talk, act selfishly and any number of other things kids naturally do. The Bible accurately says that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child and must be driven out[3]. I don’t have to teach my kids how to misbehave; I have to take action to conform them to an acceptable standard of behavior. All have sinned from the age where we can communicate and will struggle with sin in the flesh until this life is over.

Even those who learn how to outwardly curb their behavior are still guilty of sin. Jesus often confronted very religious people who thought that keeping rules, regulations and participating in religious practices made them righteous. He taught that sin comes out of the heart[4]. The outward expression of sin is only the symptom of what has been cultivating in the heart long before the action came to fruition. To even look at a woman and lust in our heart is adultery – even if the physical act never occurs. The scriptures teach that to hate is equal to murder, to covet is idolatry, greed is thievery, rebellion is equal to witchcraft, and the list goes on and on. When God identified the seven things that He counts as an abomination in Proverbs, pride was the first thing on the list[5]. Is there anyone who has not struggled with pride?

Sin separates us from God for the Bible states that two cannot walk together unless they agree. Since the commandments of God serve to conform us to God’s own character and nature, we should see that the statutes of God serve to draw us into a closer relationship with our own Creator. We cannot love God and love what God hates. We cannot cling to what God hates and expect to walk with God. Christianity is a restoration to our intended purpose – to have a personal, intimate relationship with the God who created us. Therefore, sin is anything that calls us to depart from the Lord to serve our flesh.

When people say things like, “I really should stop doing such and such…”, what they are really saying is that they recognize that their actions are wrong, but they love the sin and are not yet willing to let go. By nature we seek to find ways to justify our actions and the flesh finds comfort by mixing religion with a self-centered life. Religion can bring a false sense of comfort because it gives mankind a sense of self-righteousness. Jesus addressed this attitude when He warned the Pharisees that even though they justified themselves through their religion, their lives were still an abomination before God[6].

Even if we resist temptation, if our heart is drawn to sin we are in a losing battle. We will be miserable if we are trying to live in the flesh and resist what our flesh craves. This is why many get frustrated and give up on living godly lives. It can seem like freedom to let go of mere religion and to cast off restraint. The Bible tells us that the reason behind this departure is that where there is no revelation from God, the people cast off restraint[7]. Godliness cannot be lived out by mere human effort. Until there is a transformation (or new birth in Christ), the heart has not changed, the affections of our lives are still fueled by the flesh, and our love for the things of God will not be present. There is a reason why people have such a hard time living by a godly standard. Look at this passage from Romans 8:5-8

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The unredeemed man or woman has no power to be spiritually minded. Anyone living according to the flesh (carnal mindedness) either has not experienced the new birth in Christ or they have submitted themselves to the flesh again. Notice the firm point that the scripture is making in this passage – those who are not redeemed or are in the flesh cannot please God. Good works, good deeds and religious practices do not change this. The flesh cannot be subject to God but is at war with the Spirit of God. In a moment we will look at how this changes, but realize that if your mind is only on the selfish works of the flesh, this may be a strong warning that something is still missing in your life. Those who live in the flesh will mind the things of the flesh. Even though the unbeliever may try to live right, it will be drudgery and there will be little joy in the things of God. We cannot expect someone to clean up their lives when there is no change from the heart. The Bible compares this to taking a swine out of the mire. You can take him out of the mire and wash him, but the swine’s heart will remain in the mire and sooner or later he will return to it. Compare this to the delight the godly man or woman finds in the commands of God. Look at Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

This is quite a different scenario. Not only does the godly man not walk in the sinful ways of the world, but he delights in the law of the Lord. King David testified of this in his own life in Psalm 119:34-35

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

When the Spirit of God reigns in your heart, you will walk in the Spirit and you will also have a change of heart. You will not love sin but will instead delight in the things of God. We as Christians do not live godly only because of a sense of obligation; it is a joy to walk with our Lord. Walking in God’s commandments is a delight. We are not resisting the sin we desire; we are pursuing the commandments that bring delight and joy to our heart. This is incomprehensible to the world because until our eyes are opened through our new life in Christ, we cannot see the value and pleasure that comes from walking in the Spirit.

I heard an excellent illustration of this some time ago. In the past, man considered the ocean to be ‘the silent deep’. When a man puts his head under water, he hears very little if anything; therefore he concluded that there was no sound in the deep ocean. When man developed tools that allowed him to monitor sound below the water’s surface, he found that the human ear cannot detect the sounds that fill the oceans. His conclusion was logical based on his experiment, but his assumptions were still wrong. In the same sense, mankind is unable to see, hear or experience the truth of God’s Spirit and the reality of what the Christian life can reveal all around him because of his inability to detect the spiritual world with his flesh. 1 Corinthians 2:14 explains:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Without this spiritual discernment, it is not possible to see or understand the things of God. How many times have you heard someone say that they don’t want Christianity because it is a bunch of do’s and don’ts? Why does the Christian delight in God’s law? Because there is a love relationship with our Creator and we realize that drawing closer to God has much more fulfillment than anything the flesh has to offer. Walking in the Spirit is the only thing that can truly satisfy the longings of our heart in this life. The Bible says that the word of God is a light to our feet and a lamp for our path. Through the word we see where we want to go and discover everything we need to get there. This is the difference between the one who forces himself to do what is right and the one who seeks the right way. One is trying to make himself go where he does not want to go and the other delights in the instructions that guide him into the way that he does indeed want to go.

So when we see the warning that all have sinned and fallen short, we also see the gift of our redemption found in Christ Jesus. Romans 3 tells us that God remained just while justifying us. This is very significant. You may have heard people ask questions like, “Why doesn’t God just do away with all sin and take us all to heaven?” Why would we expect God to do something that even we recognize as an injustice? What is the public’s reaction when a judge violates justice by letting an offender go free? If someone commits a vile crime and gets off on a technicality, what is our reaction? Many times over the years I have seen stories where a judge threw out cases or gave someone an unwarranted lenient sentence. When this happens, people demand for the judge’s dismissal and sometimes a riot ensues. If we react this way, how can we ask God to be unjust in upholding His own law? God’s consistent justice also reveals to us the amazing love of God. Look at Acts 20:

²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The sacrifice of the cross was the revealed love of God. God remained just by upholding the law. We were offenders and the law demanded justice; therefore, Jesus became our propitiation by standing in our place and taking the penalty of our sin in His own body. Justice was satisfied through condemnation and judgment, but we were justified or declared to be just under the law without paying our own debt to sin. We, by faith, believe God and are credited with God’s own righteousness because Jesus was credited and judged for our sins. This is also explained in 2 Corinthians 5:

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Bible also tells us that all of our righteous acts are filthy rags in God’s sight[8] and that the sacrifices made by the sinful man are still an abomination to the Lord[9]. God does not desire your righteousness because what you do for God has little value. We have already read that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. If your life in the flesh cannot please God, how can you do anything that pleases God? You can’t. All good things come from God and nothing outside of God is good. Consider Romans 7:

¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

This was written by the Apostle Paul. The man who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament and had many evidences of God’s power in his own life stated, “in me no good thing dwells”. This is true for every man, woman, and child. You do not have the power to produce good. The world may call our works good, but nothing produced by man is righteous before a holy God. Instead, the goodness of God is given to us through Jesus Christ. We are merely giving back to God what God has produced through our lives when we have yielded ourselves to Him. We will look at this in detail when we examine the biblical principle of works. For now you must realize that righteousness and goodness comes from God and is given to us by faith.

This is continued on Part 2.

[1] Luke 14:26-28

[2] Matthew 13:44-45

[3] Proverbs 22:15

[4] Matthew 15:19

[5] Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 21:4

[6] Luke 16:15

[7] Proverbs 29:18

[8] Isaiah 64:6

[9] Proverbs 15:8

The Necessity of Forgiveness

2010-04-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have all heard that it is important to forgive. Jesus told a parable about a servant who owed ten thousand talents of gold to his master. By today’s standards, that would be valued in the billions of dollars. His master forgave him of a debt that could never be paid when he pleaded for mercy. However, that servant found a fellow who owed him the equivalent of a hundred days wages and had him put into prison when he couldn’t pay the debt. When his lord heard of it, he treated the man who owed billions with the same standard he held against his peer, and had him committed into prison to give an account for his massive debt.

Jesus ended the parable by saying, “So my heavenly Father will do if each of you, from the heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Jesus made it clear that we will be judged by the standard we choose. The truth is that we owe a debt of sin that put Jesus on the cross to pay on our behalf; therefore, what sin can others do to us that is greater than this? Even more so, what can be done to us that we have not or would not do to others if the situation were reversed.

When I look at my life, I realize that the good that restrains my behavior is the hand of God working in me, or events in my life that have changed me. If God had left me to my own heart, I would be self-seeking, self-serving, and would disregard others to fulfill my own purposes. Sadly, I still catch myself being self-seeking, self-serving, and disregarding others in my quest to fulfill my own purposes. Who would I be without the restraint God has brought into my life and now into my heart by the Holy Spirit? What if I didn’t have the Spirit and had the power to disregard other people without the fear of consequences? Would I be any different than those who I recognize as evil? I would like to say, “No,” but if I examine my past behavior honestly, I have to acknowledge that the quest for self produces evil in my own life.

There is a saying that absolute power corrupts, absolutely. This is true. It is only the restraining force around us that keeps us from corruption. For the Christian, it is the Holy Spirit within us, the fear of the Lord that causes us to reconsider and look toward wisdom, and the accountability of others. Even with these factors, we can still lose focus when opportunity crosses our paths.

When I was in the army and stationed in Germany, I went to a church off post. It was an American church and had members from several different areas. I became friends with a man who seemed very mild mannered. I found out he was a captain in the army, but that was all I knew about his professional life. I had another friend who was going through a hard time in the military. His unit was on the verge of mutiny. His commander was a tyrant who made numerous rules and unreasonable punishments. It was so bad that the army sent investigators into the unit to identify the problem and orchestrate a resolution. Two-thirds of his unit was in the process of non-judicial punishment. Non-judicial punishment is when a soldier is punished without having to stand trial in a court-martial.

He would tell these horror stories of his unit working in the heat and being given permission to take off their coats and work in t-shirts. The commander would come by and declare punishments for everyone wearing a t-shirt without a coat. Soldiers would be punished for obeying the orders of their sergeants without having the opportunity to conform to the will of the commander. Time wouldn’t permit me to go through the things he did to these soldiers.

One day at church, this captain mentioned that his unit was going through an investigation and he needed prayer. Instantly I made the connection and asked what unit he commanded. It was the unit of my friend. I was shocked. How could this mild mannered man transform into such a tyrant on Monday morning? Power. During my military life, I witnessed many kind individuals transform into monsters when they were promoted into authority, or put into a position where soldiers were dependent on them for a need.

This is the nature of the flesh. We all have the ability to abuse our authority or serve our selfishness at the expense of others. And the truth is that we are usually blind to our own faults. Just as this tyrannical commander sought God’s guidance through the difficulty of being investigated, thinking that he wasn’t the cause of the problem, we also fall into the same fault in our own lives. The level of our fault depends on the level of our opportunity. This is why we are warned throughout scripture to examine ourselves, and act with agape (love). Agape is a love that seeks to put others ahead of ourselves. This is not something we produce through the flesh, but it is the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

Only those walking in the Spirit have the promise that the cravings of the flesh won’t control their lives (Galatians 5:16). God has to open our eyes, and this only comes to the heart that seeks him. Part of that seeking is obedience – including forgiveness. When we are too proud to see our own need and propensity to sin, we won’t recognize what we are being delivered from, and we won’t forgive those who wrong us.

This is nothing new to our generation. As he left the churches at the end of his final missionary journey, the Apostle Paul warned the church that after his departure, wolves would arise from their own congregations and seek to draw disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29). The key is ‘themselves’. Self always seeks to be served, but is brought under subjection through obedience to the word of God. When the church appointed the first six deacons (Acts 6:5), they identified Nicolas as someone they believed to be full of the Holy Spirit, yet this man later started a movement that focused on his own authority. This movement placed the spiritual elite as rulers over the church. In the letters to the churches found in Revelation 2, Jesus said twice that he hated the doctrine of the Nicolatians – the very movement that arose from the appointment of Nicolas.

Look also at 3 John 1:9-10

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

The apostles were kicked out of one of the churches that they started when Diotrephes took his leadership and turned it into a dictatorship. In all likelihood, this man was appointed by the apostles because of his ability to lead and knowledge of the scriptures, but he turned out to be a man living for the flesh instead of someone led by the Spirit.

