True or False? How Do We Tell?

1 John 4 “True or False?”

The Apostle John certainly has seen both those who are true and those who are false. Even he, like the other disciples did not see it coming when Judas was proven to be a false follower of Jesus. Remember this conversation around the dinner table that last night? “I tell you the truth; one of you eating with me will betray me.” As Jesus spoke to Judas saying ‘go and do what you are about to do,’ the disciples watched but misunderstood. “now none of them present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas.” [John 13:27] If the disciples could not see or understand how much more are we also misunderstanding the ways of the spirit of antichrist!  And that is the crux of what John is saying to the flock he was teaching. Look, if even I was in the dark, how much more you, for I was with the Master and you have never been! It wasn’t until the Illuminating Holy Spirit came upon me did I put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

That is why John wrote: do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God. Do they speak truth? Do they believe in the incarnate Christ? They may say they believe that the Bible is inspired but deny the truth therein regarding Him as the only way to salvation. Instead, He is but one of many roads leading to heaven.

So how do you tell? How can you be discerning? Filter everything through the scripture. Be a Berean of whom it was said: for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.[Acts 17:11]

You, Beloved must study the scriptures that you may rightly divide the word of truth which teaches, reproves, corrects and trains in righteousness.  [2 Tim 3:16]

Photo Credit: Rod Long/Unsplash + Author’s Caption

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Grieving

I have spent the better part of the morning crying and not just crying but grieving deeply. It matters not for the “what” but it does matter that I grieve with Paul over the loss of loved ones that refuse the gospel message. So here’s my question: What brings grief to your heart? Is it the loss of a loved one to death without hope? How about the loss of a job? How about the loss of a home due to flooding?  How about the loss of a nation or a people group?  Grief is a very real and present emotion. We are even now watching from the sidelines as Syria is a battle zone. But, Paul is speaking in the first century and his heart grieves for the loss of his people as they continue to deny Christ and salvation. “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Is this my grief too?

Temporal losses of a job are tough but there is always hope to find another. You can lose a home and its contents but you can build a new one. But you cannot bring back a loved one or restore a nation to wholeness. Grief takes its toll and some never recover. But, the deepest grief is when those you love die and enter a Christless eternity. Paul is grieving and we too should also grieve when this occurs.

It is because of that we must earnestly contend for the faith. We must “go and make disciples.” We must pray for our loved ones who do not know Christ.  Paul was willing, just as Moses, to forgo his eternal salvation so that the lost might be saved.

How deep is our grief for the lost?

 

The Permanence of the Eternal God

Life seems so short. This week seeing the children I taught now with their own children growing up so fast was a wake – up call as to the fleeting life I now live in contrast to the permanence of God. I am just like a rose in God’s garden, I need tending but eventually the rose will fade and so will I. That is why I must redeem each day for Him as I was reminded recently when a young family’s life was cut short and all 5 entered eternity from the 2 mos. old infant to the 5 yr old child, the 3 yr old child along with their parents. We never know when God will call us home. Do I want to hear well done thou good and faithful servant? My answer is yes. .

Before God created the world as we know it, God was eternal and He still is so. A 24 hr day to us is like a thousand years in God’s sight. This is the true meaning of God being omniscient, omnipotent.

As God created me he placed eternity in my heart [Eccl 3] that I might know and seek the eternal significance of what I do. And like a beautifully crafted tapestry, each thread I weave creates a picture of my life from birth to death.

And so with these thoughts I turned to Psalm 90 where these thoughts were ever before me: Life is fleeting;  enjoy now but invest wisely in that which will count for eternity. Vs 3 reminds us that God makes mankind return to dust. Only our tombstone will recall the life we have lived. James says we  are frail and  like grass, we grow and we wither with the heat of the sun. The woman who came to King David spoke of life and death in 2Sam 14. She gave King David a visual illustration of life: we shall surely die and be like water spilled out on the ground. But too she saw beyond the grave to see that God does not take away life as our eternal end but rather has made plans so that we may not be cast from Him. It is called salvation and the price has been paid by His Beloved Son so that we might live eternally with Him.

Have you prepared for your eternal destiny?

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 4 “Justification for Whom and When?”

Paul has laid to rest the concept of working for one’s salvation but now another question must be addressed. For whom is this justification and when did it first occur. These are critical questions that must be addressed for the Jew to understand God’s plan.

In chapter 3 Paul essentially said justification is for any who believe. Yet the Jew clings to his circumcision as proof that justification is for he alone. Paul seeks to help them over this impasse and thus refers to Abraham. Yesterday we said that Abraham believed God, not in a God but he believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. But, when did it happen; before he was circumcised or after? Circumcision was a physical sign between man and God as a sign of the covenant. Yet, as Paul reminds his Jewish listeners, Abraham believed God in Genesis 12 but it was not until Genesis 17 that God commanded him and his household to be circumcised. Therefore, his circumcision carried no weight regarding his justification. Again as we said yesterday, you cannot take credit for what God has done. Justification is a gift from God alone lest anyone choose to boast. Circumcision is but a wonderful sign but faith alone brings you to God:.

