Who is This Jesus?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Christian Evidences

People may often wonder about Jesus and who He really was. It has been said by some that Jesus was just a good man, or that He was only a prophet, but that He was not the Son of God. What evidence do we find in God’s word about who Jesus really was? When Jesus and His disciples approached the region of Caesarea Philippi He asked them what the people thought about who He was. They answered Him that some thought that He might be John the Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. However, when He asked His apostles who He was, “Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:16 NKJV).

How did Peter know who Jesus really was? One reason is that Peter had been travelling with Jesus for some time and had seen the things that Jesus was able to do. Some of what Peter had seen is recorded for us in Matthew chapter 8, which chronicles several of the miracles of Jesus. In this chapter we can see that Jesus exhibited power that mere men or prophets simply did not have. Specifically, there are 5 such miracles that demonstrate the power of Jesus over several aspects of life.

The miracles of Jesus in chapter 8 of the book of Matthew include the following:

The healing of the leper (Mat. 8:1-4), which demonstrates Jesus’ power over the seen or external world. All could see that the leper had the disease, but no one else could have healed him other than God.
The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mat. 8:14-15), which demonstrates Jesus’ power over the unseen or internal world. She had a fever, and while others may be able to tell by her demeanor that she was ill, none but God could see the internal cause of the fever.
The healing of the centurion’s servant (Mat. 8:5-13), which demonstrates Jesus’ power over time and space. It was not necessary for Jesus to travel to the centurion’s home to heal the servant, He was able to do it from a distance. This shows that Jesus had a power that mortal man does not posses.
The calming of the storm at sea (Mat. 8:23-27), which demonstrates Jesus’ power over nature. No mere man could have accomplished this feat as even His disciples exclaimed, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:27b).
The casting out of demons (Mat. 8:28-32), which demonstrates Jesus’ power over the spiritual realm. Again this shows that Jesus was more than a man and that He really was the Son of God.

We see that the purpose of miracles was to confirm the message that was spoken (Mark 16:20). Therefore, it is not unusual that Matthew shows these 5 miracles here in chapter 8 as Jesus has just finished delivering the Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5-7). Indeed, at the end of that great sermon the people realized that Jesus was not like other men. “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mat. 7:28-29). Thus the miracles of Jesus help to prove to us just who He really is, that being the Son of God and a member of the Godhead.

Do You Know Where You are Going?

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Growing up we were fortunate to be able to travel different places each summer on vacation. I can remember sitting in the back seat of the family vehicle with the road map so that I could track where we were and how much further we had to go. I also remember that each year my father would ignore my advice about where to turn to get to our destination, even though I was proven to have been correct the year before. You see, my father had a problem admitting he was lost or asking for help. He much preferred to drive around the same block aimlessly than to actually ask for directions or admit that he made a wrong turn.

Many of us are the same way. We know that something is not right about the direction we are traveling in life, but we never think to consult the road map to find our way back. Well, there is hope, because in God’s word we find that Jesus has provided us with the perfect road map for our lives. “Jesus said . . . ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6 NKJV). It is important for us to consult regularly with our Gospel Positioning System (GPS) so that we will be able to reach our intended destination. God’s word will provide that all important guidance that we need in order to live our lives in a way that will lead us to salvation.

We will also find that there are times when we need to stop and ask for directions. Think about the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:30-34, who admitted to Philip that he needed help in understanding the scriptures. He had come to a passage in Isaiah 53 and wondered if the prophet spoke concerning himself or some other person. He was not too embarrassed or afraid to ask this question of Philip. He had a desire to know the truth, and so he posed this question. We likewise should not allow fear or potential embarrassment to stop us from making sure that we have a good grasp of God’s word. After all, we need to know where we are going and how to get there.

Choose Ye This Day

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In Joshua’s farewell address to the nation of Israel he urges them to make a choice. In Joshua 24:15 he says, “. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (NKJV). We can boil down Joshua’s challenge into two possible choices. Either choose to follow God, or choose to not follow God.

We today have the same choice before us, in a manner of speaking. While it is unlikely that we would choose to follow the gods that the ancient Egyptians or Amorites worshipped, there is no shortage of false gods within our society today. Many choose to follow after riches, whether in the form of money or the possessions that money can buy. Many choose to follow after fame, whether in sports, movies or popular music industries. Many choose to follow their own way, and in that sense become their own god in determining what they think is right or proper. However, it is not up to us to determine what is right or wrong, for who are we to make that determination. The ultimate determination of right or wrong has to come from a higher standard, which we find in God’s holy word.