So what does corrupt leadership have to do with forgiveness? I stated all of this with the goal to show that the tendency to become self-serving resides in all of us. Self-examination and God-focused prayer as we study the word is how our eyes are opened and we are rescued from our own weaknesses. When we are wronged, forgiveness is not merely trying to accept our hurt feelings, but realizing that we are in the same battle. If we are not doing the same thing, it is because we have recognized the fault in our own lives and allowed God to lead us away from our selfish motives. We must be thankful that our eyes have been opened, recognize our dependence on God to keep us from falling into the same pit, and praying for God to do the same in the lives of those who wrong us. We continue to need deliverance from our weakness; therefore, we must forgive so that God will show us mercy.

Being wronged cannot justify bitterness. We are commanded to forgive and guard our hearts. If our heart falls to bitterness, our spiritual lives fall into disarray. Not only do we step out of the mercies of God, but we become our own oppressors. Oppression from without cannot destroy our faith, but oppression from within destroys everything. Bitterness exalts us into becoming our own oppressor. Look at this passage in James 5:1-11

¹Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!

² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.

³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.

⁴ Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

If you are like me, you’ve read this dozens of times and looked at this from the perspective of those evil rich oppressors. However, the warning against the rich is not the focus of this passage. It sets up the instruction of God’s people beginning in verse 7. From this verse on, the Bible is instructing you. Even though you may be wronged or oppressed, or hurt, God’s command to you is to be patient and establish your heart.

Your focus is never to be on those who wrong you, but on the Lord and establishing your heart in his ways. Verses one through eight serve no other purpose than to let you know that there is a day of reckoning, and it is not for you to concern yourself with retaliation or fretting over the actions of those who wrong you. This passage focuses on the rich because this is the situation the church was dealing with, but it applies to any situation in which we are powerless to stop the wrongs of another.

We can either surrender our hearts to anger and bitterness, allowing them to corrupt us with the oppressor, or we can establish our hearts by faith in the Lord. This goes with the instructions found in 1 Peter 2:19-23

¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Jesus said that when we are persecuted and suffer wrongfully, the kingdom of Heaven belongs to us. So the picture that is being painted by scripture is that wrongs will happen. In fact, the Bible says that any who desire to live godly will suffer persecution. But if we take it patiently, we are commended by God, who sees all, and will reward us for our faithfulness and reward the evildoer according to his works. The things we suffer are thankworthy, for they put us into the blessing of God. But there is a condition to all of this. Forgiveness. There is no reward for those who cannot forgive when they are wronged. James compares this to a farmer, who patiently waits for the fruit of his crop to develop until the time of the harvest. We can’t expect instant success, deliverance, or vengeance. We wait patiently, committing ourselves to God who judges righteously, and establish our hearts in the Lord.

Keep in mind that many who persecuted Jesus and participated in his crucifixion later became disciples of Christ. He committed his wrong to the Father, who led his oppressors toward repentance, and judged those who rebelled against the cross. The same is true for you. Part of forgiveness is committing the person into the merciful hands of God, knowing (and hoping) for repentance so they can find mercy as we have.

Don’t be a Jonah Christian. Jonah resented the mercy of God. He wanted the Ninevites destroyed. He did not want to preach the word to them because he was afraid that they would repent and find mercy. God showed pity and said the people were wicked, and were unable to distinguish their right and from their left. In other words, they were incapable of knowing the right way and were dependent on God’s mercy and his revelation of truth in their hearts.

That is the description of mankind. Look at Romans 3:10-17

¹⁰ As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

¹¹ There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

¹² They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

¹³ "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";

¹⁴ "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

¹⁵ "Their feet are swift to shed blood;

¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways;

¹⁷ And the way of peace they have not known."

This is you and I before Christ. This is the heart of our oppressors without Christ. This is also the weakness of the flesh and the fruit that is produced in the lives of those who are walking according to the flesh. The unforgiving heart is establishing itself in the flesh and cannot see the fruit of the Spirit – until there is submission to God’s call to obey and show mercy.

The great irony is that we as Christians are called to show mercy to the merciless, trusting God to accomplish his mighty work through us and in the lives of our enemies. When we are hurt or oppressed, that person is indebted to us because of their transgression, but we, as disciples of Christ, release that debt to God as an act of mercy and forgiveness. God then produces mercy in our lives, and justice in theirs. That justice may be executed on the cross if they repent, or they may be judged with their sins. Our enemies, like us, are dependent on the mercies of God.

In my life, I have come to the realization (and continue to work toward this) that I look at my life from my own perspective. By nature, we have a self-centered worldview. I naturally judge everything based on how it makes ‘me’ feel. If something happens to me that gives me an advantage that others don’t have, I’m happy. If someone else gets an advantage, it’s not fair. Indeed, I measure all things based on my benefit or comfort.

Spiritual growth and maturity leads me to a standard that is counter to my inborn nature. I am called to look at life through the eyes of faith. I’m called to release all things into the hands of God, trusting the Lord of all to do what is right and judge the thought and intent of the heart. I’m called to faith, where I concern myself with one thing, am I walking in the will of God? If I have the promise that the Kingdom of Heaven is mine, and the promise that the righteous shall inherit the earth, why do I allow myself to fret over something lost that will pass away, or circumstances that have no eternal significance?

If I follow my human nature (the flesh), I’m allowing a temporal, worthless benefit or wrong to rob me of something eternal. Most Christians forfeit the promises of God because they are unwilling to let go of a wrong or what they perceive as an injustice. We are warned not to allow anyone to cheat us out of our rewards, but the greatest robbery comes from our own self-centered ways. We live according to the flesh, and mix a little bit of faith into our lives, thinking we are doing God a service. What we are doing is sidetracking our lives away from the best God has for us.

Daily, we have to remind ourselves to walk in the Spirit and maintain an eternal perspective. Forgive and establish your hearts in the Lord and his righteousness. Then wait for the Lord to produce the fruit of his plan in your life. Let it be for your reward. Either it’s your work in the flesh, or it’s the Lord’s work producing the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Stand on his word, there is no other eternal foundation. Establish your heart in faith by determining to be a man or woman after God’s own heart. The temporal things will be resolved in God’s way and timing as we learn to walk in the way of righteousness.

On the cross, Jesus looked at his enemies. The Pharisees falsely accused him, mocked him and rejoiced in his sufferings. The Romans beat him, dressed him in royal clothing, mocked him, forced him to carry his cross, and then drove the nails into his hands and feet. Jesus looked down from the cross and saw foolish men whose only perspective was through the flesh. He prayed, “Father, forgive them. For they don’t know what they are doing.”

Let this mind be in you when you forgive. Anyone who is living life in the flesh can’t understand and do not know what they are doing. Judgment for sin only comes when God pulls back the veil of our blindness to reveal truth to man (Romans 1:18-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Until God reveals the truth of righteousness to us, we cannot see our own faults; therefore, we must recognize this need in others. Forgive, for people do not know what they are doing, and pray for God to open their eyes – and your eyes.

Evidence for the Resurrection (Part 3 of 3)

2010-04-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

Jesus was resurrected. We see that all the evidence against the resurrection falls short, but what evidence lends credibility to the resurrection? Let’s begin by examining the disciples. These men fled in all directions when Jesus was arrested and they did not offer any defense on his behalf during the trial where he was sentenced to death. After the resurrection there was a dramatic change in their lives. These men who were afraid to be present at Jesus’ burial now were going into the very city where the crucifixion occurred, and were boldly proclaiming His resurrection at their own peril.

The crowds were still present and so were the council members that tried Jesus and the soldiers who crucified Him. Why would they suddenly have such a change of heart that they would preach the same Jesus that they had just denied? Not only did they preach the resurrection, but they also condemned those responsible for His death and called them to repent so they could be forgiven.

To create a legend, you don’t go where the eyewitnesses are and exaggerate when the facts are still fresh. Legends are born by carrying the story to a distant land or waiting until the facts have faded from memory. The disciples went to where the fire was still hot. They proclaimed the resurrection to those whom they knew would examine the facts. There are no accounts of anyone refuting the disciples. There was no attempt to silenced them with evidence; they were threatened in an attempt to persuade them to stop. When ordered to never again preach in the name of Jesus, Peter said, “We cannot help but to proclaim the things which we heard and saw.”

There were many eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ. Look at Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:

6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Paul presented his claim before those that could question him and in fact is inviting them to question. He is saying that most of these witnesses are still alive and available to examine. His reference to James is significant because James was one of the brothers who scoffed at Jesus during his life. After mocking him, the Bible says that even his brothers did not believe him.

People may be willing to die for what they believe to be true, but who would die for what they knew to be a lie? The eleven disciples saw Jesus die. They gained absolutely no financial gain from this faith; indeed we see just the opposite. They lost everything except their joy and the hope of heaven. When Jesus was alive, their hope was their expectation of an earthly kingdom. After the resurrection, they lived for Christ with reckless abandon as they were committed to the hope given to them for the eternal life and the kingdom of God to come. Only John died of old age; however, he was beaten, imprisoned and banished to the isle of Patmos. Patmos was a penal colony where criminals were sent to die either from starvation or from the hands of other criminals. Each of the other disciples were beaten repeatedly and eventually killed. Look at how Jesus' disciples died and determine if this sounds like men clinging to a lie:

Matthew was slain in Ethiopia.
Mark was dragged through the streets until dead.
Peter and Simeon were crucified.
Andrew was crucified.
James was beheaded.
Philip was crucified.
Bartholomew was flayed alive.
Thomas was pierced with lances.
James, the less, was thrown from the temple and stoned to death.
Jude was shot to death with arrows.
Paul was boiled in hot oil and beheaded.

All of these men could have lived if they had said one statement: “He is dead,” but they refused. The list above accounts of their deaths but they also endured hardship, imprisonment, beatings, and torture. Paul was stoned three times and survived. He was beaten with forty strips from a cat of nine tails on five occasions, and imprisoned repeatedly. Similar stories follow the other apostles. Bartholomew was crucified twice. He was first nailed to the cross and then brought down by the Roman Emperor and set free. Not even a fool would have continued to spread a lie after this encounter, yet Bartholomew recovered and went on spreading the gospel until he was captured again and crucified a second time.

The disciples lived lives that would be considered sheer misery by the world, yet they rejoiced in their sufferings. Not one of them caved in and chose the easy life. Can anyone believe that not one of these men would deny his resurrection unless they absolutely witnessed the resurrected Christ? What did they have to gain by forming this kind of religion? They lost property and often were abandoned by friends and family. Even if you could believe that these men were willing to suffer for a lie, would they be willing to draw their own friends and families into suffering? They may have suffered for Christ on the outside, but they rejoiced openly and lived with joy and peace that their captors did not have and could not understand. Throughout history, many of the very people who have persecuted Christians have become Christians. As they saw the strength, joy, and peace that defied logic, they saw their own lives as meaningless. There are many testimonies of captors who witnessed persecution who said, “I want what that person has.”

If Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body of Jesus in hopes of being religious elitist, they would have given up when the illusions of grandeur proved to be a failure. If it were a lie, they would have quickly grown tired of the beatings and other punishments. Look at James, the brother of Jesus. He rejected Jesus during His life. I am sure that he thought of his older brother as just another sibling and a delusional one at that. Yet after seeing the resurrected Christ James was a changed man as well. After James encountered the risen savior, he no longer referred to himself as a brother of Christ, but a “bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Not a single critic ever questioned that the tomb was empty. There was no doubt of this fact. The real question is, which testimony do you believe? Those who reject Christ or those who were eye witness testimonies to His resurrection and GLADLY suffered for their proclamation of this truth?

Are the gospels reliable? What about the differences? One of the biggest arguments against the gospels is that they have slight differences. The irony is that if all the gospels were identical, they would have zero credibility. These same critics would say they were written by the same people. In truth, the differences between the gospels are not contradictions but the eyewitness testimonies written from different perspectives each testifying to the same truth. Critics of the gospels argue both sides and don’t see their own contradiction.

Skeptics claim that the later church doctored the manuscripts to support their beliefs and then these same critics point out the differences as proof of error. First, if the later church had doctored the manuscripts, why didn’t they fix the differences? Second, we know the manuscripts were not doctored because we now have documents dating back before the ‘questionable’ era and there are virtually no differences. By all standards, even harsh critics agree that the scriptures have maintained an incredible accuracy over the centuries.

Also consider the testimonial aspect. If three witnesses testified to being eyewitnesses to an event and their stories matched completely with the exception of a few supporting details, would that evidence be valid? By all standards it would. In fact, if there were no differences, it would raise serious doubts to their credibility. The scriptures provide Matthew, Mark and John as eyewitness accounts to the life of Christ and they all agree. Luke comes in as a character witness that makes an airtight case. Luke was not an eyewitness. Luke wanted to do two things. He wanted to give Theophilus a complete explanation of who Jesus was and he wanted to compile all the testimonies that had been handed down 2^nd and 3^rd hand from eyewitnesses. This is an extremely important testimony. This is how we know if the word and doctrine handed down agrees with the events that actually occurred.

