The Return of the King

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

What do you think about when you think about a king making his triumphant entry into the city? Do you picture a warrior looking man riding a large white stallion or an armored warhorse? How often do you picture that king being meek or lowly and riding on a small, young donkey?

All four of the gospels give the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As Jesus makes His final entry into that city, He is not riding a large steed, but instead is riding upon the colt of a donkey (Mat. 21:5). This illustrates to us that the idea that Jesus was going to come as a conquering hero in order to overthrow the Roman Empire and establish an earthly kingdom in Jerusalem is an erroneous idea. Indeed the Jews were expecting the Messiah to be this type of political/warrior leader. They were wrong.

Jesus did not come to earth to establish an earthly kingdom, for He told Pilate at His trial that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Christ’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, that was to be established when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon His apostles (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:1-4). Thus Jesus did not enter Jerusalem as a conqueror, but as a spiritual Lord and Savior.

Scripture tells us that Jesus will return someday to take His followers up to heaven with Him (John 14:3). There will be a return of the King on that day, in which all the nations of the earth will be judged (2 Cor. 5:10). The question is, are you ready for the return of the King? Are you a part of His spiritual kingdom today?

Both Lord and Savior

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In the gospel accounts of Jesus it is common to see many people who came to Jesus for one reason or another. Some came because of illnesses or demons. Some came to be fed with physical nourishment. Some, such as the Pharisees, came to Jesus in order to trap Him or accuse Him. Many who came to Him were not willing to be led by Him, however.
In the parable of the minas, the citizens (who represent the Jews who rejected Christ) do not want the nobleman (who represents Jesus) to rule over them. They even send a delegation after him to try to make sure he does not receive his kingdom (Luke 19:11-27). In the end, when the king returns, they are slain before him in judgment. Likewise, there are many today who want the atoning blood of Jesus to cover their sins, so they accept Jesus as a savior. However, they are unwilling to follow His commands and allow Him to rule in their lives.
It is not for us to pick and choose like this when it comes to Jesus. God has made Jesus to be both our Lord and our Savior (Acts 2:36). If we want Jesus to cover our sins with His blood so that we can have redemption, then we must also accept Him as the Lord of our lives. God has made Christ the ruler. We must be willing to follow. Jesus suffered death on the cross so that we could be saved. Can we look at that and say, “Thanks, but I’m going to live my life as I see fit?” Therefore, when we come to Jesus for salvation, we need to be willing to accept Christ as our Lord.

Freedom!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Dale Babinsky under Article

In April 1775 British Redcoats and American colonists squared off in Lexington, MA in what was to become known as the “shot heard round the world.” The battle that began in April continued into June 1776, when a committee of five men (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston) was selected by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence, thus sealing America’s desire for freedom from England.
But there is another freedom that came to men long before the American Revolution. Over 1,700 years prior to that fateful April day in Lexington, MA, man was granted freedom from sin. Jesus Christ, who had come to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), died on the cross so that men might be relieved of their burden of sin. Jesus declared in His ministry that those who would abide, or live in, His word would be His disciples, and His true disciples would know the truth, which would make them free (John 8:31-32).
In order to be free from sin, the word of God must abide in the believer. If we choose to not allow God’s word to abide in us, if we choose to abide in the world instead of God’s word, then we are not His disciples. And if we are not His disciples, then we will not know the truth and we will not be free from our sins. But thanks be to God, that if we do live in His word, we can enjoy that ultimate freedom. Let us study what God’s word has to say about true freedom and enjoy an independence from sin that can only come from Jesus Christ!

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.

salvation's path

Finding God's Message in the 21st Century