Tag Archives: Jesus

All Things That Pertain to Life and Godliness

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

            Have you ever spent Christmas Eve feverishly trying to assemble that last gift?  Perhaps you waited until the last moment thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal or difficult.  It only required some assembly, after all.  Then you notice that the instructions are not clearly written, and the diagrams are small and ambiguous as to which side of the frame the screws are supposed to be inserted.  Don’t you wish that you had all that pertains to how to put this thing together?

            God’s instructions for us are not like that.  They are neither unclear, nor ambiguous.  Peter tells us that God, through His magnificent ability and 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” (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV).  He has given us all the things that we need in order to know how to live a godly life.  He has left nothing to chance.  He has given us no reason to wonder what it is that He wants.  Through God’s written word, the Bible, mankind can have all the information and instruction necessary to live a life that pleases the Lord.  We can read and understand what God wants us to know (Ephesians 3:3-5).  We can understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).  We can have the knowledge of Him and His will so that, “you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). 

            Of course, many choose to ignore the instructions.  Sometimes our pride gets in the way.  I know how to put this thing together.  Hours later, we begin to look for where we laid those instructions.  When all else fails, consult the instructions.  However, it would be better to start with the instructions so that we can arrive at the desired end.  Our desired end ought to be heaven.  Our desired end ought to be having a relationship with our Lord and Savior.  We can say, “I don’t need the instructions, I know what I am doing,” but that path will not lead us to know God as He wants to be known.  He has given us all things for living a godly life in His inspired words.  Let us look to those basic instructions before leaving earth so that we will get to be where we want to go.

What About The Rapture?

Posted on by under Article, Doctrine

The concept of the Rapture, a time when Jesus would come to secretly remove His saints from the world, was first postulated in the early to mid 1800’s.  According to those who buy into the idea of Premillennialism, Jesus is going to snatch away the church prior to a seven-year period of tribulation.  The idea has sold books and movies about what they imagine will happen to those who have been left behind.  It has led to many trying to predict a date for the return of Christ.  There is just one main problem with this idea/teaching.  It is not biblical.

The Bible does not teach any of this.  The Bible indicates that when Jesus returns there will be great noise.  The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, there will be the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God will sound (1 Thes. 4:16).  Furthermore, Peter states that the earth and all that is in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3:9).  That does not appear to be very quiet! 

The Bible indicates that when Jesus returns it will not be in secret.  Those Apostles who watched Jesus ascend into heaven were told that Jesus would return in like manner (Acts 1:11).  That means He will be coming with the clouds, and they will be able to watch it happen.  Additionally, John indicates in Revelation 1:7 that every eye will see Him when He returns, including those who pierced Him (not just the righteous).  Every eye means everyone will see this happen.  That does not correspond to a secret return.

The Bible indicates that when Jesus returns that there will be one resurrection of the dead.  The doctrine of Premillennialism and the Rapture teaches that there will be two resurrections separated by 1,007 years.  Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).  Paul, in speaking of the resurrection stated that there is a singular resurrection of both the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15).

When Jesus returns time will end, the earth will be destroyed, and Judgment Day will occur.  This is what the Bible teaches about the end time.  There will be no warnings or signs.  Jesus Himself indicated this when He declared that even He did not know when it would take place (Mat. 24:36).  It is futile for man to try to set a date.  Do we know more than Jesus?  While these false doctrines may seem to be fascinating, and may sell books, they are not biblical.  Read and study your Bible, like the Bereans, to see if these things are so.

There is a God

Posted on by under Christian Evidences
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In my earlier days in the church there was an old hymn, number 728b in most of the older song books, that is still one of my favorite hymns.  The chorus states that there is a God and that He is alive!  Indeed, the existence of God is one of the central tenants of any religion.  As more and more people in our world and in our nation have questioned the existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful being, just what are we to think?  Is there really a God?

The short answer is yes, there is a God.  He is the God we read about in the Bible.  However, since many skeptics that we are likely to encounter do not believe the Bible, let us rather look to science and logic in this moment for our proof.

Science has shown two major issues with regards to what we can see.  The first is that matter, stuff, is not eternal.  Matter has not always been here.  Matter has a born-on date.  If that is the case, then where did matter (all that we can see, touch, taste, and smell) come from?  This is one thing that science cannot explain.  Secondly, if there was once nothing (no matter), how is it that there now is something (the world that we live in)?  Matter does not just spontaneously appear.  Cars and houses do not magically appear out of nowhere.  They must be designed and built by someone.  Scripture has an answer for this.  The Bible states, “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4, NKJV).