The gospels were not widely circulated at the time. The differences in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John prove that the each of the apostles wrote from their own eyewitness perspective. The gospel of Luke proves that the gospel was accurately handed down without becoming sensationalized. There is virtually no difference between Luke’s account that was passed by testimony and the apostle’s accounts that were witnessed directly. These three witnesses and the character witness of Luke would hold up under any cross-examination.

The earliest apostle writings can be dated back to eyewitnesses. You can’t make that claim from other religions. Christianity was written down closer to the actual events than other religions. The Gathas of Zoroaster were estimated around 1000 BC but didn't make it into writings until after the third century AD and the most popular Parsi biography was written in 1278. Buddha lived in the sixth century BC, but the scriptures of Buddha were not written until the first century AD. Muhammad died in 632 AD but his sayings were not written for more than 100 years, 767 AD. Unlike other religions, outside the Bible there are many supporting witnesses that verify the accuracy of the accounts of scripture. Without the Bible, we can prove through historical evidence that:

-Jesus was a Jewish teacher
-Many people credited Jesus with healing and exorcisms
-People believed He was the Messiah
-He was rejected by the Jewish leaders
-He was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius
-After his shameful death, His followers believed he was still alive and this faith spread to the multitudes throughout Rome by AD 64
-The Christian faith was held dear by all manner of people; women, men, slave, free, rich, poor.
-Those who converted, worshipped Jesus as God.
-There are also tens of thousands of archaeological discoveries that validate the scriptures and silence criticism.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact of history and applies to every person’s life. Because Jesus died, our debt was paid. Jesus’ last words on the cross were, “It is finished”, the debt has been paid. His death on the cross paid the debt for your sin and His resurrection gives you life. Romans 10 says:

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in
your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put
to shame."

Salvation depends on the resurrected Christ. When you believe and confess Him as your Savior, you will no longer have to fear the shame of your sins, and no longer have to fear God’s holy judgment for sin. The Bible says that Jesus came into the world and that the world was made through Him. As many as receive Him, to them He gives the right to become the children of God (John 1). It is not automatic, we must acknowledge Him as Lord. The Bible also says that we must count our lives as a loss and receive new life through Him.

Jesus died to take your debt to sin and exchange His righteousness in its place. When we receive Christ, we literally become the righteousness of God so that we are completely justified before Him. It is no longer your ‘falling short’ but the gift of righteousness credited into your life because of your faith and trust in Christ. If you have never received Jesus as your Lord, he offers a new life where the past is buried and you become a new creation.

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” The cry of Jesus on the cross is the love of God. The Bible says that though Jesus existed in the form of God, he humbled himself, took on the form of a bond servant, and became obedient unto death on the cross. The cry of his humanity is a declaration of the love of God to bear our guilt in our place. When Jesus cried, “It is finished,” your debt was paid in full. Hope and salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone and only Jesus proved to be our Savior by His death, burial and resurrection.

Evidence for the Resurrection (Part 2 of 3)

2010-04-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

Jesus’ Tomb

Three decades ago, archaeologists found an ossuary in Jerusalem that had what is believed to be a family tomb. This was not big news until recently when James Cameron announced that he was filming a documentary claiming this was the tomb of Jesus Christ. Now, thirty years after the fact, it has been announced that “researchers have made a new discovery that could shake Christianity off its foundation”. I have even watched some of the more liberal ‘Christians’ come up with new theories that make Jesus’ ascension into heaven symbolic. One priest even made the comment that Jesus’ spirit ascended but His body remained on earth.

Why is it that each time the atheists make a claim, Christians put their faith in these wild theories even though there is no credible evidence? When researchers found a tooth of a pig some years back, it was declared to be a missing link for mankind and they used this tooth to create – not one hominid, but an entire family. Science eventually prevailed and it was proven to be a tooth of an extinct pig and not the imaginary ‘Nebraska Man’ created from the imaginations of evolutionists. The evidence of Jesus’ tomb is on par with the pig’s tooth – a speck of evidence and a mountain of imagination. It is such a laughable theory I originally shrugged it off; however, since I have seen so much concern over the topic among Christians, I have decided to add a brief segment into this study.

The arguments for the tomb of Jesus are so easily refuted, that no rational person would give them any credibility. A few paragraphs should sufficiently aid the Christian with all the information needed. The first thing that should be noted is that the archaeologists that discovered the tomb did not see any significance in the names at all as related to Jesus Christ (and still do not). Why? These names were so common during the era of Christ, that it is not surprising at all to see them together. Think about the scriptures. In the four gospels, three Mary’s are directly involved with Jesus. There could have been more, but the fact that in one place you see three people named Mary should be sufficient evidence that the name is quite common. The same is true for the name ‘Jesus’. Jesus was the third most common name in Israel during the era of the tomb. Evidence for this is also found in scripture. In Colossians 4:11 Paul introduces one of his workers as Jesus whom they call Justus.

The Tomb of Jesus theory claims that the odds that Jesus and Mary being in the same tomb together is rare and proves Jesus married Mary Magdalene. This is like saying the odds of a man named Steve being married to a woman named Mary is nearly impossible. Since these two names are common in America, you may find dozens of Steve’s and Mary’s joined together in marriage. Critics of the Bible also claim that Mary’s tomb has the name ‘Magdalene’ over the tomb. This is an attempt at deception. The name on the tomb is ‘Miriamne’ which is a Greek name. Cameron is claiming that this is the Greek translation of ‘Magdalene’.

There are two flaws with this statement, first, it is pure speculation that this Greek name means Magdalene and researchers have not made this connection – only Hollywood has. Second, why would a Jewish woman have a Greek name put on her tomb? The Jews despised the Roman government and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was a revolt to break away from Roman rule. The only reason Greek was spoken was because of Roman law. When Rome conquered a nation, they established a Roman governor and required all people to learn a simplified form of Greek. This was a point of contention among the Jews in the Bible and ultimately led to their destruction as a nation.

Amon Kloner, the Jewish archaeologist who oversaw the original excavation of the ossuary in 1980 called Cameron’s claim ‘nonsense’. He stated that Jesus’ family were Galileans with no ties to Jerusalem. Also, the Archaeology Institute of America stated the following:

Jacobovici points to the James Ossuary as the last missing piece of the puzzle, though he acknowledges the artifact has a controversial background. The inscription on the box, "James Son of Joseph, Brother of Jesus," has been demonstrated to be at least half fake. Studies of the box show that "Brother of Jesus" was recently added to the inscription by forgers. Moreover, a recent news report states that an FBI expert witness at the trial of Oded Golan over the "James Ossuary" and other dubious antiquities, has testified that Golan had photos of that ossuary taken in the 1970s. See http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/jesus/

So in other words, Director James Cameron and filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici are taking a little bit of fact, mixing it with proven frauds, and creating a documentary that they claim to be proof. Ernst Haeckel would be proud!

Those who promote the Jesus Tomb theory claim that they have evidence through DNA testing. They fail to publicize the fact that the DNA came from a contaminated source where several remains were mixed, making it impossible to tell whose DNA was being tested. So even if they could make a reasonable test, it has little value. The fallacious claim is that since the two samples tested were proven to be unrelated, this proves that the remains were a married couple. The claim of DNA evidence serves only one purpose – to make the theory sound scientific. It is merely a vain attempt to fabricate evidence from the ruins of their theory. Why are atheists so gullible? Perhaps it is desperation. The real bottom line of the documentary is money. The press release in 2007 was to generate publicity for their book and movies. That is why researchers shrugged off the claim, but the media and atheist circles devoured it like wolves.

The best expert witness Cameron could come up with was Shimon Gibson of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Israel. He was also a member of the original team that excavated the ossuary, and his response was reported by the Archaeology Institute of America:

After a lengthy description of the original condition of the tomb, Gibson confessed to being skeptical about the claims that the site was Jesus' tomb, though he added he was trying to keep an open mind about the possibility.

In other words, he doesn’t see credibility in the theory promoted by Cameron, but he’s willing to be persuaded. Ah, the heart of atheism. I have another theory. Perhaps he is truly skeptical to this imaginary theory, but he isn’t willing to risk losing any financial compensation he was to receive from promoting the documentary. It is ironic that the best expert witness on this claim is someone who is not convinced, yet the masses are accepting the theory like it was the gospel.

The name Matthew was also found in the tomb and it is supposedly evidence that it is Jesus’ tomb. Once again, this is a very common name; however, why weren’t the other disciples buried in the tomb? If you notice, the only names that have been the target of attention are the ones that are common to names found in the Bible. When they figure their odds that they broadcasted as evidence, they only chose the names that would increase their argument and ignored the rest. It was claimed that the odds were 600 to 1 in favor of their theory. That is only using four names and assuming the other six ossuaries to be inconsequential. An honest attempt would have factored in the six limestone boxes that could not be linked to the Bible. These were not included in their statistical analysis.

The strongest evidence against the Tomb of Jesus theory is the location of the tomb. At least the swoon theory had the foresight to put Jesus in a far away place, but the new theory puts Jesus right in the middle of Jerusalem. Think about the implications of this for a few moments. The church is now growing at an alarming rate, the Jewish religious leaders are doing everything in their power to stop this new faith, the apostles are being beaten, threatened, jailed and killed for their claims that Jesus rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Doesn’t it seem a little odd to say that Jesus was living openly in Jerusalem – the hotbed of controversy – and no one thought to point down the street and say, “Why is Jesus living down the road with his children?” The irony almost makes me laugh.

Critics claim this discovery to be the deathblow to Christianity. So in truth, they are admitting the very flaw that undermines their own claims. If this find shakes the foundation of Christianity today, how much more true would this have been during the life of the apostles? The entire Christian belief system would have crumbled and the early church with it if Jesus was on the streets of Jerusalem. If these were just a bunch of cult followers, they would have rewritten the Bible to fit the evidence and would have made Jesus into a cult leader instead of a risen Savior. This would include rewriting the Old Testament that foretold that His life would be taken from the land of the living (Isaiah 53:8).

Anyone who puts any faith at all in this theory should also take a moment to pay homage to the Nebraska man’s pig’s tooth.

The stolen body theory.
This is the only counter-argument that is even remotely logical. It also has flaws that can’t be explained. First, who stole the body? It is undeniable that the body of Jesus was no longer in the grave. The disciples, Jews, and Roman soldiers all concurred that the body was missing. As one historian put it, "history’s silence is deafening concerning the body of Jesus. No one has ever claimed to see the body of Jesus after the resurrection." If the Jews or Romans stole it, they would have produced it. All of the efforts to squelch Christianity and the determination to explain away the resurrection would have ended quickly if someone produced the body. We know that the soldiers did not have it or they would have surely produced it. They were paid for their silence, how much would they have been paid if they produced the body? There would have been no need to think up and rehearse the story of the disciples stealing it if the soldiers had it. We know the Jews didn’t have it, because they would have been the first to put it on display. This only leaves the disciples or the resurrection.

Let’s look at the possibility that the disciples took Jesus’ body. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered like cowards. Peter was the boldest of the twelve and he denied Jesus three times. To show how cowardly he was at this point, he was afraid of a servant girl who did not even have the legal right to testify in that culture. Yet when she confronted Peter, he called curses down upon himself to prove he was not one of Jesus’ followers.

The disciples were too afraid to come forward to take Jesus down and help with the burial. How is it that they would suddenly be bold enough to risk certain death and sneak among the guards, break the seal, move the stone without rousing anyone and take the body. Also consider that the head cloth was neatly folded and laid beside the burial cloth. Anyone sneaking into the tomb would be hastily retreating after getting the body. They would not take the time to remove the burial cloth and then neatly fold it.

How would a stolen body suddenly empower eleven men who were hiding from the Jews to go out and begin preaching His resurrection boldly before the same leaders they feared? What would make eleven men rejoice at being beaten, imprisoned and then put through painful deaths? A stolen corpse? The stolen body theory holds no water.

Continued on Part 3.

Evidence for the Resurrection (Part 1 of 3)

2010-04-01T02:30:00.000-07:00

Psalm 22:
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
...
14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
...
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!

The most descriptive account of the crucifixion of Christ was written over 1,000 years before Jesus was born. This vivid detail of the anguish of Jesus as He bore our sins leaves little doubt that the crucifixion was a part of God’s plan from the beginning. As a part of this Easter season, let us take a closer look at the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will look at the resurrection account in light of both scripture and history. What evidence outside the Bible validates the biblical account? Obviously, in a short study like this, we can only hit the highlights of this subject; therefore, let us take a brief look at history and the biblical account that gives reasonable evidence to believe. The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the crucifixion and equip saints for sharing faith among a skeptical world. It is frequently argued that there is no evidence outside the Bible to verify the Bible’s claims. Thank God this is far from true; history, archaeology and science are filled with irrefutable proofs that validate the scriptures. In this study we will look at historical accounts that are widely accepted as credible by both biblical scholars and secular historians. Let us take a brief look at the Life, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.