Joshua is not challenging Israel to follow him because of any righteousness that he himself possesses. He is, however, challenging them to follow his example in serving the Lord and following what He has said to do. We then need to set our selfish desires aside and leave the desire to serve riches, fame, and ourselves in order to set our minds on that which is above and serve God. We cannot have one foot in both worlds, because in serving God we are to give Him our all (Joshua 22:5). We cannot give God our heart, mind, and soul while trying to still keep one foot firmly planted in worldliness. The choice still stands before us this day. Are we choosing God, or are we choosing something else?

The Apple of His Eye

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In the book of Zechariah, God was encouraging His people, who had returned from exile and were in the process of rebuilding the temple. As they were building, they were concerned with the lack of walls around the city for protection. To ease their minds, God instructed them through the prophet, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me’” (Zechariah 2:8-9 NKJV). God was basically telling them that He would protect them from their enemies, for they are the apple of His eye. This means that God’s people are precious in His sight.

Over 600 years later, God would also give comfort to His people who were suffering under the persecution of the Roman Empire. At that time John wrote the book of Revelation to the church in order to encourage them to hang in there in the face of persecution and death. God was going to deal with the Roman Empire, because when they went after His people, the apple of His eye, they were basically going after Him.

We as God’s people are still precious to Him today. It is you and me as Christians, the members of His church, who are special in His sight. We are the apple of His eye. Thinking about this and thinking about how He has cared for His people and continues to care for His people should give us pause in how we deal with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Are we treating our Christian family as the apple of God’s eye? In light of the fact that God is greatly displeased when any of His children are mistreated, we should all consider how we are treating one another and realize that all of His children are precious in His sight.

Facing Our Giants

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Uncategorized

Just imagine that you had to face a giant on the field of battle in hand to hand combat until one of you was dead. Your opponent would be a man who had been taught to fight with his hands and weapons of war since his youth. Then add to this the pressure that the fate of your whole nation would depend upon your success or failure in this task. How confident would you be in facing a giant warrior?

In 1 Samuel 17 we come across the battle between the Philistines and the Israelites and just such a giant warrior named Goliath. In the narrative Goliath is described as a giant of a man standing over 9 feet tall! When the armies of Philistia and Israel lined up for battle, Goliath came out and challenged the Israelites to select a champion to face him one on one. The Bible tells us that this went on for 40 days, and no one was found among all the warriors of Israel including King Saul who was willing to face Goliath. Then the youngest son of Jesse, who was still a youth, approached the camp of the Israelites.

When he saw what was taking place, he was astonished and he exclaimed, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:26b). David, the son of Jesse, the most unlikely of candidates to face the mighty Goliath, was the only one with the faith to go out to battle with the mighty Goliath. Of course we all know the end of the story and how David triumphed against Goliath using a sling and 5 smooth stones. However, it was not the stones that defeated Goliath. It was David’s great faith in God that won the day. As David said before the battle, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

No wonder David is described as a man after God’s own heart. David’s great response and his great faith in God are also a great example for us today. How are we doing in facing our giants on the battlefield of life? Do we have faith that God will see us through and that we can overcome all odds by relying on Him? The example of the shepherd boy who killed a giant has been preserved in God’s word for our admonition and learning. Let us go forward into our battle this day confident in God’s ability to see us through.

Are We Focused?

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Dale Babinsky under Article

“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased” (Matthew 14:25-32 ESV)

When we read the text above, we are usually reminded of the miraculous power of our Lord in walking on the water. However, there is another principle in this reading that we should be sure to not miss. Notice that Peter is allowed to walk on the water also. While Peter maintains his focus on Jesus, all is well and he is able to do something that no other mortal man has ever done. But when Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus, he sees the effect of the wind on the sea, and he becomes afraid. Peter then began to sink.

Now think about our own lives. When we keep our focus on Jesus, and make Him our top priority we can have that inner peace and confidence just as Peter did. But when we focus our attention instead on the storms of life, the cares and concerns of this life, we too begin to sink. We should make it our point to maintain our vigilance in keeping Jesus as our first priority. Only then can we have that confidence and assurance of our eventual eternal home with Him.

The Importance of Baptism

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Dale Babinsky under Uncategorized

How is it that a sinner can one day stand righteous before our eternal judge? When we look into the commands of God, and most especially what is necessary for our salvation, we see that the act of baptism is essential and imperative to that endeavor. To illustrate the awesome importance of baptism, let us take a quick look at two paramount events from the book of Acts.

First, let us look at the event that is recorded in Acts 2 with regards to the importance of baptism. Peter here is preaching on the Day of Pentecost to a crowd gathered in Jerusalem, many of whom were responsible for the death of Jesus on the cross. Peter convinces these men of their sin in his sermon. Imagine what they must have felt when they realized that it was the Son of God that they demanded be crucified by Pilate. And yet, as heinous as their transgression was, they still have hope if they would repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

Secondly, let us look at the event of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who would become the apostle Paul. Saul had been persecuting the church and was even complicit in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8). Later in Paul’s own words he will call himself the “chief” of sinners (1Timothy 1:15). Saul, however, was not eternally lost, because he was able to have his sins washed away by the power of baptism. After Paul saw Jesus on the way to Damascus, he was told by Ananias not to hesitate, but to “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16 KJV). Even Saul could be forgiven his sins through the obedient act of baptism.