In looking at these two scientific facts, let us reason logically about what this means.  If there once was nothing, why isn’t there nothing now?  Since there is something now (the universe), just how did that come into being?  There had to have been a cause.  Since matter is not eternal, there had to be a beginning of its existence.  Everything that begins to exist must have a cause.  The universe began to exist at some point in the past.  Therefore, the universe must have had a cause.  That cause has to be a superior being who has always existed.  Matter is not eternal, but the mind of God is.

Science and logic tell us that there must be a God.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon us that we seek Him out and learn about Him.  We cannot find God through our feelings or by a blind leap in the dark.  That would not be logical nor scientific.  We must follow the evidence and go where it leads.  Surely, a God who created us and all things would want to communicate with us.  He has.  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Let us not refuse Him who has spoken to us from heaven (Hebrews 12:25).

Being the Church of the First Century

Posted on by under Evangelism
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In the book of Acts there are several principles of church growth that we can study to see just how the church of the first century expanded.  They faced persecution, yet they grew.  They encouraged one another by their perseverance and actions.  They went to where the people were both physically and spiritually.  They preached Jesus to all they encountered.  What was the result?  The church continued to grow and multiply.

            If we want the church to grow now, could we not simply utilize these principles in our evangelism?  Rather than trying to mimic what denominational groups are doing to lure others into their building, would we not be better served in doing what these early disciples did to expand the church?

            We need to not let persecution, or the fear of it, stop us from getting the job done.  Does the fear of persecution keep us from opening our mouths to be a witness for Jesus?  Just because we may one day face imprisonment for speaking God’s word, does not give us an excuse to keep our mouth shut.

            We can all do something to encourage one another during our stay here.  Whether it is a call, a letter, an email, or a hug, we can all be a Barnabas to help others in their labor for Christ.  We may never know the impact that we have on others through our encouragement.  The work of ministry can be draining.  When we reach out and encourage those who are laboring with us, it makes a big difference.

            We need to meet people where they are, both physically and spiritually.  Just as Paul began at different places in his teaching of people from different backgrounds, we need to start where they are in the learning process.  Also, we must go where the people are.  We need to get out in the community to where the people are if we are going to have a chance to interact and influence them.

            We need to preach Jesus.  It does not matter the size of our building, nor the number of our congregation, nor the popularity of our preacher.  Those are not the things that endure.  What endures is Christ and His message.  We need to be witnesses of that.

Does Integrity Still Matter?

Posted on by under Christian Living, Current Events
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            There was a time when a man’s word was his bond.  He would never think of violating that standard to go back on what he had said.  Those days seem to be long in the dust.  As what may be the longest political campaign for the presidency of these United States begins, one wonders where integrity has gone.  Our current batch of politicians will seemingly say anything in order to procure votes for themselves or for their particular brand.  One day they will hurl an endless barrage of insults against their opponents only to clap them on the back the next day when they have dropped out and endorsed the mudslinger.  Additionally, there are calls to prosecute and lock up opponents when those making the accusations are equally guilty of said offense.  Where is the integrity?  Where is the honesty?  Is it okay to be a total hypocrite and accept what ‘our guy’ is doing and attack ‘their guy’ for the same?

            We may wonder what God would think about all this.  If we consult His word, however, we wouldn’t have to wonder for long.  The principles are there in the Old Testament writings.  Integrity, honesty, and righteousness are all to be desired.  David wrote, “The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, for the righteousness and blamelessness that are mine. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; he who probes the mind and conscience is God the righteous” (Psalm 7:9-10).  Solomon also penned these words, “The integrity of the upright guides them; The deviousness of the treacherous leads them to ruin” (Proverbs 11:3).  God is not pleased when we abandon what He says is right or wrong because we think that it will earn us money, fame, or power.  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1).

            Our political system has become so convoluted that we just accept that this is the way it is.  We expect our leaders to lie to us and stretch the truth.  We expect them to promise us what we know in reality they cannot deliver.  They too know that they cannot deliver while they are making the promises.  We’ve come a long way from letting our ‘yes’ mean yes and our ‘no’ mean no.  Then we sit back and wonder why we don’t have any better candidates to choose from.  What honest person in their right mind would want to dive into this polluted pool?