The Life of Jesus
Some time back, I had a discussion with an atheist who stated that he would not believe Jesus existed unless he saw irrefutable proof. He claimed that the authors of the Bible made up the whole story of Jesus. It is ironic that he needs no proof to believe in the conspiracy of the disciples but he needs irrefutable proof that the conspiracy does not exist. How do we know that Jesus really existed? How do we know that Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or the founding fathers who signed our declaration of Independence existed? How do we know any historical event is true and not a fairy tale made up to shape history? We know they existed because historical documents, artifacts, the testimonies of eye witnesses and other evidences are examined and accepted as credible by those who have examined the evidence. We either believe the generation that lived through the events or we have to believe there is a massive conspiracy to fabricate historical events. As individuals, very few of the men in our past are mentioned in detail; instead most of their names show up in history as having been at an event but little is known about them as individuals. Where is Jesus mentioned in history? Obviously, the Bible will give the detailed description of Jesus because He is the central figure of the Bible; however, Jesus is accounted for in many other historical documents as well.

First look at the testimony of the Jewish Talmud. The Talmud is a historical document that includes commentaries on the Jewish books of the law, civil and religious records. The Talmud is not supportive of Christianity and is very hostile to Jesus. The Talmud praises the trial, conviction and execution of Jesus. The Talmud also refers to Jesus as a bastard son of Mary. The account of Jesus in this historical document was indisputably written by those who were enemies of Jesus. In a court of law, if your enemy testifies on your behalf, willingly or unwillingly, it is a highly credible testimony. The Talmud testifies on behalf of many of the Bible’s claims about Jesus; it verifies the existence of Jesus, states that Jesus was a teacher, verifies the trial of Jesus as instigated by the religious leaders, the conviction and crucifixion of Jesus. Even more importantly, the Talmud verifies that Jesus performed many healings and miracles. It claims that Jesus performed these miracles through the power of sorcery; however, the key evidence is that even though the enemies of Jesus are hostile witnesses, they do not dispute the miracles but verify them and validate the Biblical account. Jesus’ very enemies validated His works and even though their intentions were malicious, they provide a strong testimony for the scriptures.

Josephus, the great Jewish historian wrote about Jesus. Josephus also claimed that Jesus was a teacher that wrought many surprising feats. Josephus states that by miracles, Jesus won over many Jews and Greeks. Josephus testifies that Jesus was condemned under Pilot, crucified, and then He appeared restored after three days. Josephus states that Jesus’ followers were called Christians after Him.

Roman governor Pliny the Younger produced writings, which also testify on behalf of the Bible. He stated that Christians were sent off to be executed for their "stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy that ought not to go unpunished. …they would not recant and they worshipped and honored Christ as if he were a god".

There can be no reasonable doubt that Jesus did in fact exist and other historical documents hold testimonies that do not contradict the biblical account. We have testimonies that verify Jesus’ miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and the fact that His followers believed He was God. Two of these three witnesses are hostile to the gospel, yet verify the gospel. There is no shortage of proofs for those who will be open enough to see it.

The Crucifixion
We have already seen that Josephus, Roman historians, and the Talmud validates the crucifixion. Lets look at the picture of the crucifixion. In an essay on a popular atheist website, the writer makes the comment, "On the cross Jesus’ last words were, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?’ That doesn’t sound much like Jesus’ plan went as he expected". Of course, this was not Jesus’ last words. After this quote, Jesus then said, “It is finished” and finally, “Father into your hands I commit My spirit”. Even so, as we have seen from the opening passage of this study, not only was the crucifixion foretold a thousand years before this torturous method of execution was invented, but even Jesus’ words and thoughts were foretold as well. It is clear by reading Psalm 22 that God’s plan was completed exactly as expected. The historical account of Matthew 27:46 matches the prophecy of Psalm 22. Matthew 27:

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

To add to the historical significance of the crucifixion, look at the following passages:

Luke 23:44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

There is also a plethora of historical evidence that validates this event in scripture. Two witnesses to this scripture are Thallus and Phlegon. Although they did not witness the crucifixion, they were both eye witnesses to the events surrounding the crucifixion. Look at their accounts:

Thallus finished his historical account of the world since the Trojan war in 52 A. D. His work was destroyed but quoted by Julius Africanus in AD 221. Julius gives a commentary on Thallus’ AD 33 record of the darkness across the land. "Thallus in the third book of his histories, explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun - unreasonably as it seems to me."

Thallus testified that this event occurred on the exact day of the crucifixion but explained it away as an eclipse of the sun. Why did Julius Africanus state this explanation seems unreasonable? The reason is because the feast of the Passover was ALWAYS celebrated on the new moon during the Jewish month of Nisan. The new moon occurs when the lunar cycle has been completed, and the new cycle begins. At the beginning of the new lunar cycle, the moon is not visible. Each day, more of the moon becomes visible until it reaches a full moon, and then begins to fade each day as it approaches the next new moon. This is an approximate 30 day cycle. On the new moon, the moon has no visibility at all in the sky because it is on the opposite side of the earth, thus making it impossible to have an eclipse. Therefore, to attribute this event as an eclipse is truly an unreasonable assumption. Traditionally people credit this darkening to clouds; however, this is not the case at all. Look at the testimony of a Greek historian named Phlegon.

A Greek author from Caria named Phlegon wrote about the darkness that occurred in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad (equivilant to 33 A.D.). "There was the greatest eclipse of the sun. It became as night in the sixth hour of the day (noon) so that the stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia and many things were overturned in Nicaea".

Thallus’ account did not mention an earthquake but Phlegon did, however both reported the same darkness and both believed it to be an eclipse. Thallus was not close enough to feel the earthquake but Phlegon was. The earthquake was regional, but the Bible says that the darkness was over all the land. It is no wonder that they chose an eclipse as the reason since there was no other logical explanation without understanding the scripture’s claim that the sun refused to shine. How this occurred will never be known, but the evidence clearly shows that this event was witnessed throughout the Roman Empire on the date and time stated in the scriptures.

The darkness reported was not consistent with a normal eclipse and was referred to as ‘the greatest eclipse’. Consider how an eclipse occurs. A full eclipse is a rare event and it can only be seen in a specific region. If Atlanta gets a full eclipse, Texas will only get a partial eclipse; therefore, the same applies in this historical event. If two records of the same event occurred thousands of miles apart, an eclipse cannot explain it. Add to this the fact that never is an eclipse so dark that the sky is darkened and all the stars can be clearly seen. Though many have sought natural causes to explain the darkness, they clearly validate the Bible’s account.

Two other pieces of significant evidences are the account of the pierced side and the tomb of the prominent rich councilman, Joseph of Arimathea. After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph went to Pilot and asked for the body so he could bury Him with honor. Pilot sent a soldier to verify that Jesus was already dead. The soldier verified Jesus was dead and pierced His side. The spear clearly went through to the heart and John 19:34 says that blood separated from the water poured out. The only way the blood could separate is if circulation has stopped and the blood begins to clot and separate. It is highly unlikely that John could have known this to be evidence of death and fabricated it. This era had little medical knowledge and those present would not have understood the significance of this statement at the time.

Isaiah 53:9 foretells that Christ would die with the wicked but would be buried in the rich man’s tomb. John’s account is fulfillment of this prophecy. (See Mark 15:43 and Luke 23:50-51) Joseph of Arimathea was a rich, prominent member of the council that condemned Jesus to die. Fabricating the story of Joseph would have been a fatal blow to any ‘conspiracy’. If the disciples were going to make up a story to fulfill this prophecy, as some have claimed, they would not have picked someone out of the council that tried Jesus. If it were a lie, they would be the first to protest and would have the public platform to dispute the claim. There is no reasonable doubt that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried in the councilman’s tomb.

The Resurrection
The resurrection is the most controversial part of the biblical account of Jesus. If Jesus was not bodily resurrected, He was not God, He was not a Savior and Christianity is a lie. Symbolic resurrection is not compatible with the Christian faith. The resurrection is the evidence that Jesus proclaimed to be a sign that He was who He claimed to be. The resurrection is the proof that Jesus conquered death. It is also what gives Jesus the authority to claim that He is the resurrection and that we all will be partakers of the resurrection if we are found in Christ. This alone separates Christianity from mere religion.

The apostle Paul states that if the resurrection is not a fact, then we are false witnesses before God. He sums it up this way, "if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!" 1 Corinthians 15:17. If Jesus could not rise from the dead, He is not our savior and our faith is a lie. However, if Jesus were God in the flesh as He claimed to be, then taking up His body would be a small thing. Lets finish this study by examining the proof of the resurrection.

To clarify the resurrection, let us first look at the arguments against it. There are many alternative views used by critics to claim that the disciples conspired to make Jesus look like more than a man. Out of all the dozens of alternate stories, only two are even remotely worth examining. Most conspiracy stories are so weak that no one who uses reason would consider them valid. Even the two more common views are so weak that only those desperate for another answer would even give them credibility. Most skeptics try to argue Jesus out of history in order to avoid the debate all together. History does not support them, but that doesn’t seem to be a deterrent to those determined to disbelieve. Let us examine the two most popular conspiracy stories about Jesus.

The Swoon Theory. This alternative explanation has been repackaged with many variations. The most popular variant was ‘The Passover Plot’ published in 1965. The basic argument is that Jesus and His disciples conspired to fulfill messianic prophecies by faking Jesus’ death on the cross. They managed to manipulate the Jewish leaders into trying and convicting Jesus, the people into demanding the crucifixion and the Roman government into executing Him. The legal manipulation would have been a miracle in itself. Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus was supposedly given a drug that appeared to make him look dead and trick the soldiers into removing Him from the cross while he was still alive. The cool damp air of the tomb revived Him and He appeared alive to His followers. By just using simple logic, this argument fails miserably. The first obvious flaw that jumps out is the question ‘how did they know Joseph would offer his tomb?’ If you can believe that Joseph and Pilot were a part of this conspiracy, there are plenty of other flaws to fight through. Jesus was beaten so badly that He was too weak to carry His own cross and a bystander was commissioned to carry it for Him. He had nails driven through His wrists and feet. The blood loss is hard to escape. The blood poured out His feet, hands, back from the beating, and finally a mortal wound was inflicted between His ribs when the spear pierced His heart.

If someone has faith enough to get past the impossible odds of survival, there are a few more problems to deal with. How does a man who has had spikes driven through his limbs get up and walk and appear as a victorious leader to the people? Somehow Jesus revived, untangled himself from the burial cloths wrapped around his body, pushed a massive stone away from the entrance of the tomb, passed through a squadron of soldiers guarding the site, and ran away without anyone noticing. Not only did he escape, but he also walked seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus with two travelers who did not notice he was wounded.

How is it that most people can’t walk with minor pain in their feet, but Jesus was able to walk with holes in His? He had full use of His hands because he took over the evening meal and broke bread. We could come up with dozens of functions that would cause Him excruciating pain if this was a faked resurrection. If by some miracle Jesus and the disciples pulled this off, He would have looked so weak and anemic that no one would have been amazed. It seems a little hard to believe the disciples were able to get the multitudes fired up by seeing a half-dead Jesus.

Continued on Part 2

How can we experience God? Part 2 of 2

2010-03-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

Conforming Our Lives

We’ve just looked at what it means to experience God, now let’s examine the closely related topic of conforming our life to Christ. Look at 1 Peter 1:13-19

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

¹⁶ because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

The first point we must understand is that it is not possible to conform ourselves to Christ through our own strength. Verse 14 sheds light on the whole topic. We are to be obedient children of God. We are already children because of the grace that was given to us through Christ (verse 13). Once we are born into the kingdom, we are now children of God and have to obey his call to conform to a holy standard.

God is not the only voice we hear. Temptation in our flesh calls out for us to conform to its image. Each day we have to choose whom we will obey. Romans 6 explains:

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

¹⁶ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

¹⁷ But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

¹⁸ And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

¹⁹ I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

You must present yourself for obedience. Your flesh wars against your mind, trying to bring you back into subjection to sin (Romans 7). This is a call for conformity. Your flesh, the world, friends, and sometimes even church members call you to conform to the image of the flesh. God calls each one of us to conform to the image of Christ. We must choose which voice to obey.

Whether you choose righteousness or sin, it is an act of obedience. We must submit ourselves for obedience either to Christ or the flesh. If I love sin and love my life in this world, I will submit myself to the flesh and begin conforming to its image. This destroys my walk of faith and makes it impossible to grow into maturity. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Also, add to this Hebrews 6:1

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

This is why most believers never get beyond a superficial faith. Until we leave the elementary principles and move on to the deeper things of God, we can never get beyond the basics. So many Christians spend their lives laying the foundation of repentance because they keep reliving their dead works. Their Christian life never gets past living for the flesh, repenting, and then getting drawn back into the flesh. If people remain in a carnal mindset, they will have no tolerance for anything but the milk. Carnal means, of the flesh. It is a mind that remains rooted in the flesh and distracted from the word of God. Each time the carnal mind hears the word, it sheds light on their dead works and either offends them, or reminds them to return to repentance. However, unless we get beyond that state, we can never mature into the deeper things of God. This is why people scoff at doctrines that force them to look deeper into their lives. They can only tolerate the milk.