What an important act of obedience that could allow those who had committed such sins to one day stand righteous before the throne of God. In baptism the sins of both those who had put Christ to such shame on the cross, and the one who had been persecuting the church with such fervor were remitted! If these men could be forgiven for their transgressions; what forgiveness awaits us at the bottom of that watery grave? There is no denying the power and the importance of baptism in obedience to God, so that our sins may be washed away.

Reaping As We Sow

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Both Jesus and the inspired words of the Bible use illustrations that people were sure to identify with in order to teach them an eternal truth. Oftentimes these illustrations came back to the idea of spreading seed or of cultivating and growing, since the populace was based on agriculture by and large. One such illustration is used with regards to our giving, and is found in Paul’s writings to the church at Corinth.

In the instructions for giving that were communicated by Paul, we find that we are to lay by and store as we have been prospered on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Later Paul also states that as we sow we also shall reap, and the Lord loves one who gives cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:6-7). Paul tells us that if we will sow bountifully, then we will reap bountifully.

Let us consider for a moment this idea of sowing and reaping. Many take the first part of the command to give (give as you have prospered) to mean that they can sow sparingly. However, God’s word tells us that he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. If we truly want to prosper, we should be sowing much instead of little. Imagine that a farmer looks at his fields and thinks to himself that as soon as that bumper crop comes in, he will go out and sow some seed. Well, we all know that it doesn’t work that way.

If we truly wish to reap much, especially in the next life, then we need to get busy with sowing much while we have the opportunity. With regards to our giving we should give so that we can prosper, and not wait for that prosperity to come first.

A Quiet Life

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Dale Babinsky under Christian Living

quiet life In this day and age we see and hear much on the TV, the radio, and on the internet regarding our political leaders on both sides of the aisle. Most of the time, the information is a negative comment or complaint about one party or the other. While our politicians may leave much to be desired and give us many opportunities to complain, the question we should ask is are we praying for these people?

To understand why we should pray for them we should look into God’s word. Paul writes that we are to pray for all men, but then calls special attention to kings and all who are in positions of authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). God’s divine directions are that we are to pray for our leaders. The admonition to pray for all men (1 Tim 2:1) and to pray for our enemies (Mat. 5:44) would mean that we are to pray for those politicians that we do not agree with as well. This may seem like a hard thing to do, but as with all of God’s commands there is a purpose to this instruction.

We are to pray that our leaders will follow God’s plan so that we may live a quiet and peaceable life (1 Tim. 2:2). We may think that we have extraordinarily bad rulers, and that there is no way that we can pray for immoral leaders. However, consider that Paul is writing to Timothy at the time of the Roman Empire, which reached new heights of decadence, idolatry, and immoral living.

If Paul, Timothy, and those first century Christians could pray for the Roman Emperors, certainly we can do the same for our leaders today. If we want our leadership to improve, if we truly want to live a quiet life at peace with those around us, then the solution needs to start with each of us doing our part to pray for all leaders.

Obedience Trumps Sacrifice

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Dale Babinsky under Article

Many times we may come up with our own ideas about what we think would be a good sacrifice to make for God. It may be that we want to build a great cathedral. Perhaps we think that giving up something that we like to eat for a certain time period would be a good sacrifice to make for God. Is this what God wants us to do? Does He want us to try to figure out what to do on our own?

In the Old Testament we have an account about King Saul that gives us some insight into this question (1 Samuel 15:1-31). In this narrative, Saul is returning from defeating the Amalekites, and he and the people have planned to make a sacrifice to the Lord. For this reason they have not destroyed the best of the sheep and oxen, but have instead brought them back with them (vv. 9, 15). As Saul encounters Samuel along the way, he is very happy with himself for coming up with this grand idea. However, God is not pleased with Saul. Samuel points out to him that he has not followed the commandment of God. Saul was commanded to destroy everything that the Amalekites had (v. 3). They were not supposed to bring anything back with them. Yet Saul has not carried out this command given to him by God, and God is not pleased. Samuel instructs Saul that God does not delight in sacrifices as He does in obedience, for it is better to obey than to make sacrifice (v. 22).

We should heed the words of the prophet as well and realize that what God wants from us more than anything is our obedience to His word. We can say that we believe in God and then go our own way and not obey His commands. However, if we do not obey, then we do not truly believe. No matter what sacrifice we may think is appropriate for God, this account clearly shows that obedience to God trumps what we think we can sacrifice for Him.

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