            So what’s the answer?  What should we do?  Jesus never taught us to worry about politics per se.  To overcome the worries that we might have Jesus says that we must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).  We need to focus on doing what is right.  Upholding and defending those who practice iniquity just because they are on our side of the political aisle is not the righteousness of God.  We need to pray for our leaders and hope that they will do what is right, no matter what letter is behind their name. ”Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

    Before you say that you cannot pray for our leaders because of how evil they might be, just keep in mind that when Paul penned the words above to pray for the authorities Nero was Emperor of Rome.  If Paul could pray for that guy, we can pray for our leaders now.  God wants for all men to be saved.  Let us direct our energy towards that endeavor instead.

As Daniel Purposed in His Heart

Posted on by under Christian Living

            Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, and to have to face the constant peer pressure of those who were around you?  Just imagine what it would be like to have to spend those years in a foreign country, where you might have very little say over what you could or could not do.  Imagine how difficult that would be in our youthful years.

            This was the case with Daniel and his friends, who were taken captive by the Babylonians in 606 – 605 BC, when they were likely only about 14 or 15 years old.  Yet, even in a foreign land as a captive, Daniel had a resolve to not defile himself.  Notice what is recorded about him, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).  In this verse, Daniel resolves not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine.

            Daniel’s decision to abstain from the king’s food and wine was not just a matter of personal preference.  It was a matter of faith.  Daniel was committed to following the Mosaic Law, which prohibited the eating of certain food (Leviticus 11).  This could not have been an easy decision, but Daniel purposed in his heart ahead of time, before the temptations would have come, to do the Lord’s will.  Daniel was in a foreign land surrounded by others who did not share his beliefs.  The peer pressure would have been great to go along to get along.  However, Daniel remained faithful, and God rewarded him for it (Daniel 1:9, 17).

            Daniel’s resolve is a great example for us to remember to stand up for what God wants, even when it may be difficult – even when surrounded by non-believers.  When we purpose in our hearts to do what is right, we will be less likely to compromise godly values and beliefs, no matter what it costs us.  Remember, it is more important to be Christlike than to be popular.

God’s Family

Posted on by under Christian Living, Doctrine

Pontus_Greek_family     If we are like most people, somewhere amongst all of our belongings there is a family photo album or two. From time to time we like to take out that photo album and relive the memory of lost loved ones or special times and events in our life. Maybe we gather around with others in our family and share stories from the past. Family is important and makes us feel like we belong to a group with a common background, common experiences, and a shared heritage. Just imagine for a moment what it would be like if God had a family photo album. Whose pictures would be in that album?

     We see that family was important to Jesus, but maybe not in the way that we think. There was an occasion where Jesus was teaching His disciples, and while He was still speaking to them He was told that his physical mother and brothers were waiting outside to speak with Him (Mark 3:31-2). Then Jesus said, “’Who is My mother, or My brothers?’  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-35 NKJV). Jesus stated that His spiritual family was more important to Him than His physical family.

     If we want to be a part of God’s family, if we want for our pictures to be in His “photo album,” then we need to do what Jesus says to do. Notice He said “whoever does the will of God” is His family. It is important then, that we do the will of God. Compare this to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). It is not enough for us to just call Him Lord, we must be willing to do the will of the Father to be in the family of God and to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Have you obeyed God’s will? Is your picture in God’s photo album? We invite you to come and see what God’s word has to say about the will of the Lord, so that all of us can be in God’s family!

Do This in Remembrance of Me

Posted on by under Love of God

grapes     Recent research has suggested that the consumption of grape juice is an aid in either avoiding Alzheimer’s, or that it can slow the process of memory loss in those with the brain disease. Alzheimer’s is thought to be brought on by stress and free radicals in a person’s physiology. Since antioxidants combat free radicals, and since grape juice is rich in antioxidants, the thought is that grape juice can help combat one of the causes of the disease (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3544087).

     Is it not interesting to think that grape juice can aid memory? Just before He was arrested, tried, and convicted to die via crucifixion, Jesus gathered with His disciples in an upper room in order to partake of the Passover. At this last supper of the Lord, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. They took the cup containing the fruit of the vine (grape juice) and divided it amongst themselves. Then Jesus explained to them how the unleavened bread represented His body, which would be given for them and us. That cup with the fruit of the vine represented His blood, which would be shed for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:17-20). During that discourse, Jesus instructed them to “do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19b, NKJV).

     Every week, on the first day of the week, Christians around the world gather together to remember the sacrifice of Christ (Acts 20:7). One of the emblems that is used in this remembrance is the fruit of the vine/grape juice, which researchers now believe is an aid to memory! Of all the things that we have to remember, from time with our friends as children, to time spent with loved ones as we grow old, what can we remember that could ever be more important than what God did for us by sending Christ to die in our place? God, who knows all things, chose to use unleavened bread and grape juice as the symbols to remember Jesus death. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). So the next time you enjoy a glass of grape juice, remember what Jesus did for you.