The milk of the word is the basic principles of the Christian life. It is a call for repentance and the elementary doctrines that need little depth of understanding. The evidence that we are still in need of milk is our behavior. If works of the flesh are still the focus of our lives, then we are carnal and in need of milk. Envy, strife, and divisions in the church are symptoms of the shallowness of faith in the local body.

The difference between those who leave behind the immaturity of the flesh and those who don’t is their focus. One is focused on Christ, and the other is focused on the flesh. One trust God to bless in his own time and way, and the other is hung up on selfish desires. A self-focused life is destined to remain immature and frustrated. The fulfillment we crave can never be achieved by selfishness. The secret to fulfillment is found in Psalm 36:7-10

⁷ How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

⁸ They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

⁹ For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

¹⁰ Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

Notice the first principle. Those who experience the satisfaction of life first put their trust under the shadow of God’s wings. They submit to him first, trusting that God will work toward their good. Satisfaction is not to the person who seeks pleasure, but to the one who recognizes the lovingkindness of God and puts their trust in him. This is echoed in the New Testament as well. Look at Hebrews 11:

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Is this to those who seek the reward? No. The reward is to those who seek God. Blessings are not to those who say, “Lord bless me,” but to those who say, “Lord, reveal yourself to me, make my way clean, and show me how to obey.”

We cannot draw near to God while idolatry is in our hearts. Israel fell into idolatry and tried to use God for their benefit while perusing their own ways, but the Lord gave them a warning that we should consider today. In Ezekiel 14, God warned that if someone came to inquire of God and had idols in his heart, God would answer him according to his idols. In other words, we cannot choose our own ways and then come to God to bless us when we have a need. We can’t look at God as a supplement to our own ways and expect blessings, deliverance, and understanding. Either he is God, or he allows our own ways to be the guiding influence in our lives. We cannot partially accept God. Either we accept him and submit our lives, or we are in rejection of God.

Are you seeking God, and surrendering your life? Have you counted the cost and let go of what will pass away for the Lord, who is eternal? Do you love God to the point where everything else in this life is hated? Do you hold to the words of Jesus in Luke 14:26-28

²⁶ "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

²⁷ "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

²⁸ "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it --

…

³³ "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

What does it mean to hate all? Does it mean we have to hate our parents, spouses, and children? Obviously not, since Jesus condemned the Pharisees for allowing people to dishonor their parents and warned that we had to love our wives and children. It means that we count the cost. We’ve decided to leave behind the superficial Christianity that means nothing and has no eternal significance. It means that we have counted the cost, taken hold of Christ, and we’ll not turn from him – even if it costs us everything we value in this life. Loving God with all your heart will cost you. Your family will not understand. Your friends will not understand. Even your church will not understand. Very few churches are truly founded upon this principle, and you will be discouraged if you expect any man or woman to affirm your surrender to Christ.

Each one of us must evaluate our lives and count the cost. Few are willing to forsake all. It is hard to let go of what you can see to lay hold of that which requires faith to see. Many put their hands to the plow, but few can resist turning back. In our own strength, none of us can lay down our lives, take up his cross, and follow. None of us has the strength to endure the cost. Only those who walk in the Spirit and seek God with all their hearts will find the power of God. Let’s conclude with a passage that I believe holds the key to understanding the Christian walk, Proverbs 2:1-13

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

² So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

³ Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

⁴ If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

⁸ He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

¹¹ Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,

¹² To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,

¹³ From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

When knowing God and loving all that he provides is the treasure you seek, you will find these things. When you realize that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are the most valuable treasures you can possess, you will seek with all your heart. Our job is to seek, submit, and obey. God’s job is to provide, shelter, and preserve our way. When you take over God’s role, you will not have the power to succeed. The Christian life will be frustrating and unfruitful. Faithfulness and obedience belong to us, results, success, and our ways belong to God.

When we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then all these things will be added to us. Until God is first, the promises do not apply. This is what it means to hate our lives in this world and forsake all for him.

How can we experience God? Part 1 of 2

2010-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

“I want to experience God,” a woman in our congregation announced. I was teaching an adult discipleship class and heard this comment from several people. None of which were involved in any type of in-depth discipleship. Nor would they accept any invitations I gave to study the scriptures. “I think I might visit,” was as close as she came.

It’s a noble sounding comment that I’ve heard thousands of times over the years, but is our declaration to experience God as noble as it sounds? How many times did I say this in my own life only to have the words fade into the forgotten past? For so many years, I struggled to get over that spiritual hump only to see my progress slip away as I began sliding down the hill of my own weaknesses.

Jesus warned his disciples that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The Apostle Peter declared that he would boldly stand with Christ, even to the point of death. Yet, a few hours later, he couldn’t keep himself from falling asleep when his only mission was to watch and pray with Jesus as the hour of affliction drew near. This was followed by Peter, cowering in fear, when a servant girl pointed at him and said, “You are one of his followers.”

The man who inflated his shoulders and proclaimed, “I will never deny you,” was now trembling and saying to a servant girl, “I do not know that man.” The great irony is that Peter saw himself as a conquering hero, battling Roman Soldiers and defending Jesus, but his final defeat came before a girl whose social status would not even qualify her to give a legal testimony in that culture.

Peter’s battle was not lost during the moment of trial; it was lost when he could not watch and pray for an hour. He didn’t recognize his need for strength, because he didn’t recognize his own weakness. He approached God’s will on his own terms. He was strong, he was charismatic, he had been successful before, and he thought himself as invincible.

He may have been sincere in his proclamation, but Peter was proclaiming his faith on his own terms. He soon found out that his flesh did not have the power to rise above his weaknesses. This is what most people are standing upon when they declare that they are selling out for Christ. Most people seek to experience God by inviting him into their world instead of leaving their self-centered world to enter his Kingdom.

The reason someone cries out to know God, and never experiences him, is because they simply don’t understand what it means to experience God. I know, because I have been such a person and wondered for years why my life continued its rollercoaster ride when I had committed my life to him. Consider this passage from 1 Peter 1:15-16

⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

¹⁶ because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Also look at Hebrews 12:14

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Holiness means to be set apart for God. God is set apart from and above all his creation. So when we see the holiness of God, it is a declaration that there is nothing like him. He is set apart, distinct, and above all. Beside him there is no other God. When we are holy, we are set apart from the rest of creation, reserved for God alone. Sanctification is the cleansing process for something or someone that is set apart for God. We are sanctified through the Spirit and made holy for our God. However, we must understand that to be set apart (made holy) means that we have to be separated from the flesh that remains unholy. As I explain this, keep in mind that to be set apart for God, we have to be separated from that which is contrary to God.

We cannot experience God without first experiencing the separation from our life in the flesh. Look at Luke 14:26-28

²⁶ "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

²⁷ "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

²⁸ "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it --

…

³³ "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

If you are not willing to forsake all, you cannot be a disciple of Christ and cannot fully experience God. To experience God is not a mystical experience that occurs and then is gone until we find the next experience. We must be in communion and fellowship with God. If our experiences are not driving us to our knees, teaching us to forsake the flesh, and conforming us to the image of Christ, the experience is not of God. Emotional responses can be conjured up through the flesh. Many religions have methods that get them to a state of euphoria, but none can change the human nature within them. Once the feelings fade, their human condition reemerges, as strong as ever. If you are dependent on the experience, the feeling has become the object of your worship. If you cannot walk with God and see his life-changing power without having to depend on an experience, it is a false faith.

When God touches our lives, He creates within us the desire to be holy, and if his Spirit is the power within us, our lives will be changed, and we will see him calling us out of a life centered on the flesh. Anything short of that is a counterfeit, and is no different than what the world religions experience. Even satanic cults have methods that get them into a state of euphoria. There has to be more than a moment of exhilaration.

If our faith can’t give us peace during hardship, it is not of God. Only the Spirit of God can give us joy when we fall into various trials (James 1:2). Only the life grounded in Christ can rejoice and be exceedingly joyful when our name is cast out as evil, we are mocked, reviled, and excluded from relationships (Luke 6:22-23). Only the person set apart for the kingdom can be joyful when our possessions are plundered by our enemies (Hebrews 10:34). If your life doesn’t have peace that surpasses all human understanding, your religion is built on human faith and not the gift of faith provided to us by the Holy Spirit.

We endure and have joy because we have counted the cost, and valued the spiritual things we are gaining as far greater in value than what we are losing in this world. Until I (and you) realize that faith in Christ is worth the cost, we cannot forsake all and become his disciple.

Does God want to bless us with good things in this life? He certainly does; however, he will not sacrifice your eternal good for your temporal comfort. Human nature focuses on the things that are passing, and quickly turns from the eternal. The fact is that all your possessions are worthless in the eternal picture. Does God care if you have a two-car garage, or does he care that you learn how to grow into the image of Christ? If you can have both, I believe God will bless, but the truth is that things quickly choke our lives and make us unfruitful. Put this to the test. How much time do you spend investing in your spiritual life? Now compare that to how much time you spend watching television, playing games, in recreation, hobbies, work, and all the other things in our lives. If you are like most people, you don’t have time for God because your life is too crowded with other things.

When we say that we want to experience God, most likely, what we are saying is, “I want to experience God under my own conditions.”

We want God to change who he is and conform to our standard so he can meet us under our terms. Our plan is to have an enriched life, not a changed life. Most people think of ‘life more abundantly’ as a promise for materialism instead of a life rich toward God. If possessions were the abundant life, why is Hollywood so troubled? Why did Jesus say that life does not consist of the things we possess? (Luke 12:15)

If we are demanding God to change in order to meet us, we are exalting ourselves above him. Our spirituality is then based on human pride. We will never experience God because the Bible makes it clear that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

The truth is that God reaches down to meet us in our weaknesses, but then he calls us to conform to his image so we can approach his throne. Without holiness, being set apart from our life in this sinful flesh and walking in the Spirit, we cannot see the Lord. We can’t see or experience him. Unfortunately, we are powerless to set ourselves apart by our own efforts. God does indeed reach out to us by condescending to our level through the person of Christ; however, he redeems us and then leads us into a life in the Spirit. Galatians 5:18 tells us:

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The Spirit of God transforms our lives so that we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and then leads us into the paths of righteousness. The law of sin no longer has the power to control us – if – we are led by the Spirit. The Bible says that God has foreordained our path so that we will be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). We conform so that we can draw nearer to God. Our quest for holiness is the examination of our lives as we study the scriptures. God reveals himself to us through the scriptures as he reveals things about ourselves that we need to separate from. Those who love their lives in this world cannot be his disciple because they cannot grow into Christ while holding to that which opposes him, or crowds him out of being the first love of our life.

So we are faced with a choice. Do we yield to the Spirit and conform to Christ as God commands, or do we demand God to conform to our likeness so he can have fellowship with us? One says, “Take me Lord, as I am,” and lays down their life. The other says, “Lord, accept me as I am,” and holds on to their life. The first will experience God and grow closer as they learn how to overcome the flesh, one step at a time. The second will never experience God and will have to find substitutes and counterfeits in an effort to fill the emptiness in their life. One is dependent on circumstances; the other is dependent on Christ and has joy despite even the most difficult circumstances. One is building his house on the sand; the other is building upon the rock.

The Unpardonable Sin

2010-03-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I’ve gotten many questions about the unpardonable sin, and like most Christians, I have wrestled with this subject in my own studies. A question I recently was asked echoes the struggles and anxieties of many who wonder if they, too, could commit the unpardonable sin.

Question: I fear I may have committed the unpardonable sin of Matthew 12 in thought. I try hard not to think blasphemous thoughts, but I can’t seem to fight them off. I just had the worst blasphemous thought, and I feel I have consciously sinned against the Holy Spirit. I feel like I’m going crazy trying to keep from thinking these thoughts, and I fear that I have gone to the point where I cannot be forgiven.

The answer to the question of the unpardonable sin.

You said that you were afraid that you had committed the unpardonable sin and that you can’t keep your mind from thinking blasphemous thoughts. That is true for any thought and you will drive yourself crazy if you are trying to keep your mind from thinking of anything. Put this to the test. Determine not to think about a banana. Don’t let yourself think about its color or smell. Especially don’t think about how it feels in your hand; its weight, texture, and for goodness sake, don’t think about the stem. Make every effort not to think about how it tastes in your mouth. Now raise the stakes. Tell yourself, “I can’t think about these things or I’ll go to hell.” Pick a day and do everything in your power not to think about the word ‘banana’ or the object, smell, or anything related to it. If you’re really daring, commit to not thinking about it for a month. When you go down the produce aisle in a grocery store, try not to look at it, and for your soul’s sake, don’t think about the banana—err, I mean what you aren’t looking at.

What if you truly believed your soul was dependent on never allowing the banana to enter your mind. It could have been the forbidden fruit, you never know. As you can imagine, you would drive yourself mad if you truly believed this would condemn your soul. The same is true about how most people approach the idea of the unpardonable sin. Just by focusing on not allowing it to enter your mind, makes your thoughts focus on the evil we think is lurking behind the door of our mind. Trying to keep any thought out of our mind is like trying to stop a leaky faucet with our hands. No matter how tight we squeeze, water is going to drip through.

You’re focus is on the wrong things. We don’t resist temptation by staring it down, but by turning our hearts to what is good. I’ll share the scriptures with you that cover this in a moment, but let me say first that you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin. If God was so easily offended that a thought popping in our heads could condemn us to hell, we’d all be doomed. Let’s examine blasphemy for a moment and look at the difference between the condemnation of the Pharisees and the mercy given to the Apostle Paul – who was also a Pharisee. Look at Matthew 12:31-32

³¹ " Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

³² "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

When Jesus uttered this warning, what was taking place? In verse 10, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees raged against him for healing on the Sabbath, even though Jesus explained that he was the Lord of the Sabbath. Their response to the miracle was to plot to destroy Jesus. He withdrew, and as was often the case, the Pharisees followed to observe Jesus, looking for something by which they could accuse him. Verse 18 quotes a passage from Isaiah, indicating that it was self evident that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy given about his ministry and life. In verse 22, the people brought a man who was demon possessed, and Jesus cast out the devil and healed the man. What did the Pharisees say? “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

The work of God was revealed directly to them in an unmistakable way. They heard the word of God through Jesus’ teaching, they saw the miracle of healing, they saw the affirmation of him through the Old Testament scriptures – which, by the way, was their primary field of study – and they saw Jesus’ power over Satan, revealed before their very eyes. Their response? “He has the power of Satan.” To make such a claim was to call the Holy Spirit of God the power of Satan. Did Satan heal the man’s hand? Did Satan give Jesus the words of truth? Did Satan write the book of Isaiah? Did Satan cast out the devil?

Consider more of these things. When Jesus fed the five-thousand, the people demanded a sign from God in order to believe. Several times the leaders demanded a sign from Christ, and what did he say? “No sign will be given – except, the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, Jesus would be in the grave three days and would emerge.

In a parable, Jesus told about a man who died and was tormented in the flames of judgment. The man begged to go back and warn his brothers of this horrible place. He was told, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” This of course is the reference to the Old Testament scriptures. The man knew that like himself, they were ignoring the word of God, so he pleaded by saying that they would believe if someone returned from the grave to warn them. But he was told, “If they won’t believe Moses and the prophets (the word of God), they will not believe – even if someone were to rise from the dead.

Jesus proved this to be true twice. Lazarus was dead four days, and he came and raised him from the dead. How did the Pharisees react? They plotted to put Lazarus to death, for many believed on Jesus because of his resurrection. All their efforts to stop Christ were fruitless and they lamented that all their efforts to silence him accomplished nothing (John 12:19).

When Jesus was crucified, the Pharisees got the Roman governor to place a squadron of soldiers to guard the tomb so the disciples couldn’t steal the body and claim Jesus had risen. Jesus did rise, and the Roman soldiers witnessed it. A squad of terrorized soldiers ran to the Pharisees and reported that they witnessed Jesus emerge from the tomb. What was their response? They came up with an alternate story and paid the soldiers to hide the truth and spread their lie.

So you see, this was much more than a blasphemous thought popping into their heads. They fought against God, told others that it was Satan’s work, plotted to destroy the evidence of God’s work, and lied to persuade others to disbelieve God. All of this stemmed from one thing – they resisted the Spirit of God working in their hearts. You see, we all were blasphemers before we were redeemed, but God didn’t judge us for it.

The Apostle Paul blasphemed the work of God and called it evil. In Acts, Paul gives his testimony and says how he obtained orders from the priests and hunted down Christians from city to city, captured them and brought them back to be put to death. Not only did he cast his vote against them, but he also testifies of two practices that we think of as despicable. He says that he hailed people in their houses. In other words, he found out who was a Christian by giving them a Christian salutation. If they answered back, he knew they were believers and he would arrest them. It would be something like walking into a house and saying, “Blessings in the name of Jesus Christ.” He was pretending to be a Christian, knowing that if they blessed back in the name of Jesus, they were followers of this evil cult of Christ.

The second despicable practice was that Paul said, “I compelled them to blaspheme.” In other words, he used threats and punishment to force people to speak against Christ. Scourging was a common practice, so he may have had them beaten until they spoke evil against the way of faith in Christ.

So why didn’t God judge Paul as he did the Pharisees? He also blasphemed, called the work of God evil, and set out to kill anyone who followed Jesus in order to destroy the faith. In action, there is no difference between the Apostle Paul and the Pharisees whom Jesus proclaimed, “You cannot be forgiven in this life, or the life to come.” I say, no difference in action while in the act of blasphemy, but there was a huge difference when seeing the work of the Holy Spirit. Let me explain first by looking at two passages. Look first at Romans 1:18-19

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Now read 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I underlined the key points I wanted you to notice. The wrath of God was revealed against the ungodly AFTER he made himself known to them and showed the truth to them. Those who refused to receive the love of the truth were given over to the strong delusion so that they will believe a lie. Why? It was for this reason – they rejected the truth that they might be saved.

Paul thought the work of God was evil and was something to be stamped out. He was wrong. He was corrupt, sinful, and a wicked man who blasphemed and forced others to blaspheme. Yet he found mercy. The Pharisees were evil men who thought the work of God was evil, they blasphemed and encouraged people to blaspheme – even issuing ordinances that if anyone testifies to Christ, they would be permanently kicked out of the Synagogue and excluded from the Jewish culture that everyone depended upon.

The ONLY distinction between those who receive mercy, and those who receive judgment is the response to the truth of God when it is revealed to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is not our response to the word, but our response to the revelation of the word. There is a difference. The Bible says that the natural man – those viewing the world through human nature or the flesh – cannot receive or understand the things of God – for they are spiritually discerned. The word of God is foolishness to the flesh, and we are all born into the flesh. Hearing truth does not turn the light bulb on in our hearts. It is the Holy Spirit that opens our eyes to see the truth and then calls our hearts to respond. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). You can hear the word of God without faith, but you cannot have faith without hearing the word of God. God calls us through the word, and he opens our understanding in his own time. That is why someone will hear the word their whole lives, and then suddenly understand the gospel and are born into the Spirit.

From the outside, you and I cannot determine what God is doing in someone’s heart. Just because someone doesn’t respond, does not mean they are resisting the Holy Spirit. Rejecting the truth is not what brings us under judgment. We all reject the truth in our flesh. BUT, when the Holy Spirit pulls back the veil of our flesh, reveals the truth to us, and makes God manifest to our heart and understanding, the moment of decision has come. The decision is not whether we will choose God. We cannot choose God. God chooses us and calls us to Christ. The ONLY decision is whether we will resist the Spirit of grace that is being given to us. Go back to the passages above. Those judged SUPPRESS the truth. It is taking the truth that has been revealed to our hearts, refusing it, and trying to push it away from our hearts. It is for this reason we are given over to our vile passions and turned over to the lie that we have already chosen.

So the problem is not blasphemy in thought, but blasphemy by resisting the Holy Spirit and turning against the truth that is being revealed. Then, and only then, have we committed the unpardonable sin. We cannot be forgiven in the life to come because we remain in our sins. We have chosen to live for the flesh and have pleasure in unrighteousness, and there is no redemption for those who die without receiving the love of the truth. For God has revealed it in them. Inside the heart of man, God manifests himself, calls us to lay down our lives, and offers a new life in Christ, born after the Spirit. But those condemned in the above passage, like the Pharisees, despise a God who calls them to let go of their lives in this world, and have suppressed the truth revealed in them, and cling to the flesh. They love a life grounded in sin and count the sacrifice of Christ as a worthless thing. (Hebrews 10:29)

Now a little bit on thoughts.

You said that you were afraid because of evil thoughts. I’m going to take a few moments to look at this from a Christian perspective. Look at the Bible’s command to the church in Colossians 3:8

⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

This is written to the believers in the church. Put off these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language. Interesting, the Christian is told to put blasphemy out of their lives. Shouldn’t Christians already be free of blasphemy? We should. But we also should be free from anger, wrath, malice and speaking things that shame God. None of these things condemn our souls, but they do war against our souls and prevent us from growing closer to the Lord.

These things are of the flesh. When we come to Christ, the Bible tells us that we are born into the Spirit. A new, eternal nature is given to us that was not present until we were regenerated by the Holy Spirit into a new creation. It is at that point we receive the promise, “Now all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). We now have a new nature that is born after the Spirit and our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ. Look at Romans 6:6-7

⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin.

While it is true that we have a new nature, given to us from God, we still live in a body of flesh that craves sin and wars against our minds. Look at Romans 7:22-25

²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

²⁵ I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

If we walk in the Spirit, we serve God with our minds, but if we walk according to the flesh, we cannot help but to serve sin. The inward man is the new creation. Our sinful nature was crucified with Christ, but outwardly we battle with the flesh. The flesh wars against our minds, trying to bring us back into captivity to sin. Romans 6:16 tells us that even though we have been set free from sin, we can still submit to sin and allow it to rule over us.

¹⁶ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Jesus said something similar in John 8:34. The fact of being human is that we fall. We take our eyes off the Spirit and are distracted by the flesh. When we sin, it quickly takes over our minds and brings us back into captivity. Then we must confess our sins, forsake them, and stand upon the promise of 1 John 1:7-10 – the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. When we repent and walk in the light – obedience to Christ through his word, we are cleansed and free from the sin that wars against our minds.

The flesh will constantly rise up and war against us, so we must always be on guard, and repent when we fall. God is not waiting to beat us when we fall, but he leads us back toward repentance with the purpose of reconciliation and fellowship with him. Chastisement is still a loving correction. It is harsher because sometimes we need a bit more prodding. Consequences to our sins is also a deterrent for future sins. The purpose is not to punish, but to correct, so that we are led in the right way and can experience the joy of God to its fullness. It is better to suffer pain in this life than to miss the promises in the life to come.

Since the flesh is warring against our minds, thoughts are going to arise. The truth is that we have spent a lifetime of training our minds to think from the perspective of the flesh. So, thoughts are going to naturally gravitate toward the flesh unless we take the steps necessary to retrain our way of thinking. Why do we brood over the things that hurt us, and cling to thoughts that bring sorrow? It is the flesh. When our minds are on the flesh, we walk in the flesh. When our minds are on the Spirit, we walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

We cannot overcome the flesh by warring against the flesh. We overcome by walking in the Spirit. That is why forcing yourself not to think about blasphemy doesn’t work. You are making an effort in the flesh to overcome something in the flesh. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We overcome our thoughts by setting our minds on the things above. All of this is grounded in the word of God. Let’s look at how the Bible teaches us to train our minds. First look at 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Our weapons are not carnal. Carnal means, of the flesh. It is God who gives us might and pulls down strongholds. We have the power to cast down everything that exalts itself against God and to take our own thoughts captive. Whether it’s blasphemy, thoughts of anger, lust, greed, vengeance, bitterness, or any other thought that exalts itself, we have the God given power to cast it down and put it into its place. We all struggle with different thoughts at different times. When an offending thought pops in our head, it is not a sin. It is our flesh that has sin in its members and wars against our minds in an attempt to bring us back into its dominance.

We are commanded to guard our hearts for out of it come the issues of life. Our minds guard our hearts. Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witnesses, and blasphemies.” It is not a sin until it proceeds from the heart. Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:35) Notice, the heart doesn’t produce these things. They are thoughts that we have stored their as treasures.

When I dwell on evil thoughts, I am treasuring those things in my heart. If I entertain thoughts of lust, I am treasuring something in my heart that will emerge in my life as sin. The same is true for hatred, greed, covetousness, blasphemy, and any other sin. When those thoughts enter our minds, it begins as an involuntary idea. Involuntary thoughts are not sin, and we will not be held accountable for it. It’s not until we welcome the thought and surrender our minds to it that it becomes sin. If we are born again and belong to Christ, we have the power through the word of God and the Holy Spirit to cast down those thoughts and take them captive. We take those thoughts and cast them out of our minds. However, casting down an imagination is not the end of our responsibility. Look now at Philippians 4:6-8

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.