Why Was God Pleased to Injure Christ?

Posted on by under Love of God

nails     During this time of the year when many people are thinking about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, many might read from Isaiah 53, which predicts the Christ’s ordeal on the cross. Have you ever read that account, however, and wondered about just what it says? In verse 4 we read that Christ was, “Smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4, NKJV). Later it declares, “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). “He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isaiah 53:8). On and on we read within Isaiah’s prophecy about how Jesus was going to be mistreated by mankind. But then we read the statement, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10, emphasis added). Just how could this bloody sacrifice of His one and only unique Son be pleasing to God?

     There are many events recorded in the Bible, with which God was not pleased. He was not pleased with the idolatry of the Israelites. Whether at the base of Mount Sinai during their exodus from Egypt, in the high places during the time of the divided kingdom, or in the temple during the reign of Manasseh, God was not pleased with idolatry. There were times when the Israelites did not offer their best in sacrifice to God, but instead brought the lame and sick as a sacrifice (Malachi 1:8; 3:8-9). In this God was not pleased, because their heart was not in what they were doing, and they were not showing God the proper respect. “Therefore, when He [Jesus] came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure’” (Hebrews 10:5-6). Here Jesus is saying to the Father that the Father did not desire or have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices.

     So what are we to make of this? God did not have pleasure or desire for burnt offerings and sacrifices, which He commanded, but it pleased the Lord to bruise Christ. Even though God commanded the children of Israel to make burnt offerings and sacrifices, He did not take pleasure in them. Their sacrifices represented failure on their part to keep His law. They were required because of the sins of the people. They were necessary because mankind will always fall short. God takes no pleasure in man’s sin. This is why God through the prophet Samuel says, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). God would rather that man obey Him than to make the best animal sacrifice he could offer. God also did not have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices because they could not get the job done. Just before stating that God has no desire for nor pleasure in those offerings, the Hebrew account tells us plainly, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Those animal sacrifices could not take sin away and could not make those who offered them perfect with regards to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9; 10:1-3). There was still a remembrance of those sins, and so year after year the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). God was not pleased because the reconciliation between God and man was not complete.

     By contrast then, God was pleased with the sacrifice of Christ. Because of what Jesus did for mankind by dying on the cross as our perfect offering, there is a cleansing of the conscience and the sins of man are remembered no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:12). The sacrifice of Jesus was perfect and complete. There no longer remains a need for another sacrifice, because Jesus offered Himself for us once for all (Hebrews 9:11-15). Because of the redemptive work of Christ, man and God are reconciled to one another (Ephesians 2:16). In this the Lord is pleased. This is how God can say that He was pleased to bruise Jesus for our transgressions. It is not that He was pleased by Christ having to endure the cross and the pain and the shame. But God was pleased in the result in that mankind has a path back to the Father. Will you follow God’s Path to Salvation? Will you take the only way that we can go to find eternal life (John 14:6)? God has done His part by offering His one and only unique Son for our behalf (John 3:16). In this He was pleased. Will you do your part to accept His sacrifice and apply the blood to cover your sins through simple obedience to the Gospel? If you want to be pleasing to God, you will.

Do You Love Jesus?

Posted on by under Christian Living, Doctrine

Love     If someone were to ask you if you love Jesus, what might your response be? Some may want to know who Jesus is. Others may inquire as to what is meant by “love.” There might be those who would want to know why such a question is being asked of them. Yet it is likely that many would say that, yes, they love Jesus. How many of those who say that they love Jesus would also say that they are obeying His commands?

     There is a false dilemma that occurs when one begins asking if you are a lover of God and Jesus or if you are a commandment keeper, as if you cannot be both. They might refer to God’s word and state that the keeping of the law is no longer our basis for justification, but that justification comes through the grace of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV). That is certainly true with regards to the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament. However, there is a law of Christ that we are to adhere to. Paul, who penned the Ephesian letter, also says in the Galatian letter, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

     Perhaps we can understand this best by looking at what the Bible actually says about love and commandments. “Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always” (Deuteronomy 11:1). Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. . . He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:15, 21).

     If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we will follow and obey His commandments. That includes His commands to love one another, to put God first in our lives, to seek first His kingdom, to be baptized for the remission of our sins, and to assemble with the saints upon the first day of the week. So, do you love Jesus?