We set our hearts and minds on spiritual things, and then dwell on what is right. We are training ourselves to think and meditate on praiseworthy things of God. Our live must be grounded in prayer (communing with God), supplication (praying for needs of ourselves and others), and thanksgiving. All prayer and all things in the Christian life are surrounded by thanksgiving. If I’m not thankful in all things, I am blinded by the flesh for all things work together for my good and His purpose. God’s purpose is always good in my life. If I do these things, I have the absolute promise that God himself will guard my heart and mind through Christ. If my mind is in turmoil, I haven’t followed this principle. Will trouble come? Yes. And at times I will feel anxious. However, when I am grounded in the faith, I will not be moved by these things and they will not rule my mind.

When I am grounded in prayer, I then follow up by setting my mind on the good things that are pure and of good report. These principles will work. They are difficult to live by, but success is by the hand of God when we submit ourselves to obedience. Most people get frustrated by circumstances, quickly abandon the word, and cease from striving toward the righteousness of God. Soon they find that the flesh is again driving their minds and lives. Then they wonder why God isn’t giving them peace. The truth is that God does give peace, but He does not promise to bless and give peace to those who are unwilling to obey his word.

Let me conclude by giving an example from my own life. Many years ago I was severely wronged and deeply hurt by someone. I allowed my hurt to grow into bitterness and my unforgiveness came out in my own life. I said the words, “I forgive,” many times. But from my heart I didn’t truly forgive. I relived my anger repeatedly. I did not realize it at the time, but that anger was coming out in my own life and affecting those around me. Sin was so blinding that I could not even see my own behavior. Have you ever met someone who was their own worst enemy, but blamed everyone else? In their minds, they feel singled out and attacked, and unable to see that people are responding to their behavior? That is bitterness in action. It always defiles the one who possesses it, and blinds them to their own actions. The Bible warns that one root of bitterness can spring up and defile many. A bitter spirit affects everyone around it.

God began to deal with me, and showed me how that I cannot have His blessings and bitterness. Jesus said that our heavenly Father will not forgive us if we don’t forgive others from the heart. Unforgiveness is a breech in our relationship with God. We cannot mature until we forgive. If we relive the pain, we have not forgiven. The problem is that we don’t naturally know how to forgive, but the passage above tells us. We take every thought captive and cast down every thought that is not obedient to Christ. Obedience requires us to follow the command to forgive.

I decided to forgive. I prayed for the ability and had to work through years of painful feelings. I forgave. Know what happened? Those thoughts returned, warring against my mind. Rarely did a day go by when I hadn’t felt bitterness in my heart, so casting it out was a challenge. Its roots grew deep. Like an aggressive weed, cutting out the plant didn’t solve the problem. It just kept growing back. When I saw the thoughts again, I cast it out. Sometimes I would unconsciously begin to dwell on these thoughts, but then I would realize it and had to make a decision. Did I want to cling to them and relish in the pain, relive my pity, or cast it out again? I have to be honest and say that a part of me enjoyed reliving the memories and pitying myself, so it was hard to cast out the thoughts that were so engrained in my way of thinking. With reluctance, I cast it out again. But it came back like a stalker. I cast it out again, and again, and again. I tried to focus on the praiseworthy things, but soon found my mind drifting back on the destructive thoughts warring against my mind.

The battle was long, but in time, the thoughts came to visit less and less. I had programmed my mind to think negatively, and now I was trying to use scripture to reprogram ever path in my brain. I was retraining myself from destructive patterns to godly thinking. God gives us the power to do this very thing – but we have to obey His word. Many times a day I had to cast out my angry thoughts and say to myself, “I have forgiven. These thoughts are no longer mine.”

Regardless of what thoughts you struggle with, they are not yours until you take ownership of them. The longer you own these thoughts, the harder it is to evict them. If we trust God’s word, we will obey out of faith. Faith says that though I can’t see immediate results, I know the word is true. Faith always comes before the promises of God. We endure by faith, knowing that in the end we will see the promises with our own eyes.

Life is hard enough as it is, so don’t carry unnecessary burdens. If an offensive thought enters your mind, don’t wrack yourself with guilt. It isn’t a thought you own. Just cast it out and say, “It is not mine.” If it sneaks in again, cast it down again. When you are retraining your way of thinking, results will come slow, but you will find that the thoughts that once haunted you will be forgotten. Like me, you will one day look up and realize, I haven’t thought about that in years. One day I was reflecting on this very thing after discussing this topic with someone and I realized that I didn’t even feel the slightest bit of bitterness against the one who wronged me.

The Bible promises, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3. The Bible promises a sound mind to the believer. This is how that promise is fulfilled. This doesn’t mean that we cannot focus on our work at hand or something that demands our attention. It means that when our thoughts are free, we turn them toward the Lord. We cannot let our minds rest upon our God if it is tangled up in the flesh. Renew yourself daily in the word, and be a doer and not a hearer only.

New Wine of the Spirit

2010-03-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Luke 5:36-39

³⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.

³⁷ "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.

³⁸ "But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

³⁹ "And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' " NKJV

As we examine these two related parables, let’s begin by first looking at each item in the analogy. During the time when Jesus taught these parables, there was no such thing as mixed fibers. Wool and linen were the primary sources of cloth during this era, and both have a lot of shrinkage when they are new. Clothing was not something the average person could afford to toss out when it was torn. They would repair it and extend its life as log as possible.

Most clothing was made of linen. Linen is made from the fibers of flax, and when the new cloth was washed, it would shrink. The parable points to a fact that everyone would have understood, “No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment.” Why? Because the old garment has already shrunk and is set in its ways. If you put a patch made of new cloth, the patch will shrink, pulling on every part of the cloth that it was sewn into. Thus making a larger tear, and the clothing would be worse off than it was before it was repaired.

Jesus presents a similar truth with another parable. The NKJV uses the word ‘wineskins’, but the KJV uses ‘bottles’. No one puts new wine into old bottles. It is correct to literally translate this passage as ‘wineskins’. When we think of bottles, we think of corked wine bottles made of glass. Glass is not something this culture would have had easy access too. While glass is believed to have been used for over 3,000 years, it wasn’t economical for common use during the time of Christ. Pottery could not be used for wine, and glass was not a common commodity, so wineskins was commonly used to store wine.

Let’s look for a moment at what makes this parable work. The alcohol in wine is only one molecule different than vinegar. This is why wine spoils if it is not stored properly. If air can seep in, oxygen will convert it to vinegar; therefore, the container had to be something that could be sealed. Pottery breathes and is hard to seal. A wineskin has a narrow opening, and seals in the wine, and doesn’t allow air to pass.

Even after the fermentation process has been completed, the yeast continues to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, strengthening the wine, and building pressure inside the wineskin. A new wineskin can stretch, and is pliable, but an older one would have already stretched and become a little brittle. If new wine is put into an old wineskin, when the pressure builds, it lacks the ability to expand. Eventually, the pressure will build until the skin hits its limit, then it will burst. The wineskin is now destroyed, and the wine is lost.

The culture of that day would have understood these things. Therefore, we must look through the lens of that culture, not through our modern ideas of blended fabric and durable blown glass bottles. Now that we understand what Jesus used to illustrate this truth, let us also look at the truth Jesus was communicating through these parables.

These parables are told together because one applies to our external life, and the other to the Spirit within us. Some try to patch their lives with spiritual applications, but in the end, their lives are often worse than when they began. An emotional response to the gospel cannot redeem our lives, for Jesus said that we must be born again. There must be a new life; we cannot patch our old lives and expect lasting results.

Why does the Christian delight in God’s law? Because there is a love relationship with our Creator, and we realize that drawing closer to God is the most fulfilling thing anyone can experience in this life. The Bible says that the word of God is a light to our feet and a lamp for our path. Through the word, we see where we want to go and discover everything we need to get there. This is the difference between the one who forces himself to do what is right, and the one who seeks the right way. One is trying to make himself go where he does not want to go and the other delights in the instructions that guide him into the way that he does indeed want to go.

When someone tries to patch up their life in the flesh by applying spiritual principles, they are patching the old garment of the flesh with the new truths of the Spirit. It might work for a short time, but the end result is a life confused and unable to maintain holiness. This is why we have terms like ‘jailhouse religion’. In prison, inmates appear to be changed as they seek to rise above their circumstances or try to clean up their lives in the hope that God will rescue them from prison. When they are out and around their old influences, they quickly return back to the lifestyle that bound them. Often, they are worse off than they were before trying to make religion work in their lives. Disheartened by the lack of results, they conclude that Christianity doesn’t work.

In the second part of this parable, Jesus is comparing our lives – the wineskins – to the Spirit placed within us – the wine. It is not possible for the life rooted in the flesh to receive the Holy Spirit. According to 1 John, the Holy Spirit is planted like a seed within us so that we have the anointing that teaches us all things and gives us the power to understand the word of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that the natural man (the person living according to the flesh) cannot receive the things of God for they are spiritually discerned.

A life must be changed and renewed by the Holy Spirit before the things of the Spirit can be applied. A religious person who has never surrendered their lives to Christ and has not been born again, can attempt to apply truth to their life, but change will be short lived at best. Frustration and defeat are in store for those who attempt to live by the Bible before their transformation by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Peter discovered this when he crumbled under the threat of persecution and denied three times that he even knew Jesus. He was utterly defeated, but Jesus sought him out, restored his confidence, and made an interesting statement. Jesus said, “When you are converted, strengthen your brethren. Though he knew Christ, there had to be a transformation and a new birth in the Spirit. This occurred in John 20:22 when Jesus rose from the grave, met His disciples, and breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Finally, let’s examine the last statement of this parable, “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”

Even a believer has to mature into the new life God has given. For most people, there still exists the temptations of the flesh. We may not immediately desire all the things of the Spirit, but true life is in the new. The old appears to be better as temptation attempts to draw us out of the Spirit and back into the flesh. This is a warning, that even in the Spirit, we have to be on guard against the flesh. The flesh still desires the old temptations and lifestyle, but as we walk in truth, we will value and receive the new wine of the Spirit.

This is why the Bible says that if we live in the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit. When we do so, we have the promise of Galatians 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Eddie Snipes

When a Child Goes Astray

2010-02-24T11:18:00.001-08:00

Recently, a dear friend had a daughter who went astray. This is not a surprising revelation, for the world is filled with wayward children. Though these situations are always painful to parents, how much harder it seems to be for the Christian family who has poured their heart into teaching their children the right way. I've known this girl since she was in first grade, and I don't know any family that seeks to disciple their children more than this family. They are homeschooled, active in church, and they regularly have round table discussions about real life issues and how the Bible applies. Even as a child, this girl's practical knowledge would put most adult Christians to shame. Now, two years out of college, she revealed that she has abandoned her faith and has already chosen a lifestyle that is filled with immorality and future consequences.

We've all heard and have probably quoted the passage that states, "Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." If this is true, why are so many children departing from the faith? How can a family produce three godly children, and one ungodly child? Aren't we guaranteed by the Bible that our efforts will ensure that our children will not depart from what we have taught them? Over the years, I have seen many godly families fight through the heartbreak of a child who strays. I’ve often wondered why, but then, the Bible echoes the same pain in its godliest of leaders.

King Solomon testified that he learned wisdom by the mouth of his own father, King David. God Himself testifies that David was a man after His own heart. There could be no greater honor given to any man, nor has it been given to any other man in scripture. Yet, the same godly man who produced Solomon, also produced Amnon – the man who raped his own sister. David’s nurturing environment produced Absolam, whose inability to forgive Amnon festered for years until he devised a way to murder him. His life was so consumed by hatred that Absolam plotted to murder his own father and take over the throne. And then there was Adonija, whose selfish ambition sent him on a quest to take over the kingdom behind the back of his father, while he lay on his deathbed. Not much is known about the other ten sons called by name, but we know that the man who loved God more than life itself produced three men who shamed him, and one who was honored as the wisest man in history.

From this, I conclude that even if I teach my children in the way they should go, they must still submit to the will of God from their own hearts. Solomon said, “He [David] also taught me saying, ‘Let your heart retain my words.’” Solomon took this to heart, and soaked in the words that he later recounted in the Proverbs. His heart retained the words; therefore, he was trained in the right way. These were the same words that Amnon, Absolam, and Adonija heard, but they did not take it to heart.

If God will not overthrow my own will, I should not think that I will have the power to override my children’s will. I can only teach them the right way and pray that God will guide their hearts to His will. It is clear that part of the training that keeps children from departing, is also dependent on their willingness to be trained. If a child opens their heart to receive the love of God, they will grow into the training we provide in a nurturing environment, and because they are anchored by the love of God, they will not depart from it

If the Bible’s greatest example of a godly man could not keep three of his children from going astray, I know that all we can do is lead our children in the right way to give them the opportunity to receive the love of God. God offers His love, but does not override the will of our children, and neither can we. We must provide the nurturing environment and seed their hearts with the word of God in a spirit of love, but they must take it to heart so that they do not depart from the right way.

Ultimately, we will give an account for what we teach our children, but they must give an account for their own lives and choices.

Eddie Snipes

Foundations in the Sand

2010-02-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

Matthew 7:21-27

²¹ 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 which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

This parable by Jesus begins with a contrast between two ideals. This is part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. To fully understand this, we must look at the culture He was addressing. The Jews were entrenched in the Levitical law and measured themselves based on deeds. The apostles later testified that the law was a burden that they were unable to bear (Acts 15:10), but served as a tutor to show man of his inability to save himself, while pointing mankind to Christ (Romans 3:19-24, Galatians 3:24-24). Those who lived under this system did not accomplish perfection, but graded their righteousness on a curve. A good illustration of this can be seen by the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:11-14. The Pharisee looked down and was thankful that he had many good works, and had never fallen into sin like the tax collector in his midst. Human nature causes us to justify our actions based on the failures of others. As long as I can find someone with more failures than myself, I feel justified. The feelings are based on pride, and not true righteousness.

Each person hearing Jesus as He taught was living under this system. They felt justified based on how much of the law they kept. In our modern day, our attitudes can swell with pride when we are in the presence of someone who falls below our position on the self-justification scale, and we feel justified based on how we measure against others. However, the Bible tells us that if we live under the law, we are debtors to keep the whole law, and to fail in one point, makes us guilty of all (James 2:10, Galatians 4:21-23, 6:13).

The prelude to the parable above is directed to those who sought justification by works. In that day (the day we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ), many will come before Him and show their good works. Would we consider any of these works as evil?

Calling Jesus Lord

Prophesying in His name

Casting out devils

Doing wonderful works

What works? Maybe feeding the poor, helping those in need, showing acts of kindness. The list could go on ad infinitum. So why does Jesus reject the works being declared in this passage? Does the Bible discourage any of these things? No. In the book of James, the Bible condemns those who claim to have faith but neglect to do these things and leave others in need. They have a false faith – a dead faith.

So what is Jesus condemning? These religious workers will stand before him and show their good works, but He will say, “You are a worker of iniquity.” The word ‘iniquity’ comes from the Greek word ‘anomia’ which literally means, ‘to be in a condition of being without the law’. The workers in this parable are keeping the law and trying to do good, but Jesus declares that their works are based on a condition of being without the law, and therefore, they are workers of lawlessness.

Jesus also tells why these workers are in their present condition, “I never knew you.” When being confronted by the Jews in John 8, they argue about His claim to be the Christ (or Messiah) and the Son of God. Jesus warns that unless they believe that He is Christ and the Son of God, they will die in their sins.

True works come from Jesus Christ through us. It is His works produced in us. In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples that unless they abide in Him, they can do nothing. Nothing is in reference to spiritual fruit – or good works. He then promises that if we abide in Him and His word abides in us, we are clean from our sins, will bear much fruit, and will glorify the Father as a disciple of Christ.

In one instance, man is bringing what he has done for God, and it is rejected. In the other instance, man is rewarded for his labors because it is the work of God produced through man. The Bible tells us that the flesh (man’s work) can produce nothing of the Spirit. The flesh profits nothing (John 6:63). Until we are in Christ, and the Spirit is in us, we cannot produce fruit and all works of the flesh are lawless deeds. The flesh is rooted in sin and cannot rise to the level of holiness necessary to produce good works.

After establishing this, Jesus moves onto His parable where He declares that only those who do the things commanded are on solid ground. Apathy is not a spiritual work. Look at John 14:21-24

²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

…

²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Many say, “I love Jesus” or, “I love God,” but if they reject His word, there can be no love for God. Jesus said that those who do not keep His word do not love Him. The works are not what makes us righteous; he works are what the Spirit produces in the life of the believer.

Calling Him Lord can be a false testimony. We cannot call Him Lord without doing the things He has commanded. The first command is found in John 6:28-29

²⁸ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

²⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

How do we accomplish the work of God? It begins by believing on Jesus who has been sent for our redemption. That is the work of God to salvation. That sets us on top of the foundation of the Rock of our Salvation – Jesus Christ. We then build our lives deep in the solid rock by studying His word and keeping it. You cannot keep the word without knowing it.

In this parable, Jesus gives us the key to having a strong faith and a solid Christian life. The storms of life will blow, but those grounded in the Rock will stand.

Do troubles shake your faith? Has a tragedy caused your world to collapse around you? Even the most secure Christian may go into a tailspin when tragedy strikes, but they will not be utterly destroyed. The foundation of Christ is immovable, and any who are anchored in that foundation will be immovable. We may grieve, but we will grieve in hope. We may have to endure hardship and pain, but we are looking ahead to the joy before us, knowing that in the end, we will declare with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”. How could Job stand firm under such tragedy? He lost his children, possessions, health, and his wife, in her grief, rebuked Job’s faith. Yet he stood upon the joy of his hope when he declared the following in Job 19:25-27

²⁵ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

²⁷ Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins (or organs) be consumed within me.

Job testified that his hope was based on the day the Lord stood upon the earth. In the resurrection, Job would have restoration and redemption. Any who has read the book of Job knows that he did not have to wait. Soon after this statement, he saw the restoration of the Lord in this life. However, the strength was in the hope before him. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. That joy is the life founded upon the Rock, the person who knows that the end of their faith is restoration. Or as Hebrews 12:2 puts it:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Without joy, we will not endure tribulation. Happiness is dependent on pleasant circumstances, but joy is based on hope regardless of the circumstances. A foundation of sand is the easy way out. The house goes up quickly, and the effort is minimal. I imagine the man in this parable sitting on his porch, sipping a cool drink while watching the other man chipping away, still with an unfinished foundation. As we see those who are declaring how wonderful and easy faith is, we will be tempted to lay aside our tools and take the way of ease. It may be years before life tests either person, but the consequences will be apparent. A man or woman truly grounded in Christ will struggle, but when the storm passes, they will be standing – for they stand with Christ, and He holds them up with His hand. Psalm 37:23-25 explains it well

²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Consider that man in this context, applies to both women and men for it refers to mankind. Storms may come, but the foundation will stand – if we are grounded in the word, upon Christ.

Eddie Snipes

Burden Bearers

2010-02-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

Life is hard. We’ve all heard it said, and it’s a part of our vocabulary. Most of us will be quick to say, “I like a good challenge.” In fact, the greater the challenge we face, the more satisfying the victory. However, what happens when we’re blindsided or the obstacles are too many to juggle? Even the best juggler has a limit. As new balls are added, the faster he moves and the more effort he exerts. When someone tosses in one ball too many, he not only misses that ball, but usually others as well.

What if we start to drop an important task, and in a desperate attempt to keep it in the air, we start dropping several important tasks? And then things fall like dominoes? Defeated and frustrated, we see life unraveling, and we feel like tossing our hands up and surrendering.

We’ve all been there. Unfortunately, we’ll all be there again, and again. There is not a person who doesn’t get discouraged. In fact, if you are like me, you can feel on top of the world one moment, fending off challenges with amazing dexterity, and then the next moment, the thrill of victory is gone and you are overwhelmed like someone in the path of a train. Consider this passage from James 2:15-17

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This passage is referring to meeting the needs of our brethren, and though the primary focus is someone’s physical needs, it also applies to our peace. How many times have we seen someone in their darkest hour, and a well meaning Christian says, “You should just have faith?” In other words, depart in peace. No action, no hand to lift up the weary soul. The Bible tells us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Bearing a burden is not a word cast at someone like a pence to a beggar, no, the command is to reach down, pick up the burden, and carry it. To truly lift the burden of our fellow, we carry it for them until they are able for us to carry it with them. In time, they will have the strength to unload unnecessary burdens or master a burden that has a purpose. Look at this wonderful passage in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

God did not create us to be independent of one another, and even the most spiritual among us will need encouragement and support from the members of the church. This is why the Bible instructs us not to forsake assembling together. If you are strong, you are needed by the church. When (not if) you are weak, those same brothers and sisters will lift you up.

Woe to those who are alone when they fall. Remember this when you feel invincible, but especially when you see someone struggling. Condemnation isolates those needing a helping hand. Casting a crumb of encouragement as we walk by, leaves the struggler alone with their burden. In fact, words often fall short of what is needed. I heard a man talking about the grief of his father dying. Many came to offer advice, and he was glad when they left. One friend sat with him, bearing his burden in silence, and he didn’t want him to leave.

Most of us do not want a knight on a white horse who rides in and shows his own invincibility. We want someone to step off their high horse, get down in the trenches, and help us lift our burden. That is love. True love (agape) is expressed by those who are willing to invest a small part of their lives in our needs, without expecting payment of any kind. Christians often look at the burdens of others as if it is a mission trip. They arrive, give an offering of charity, and then fly back to the comforts of home. The Bible encourages us to make love a missionary journey. A journey where we see a need, live with that need until it has been met, and then follow the call of God to the next journey.

The church leadership in Acts stayed among the needs until the people were self-sustaining. That could be weeks, months, and often it was years. Even when they left, they revisited the mission fields to make sure they were doing well, and remained if needed. Our investments in the lives of the members of the church should be no different. The relationship is built upon love, and the goal is to bear the burden until the need is met. The need may be discipleship, evangelism, a mission to a foreign land, or lifting the burden of someone hurting among us. Reach out a hand, and you will see how God uses love to make us, and the person in need, flourish.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The Lord Governs the Nations (Part 3)

2010-02-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

Continued from Part 2

Pray for leadership
Praying for authorities is a very important part of obeying the scriptures. I saw a news story where a religious leader was calling for people to pray that our new administration would fail. The Bible never permits us to pray against those we feel threatened by, but to pray for them. Rather then asking God to cause failure, perhaps we should pray that God will give wisdom and turn the hearts of our leaders toward the right way. Let us take a moment to look at 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Our faithfulness to the Lord directly affects the peace we experience in this life. What would happen if we as Christians spent the same effort praying for our leaders as we do venting about them? It is so easy to vocalize displeasure, but it takes discipline and faithfulness to continuously lift up our leaders in prayer. Look at the promise that follows the command. As we effectively pray for our leaders it will impact our ability to live quiet, peaceably and have a culture of godliness. This is not only taught in the New Testament, but the Old Testament reveals this same truth.

When Israel was conquered by Babylon and taken captive, God instructed them to seek the peace of that nation by praying for it. Look at Jeremiah 29:
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

This applies to the Christian as well. We live in a world that is not our home; however, if our nation has peace we shall have peace. Just as Israel was required to live in a foreign land but was not to conform to that culture, we are living in the world but are not to become like the world. We are commanded to come out from the world system and be separate, but still to be instruments of peace to the culture around us. The culture affects our lives, but even more importantly, our faith affects the culture around us. The Bible tells us that the prayer of the righteous avails much (James 5:16); therefore, our obedience to the Lord so that we are in His will also puts us in the position of righteousness so that we can pray in God’s will that we may see God working through us and through the church. God’s people working in obedience has a direct influence on the political world around us. Look at Proverbs 28:
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

The Bible also states that the nation that forgets God will fall. As a culture gives in to sin and ungodliness, there becomes a need for more leaders and more restrictions for a godless people cannot self-govern. However, when the people of God apply themselves to understanding and knowledge the nation is prolonged in its state of peace. Through knowledge (which comes from the word of God) and understanding (which comes from the Spirit of God), we have an influence on our nation that no political leader can ever possess. God blesses the culture for the sake of the faithful and God judges the culture when the church falls short and spirals out of control with the culture. The Bible says that when judgment begins, it starts at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). When judgment fell on Israel, it began at God’s house (Ezekiel 9:6). In the past, the nation of Israel fell because God’s people turned away from the word of God and followed the culture around them. Without the light of righteousness the culture cannot sustain righteousness. The decay of the culture is a direct result of the spiritual decay of God’s people.

Hopefully you can see that God directs our steps and He alone is the ruler of the nations. Our natural reaction is to try to intervene by our own power and efforts, but history has shown that this is unfruitful. What happened to the Moral Majority? What lasting affect do we see from Christian activist groups? Do we see any return to moral virtue through political action? The Christian is to be involved as God provides opportunity; however, your efforts cannot turn a culture to godliness. A godless people cannot self-govern for they have no internal restraint. We as Christians submit ourselves to God in obedience, pray for our nation and then we trust in God to fulfill His promise to heal our land. We cannot be the agents of change, nor can we heal anything. We can only stand in obedience and allow God to work through us and turn the hearts as He sees fit for He alone can bring virtue into our culture. If we are faithful to Him, the Lord will be faithful to keep His word. There is no other way.

Set time aside regularly to lift up your nation, political leaders and spiritual leaders before God. Then trust the Lord to accomplish His will in His way. Pray for your leaders with all thanksgiving for if we honor God’s word He will honor His promises.

Eddie Snipes