In the same way baptism will not save you, the exchange of rings in a marriage ceremony does not make you married and circumcision does not justify anyone. These are signs, to affirm but are not the gift itself. The blessing is that if we believe like Abraham we too have the promise of justification.

What are you clinging to for your justification?

“Believe in “a” God or Believe God?”

In chapter 3 Paul reminded the Jew that no one is saved apart from the grace and mercy of God. Yet they and the world would have it otherwise and heap rewards and boastings upon those who seek to earn God’s favor through works. The prophet Isaiah said our works are as filthy rags; later Paul would say they are dung. Their foundation lies in the life of Abraham and therefore they conclude as his children they are justified by works. Paul, as a righteous Jew, sought to put this argument to rest.

Workers of the Law can boast having done not only what was expected but what is required. But if you don’t work the works of the Law but believe in what merely God says you receive grace and eternal life. You cannot take credit for a gift that is of God alone. That is what salvation is all about; a free gift undeserved. The key is this: Abraham did not believe “IN” God but he believed God. The world says I believe in a God, but Paul says you must not just believe “IN” but believe God.

So now the world asks, what about the works as James says. Both Paul and James affirm that works reveal the grace that we have received. They demonstrate our gratitude for the gift of God’s blessed forgiveness of our lawless deeds.

Are you depending upon your works heritage to get into heaven? If so, turn around and go the other way for you are on the wrong path.

Photo: Unsplash/Jordan Whitefield

Blessed Beyond Measure

Matthew records this chapter that we might see several points. One is that although there are prophets who predicted the grace that would come or righteous people; they longed to see what we see but did not see it, and to hear what we hear but did not hear it. We stop and ask why because were not prophets holy men of God who through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit spoke from God? If men were righteous why did they too not hear and see? What hindered them? Can we learn from this as to why we who claim Christ may also not see or hear? Or was it for such a time as then but for us who live now there is a greater gift of understanding.

The clue is most likely found in this. These of old “had the types, shadows, and prophecies…they desired to see the great Salvation, the Consolation of Israel, but did not see it, because the fullness of time was not yet come.” (M. Henry) But it has come now and we who live now in this century are blessed beyond measure for ‘although we have not seen him, we love him and believe in him..’ [1Pe 1:8] We have been blessed by the indwelling illuminating Holy Spirit who will teach, guide and lead us and the full Word of God that is the revelation of God Himself. The question is this: do we recognize this great blessing?

And There was LIGHT!

May 8^th Ps 43 “Light”

The psalmist prayed “O send out your light and your truth” and God answered. He sent the Light of the World to illumine the darkness of men’s souls that they might be see and be redeemed. God sent forth the Way, the Truth and the Life that men might come to Him, the Messiah Jesus Christ. Again the psalmist said ‘light is sown like seed for the righteous’ reminding us of the parable Jesus taught on the soils. The seed lies waiting in the darkness for the abundance of rain to soften its hull. And when the light/seed finds entrance into our soul it germinates and grows it produces a crop 100 fold… if the soil is fertile. That is God’s promise to the children of light who have received and are being enlightened and are growing in maturity with his truth.

The psalmist who wrote: “The Lord is my light and my salvation”[ Psalm 27] prayed that God’s light and truth might lead him to God’s holy hill, his dwelling place. Jesus promised that the Iluminator of Light, the Holy Spirit would come to reveal all truth to us and lead us into everlasting life. Jesus said I am the Light of the World, believe in me so you may become sons of light. The promise is given; He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. To those who have received the gospel message it is required that a man be found faithful so that when the Master returns we may hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant. Go forth and share the gospel message.

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Hebrews 2 “Jesus Christ our Captain”

One of the wonderful tools learned in Inductive Bible Study training is that to unearth the truths of the passage one asks the “5W’s and H” questions. One needs to observe by asking “who, what, when, where, why, and how.” Yesterday the author of Hebrews answered the “who” question. Jesus Christ is the very radiance of the glory of God. Today in chapter two he continues to add more evidence to the “who” along with what, when, why and how.

Who/When: Jesus was made lower than the angels “for a little while.” He is “now” crowned with glory and honor because he is the pioneer of our salvation.

What: he suffered and experienced death on behalf of everyone. Because of that he is unashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

Why: He shared in our humanity so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death. Therefore, it was fitting in order that he may bring sons to glory. He was made like his brothers and sisters “in every respect” so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of his people.

How: He was tempted and suffered.

All of this is important because just as one needs a Captain to guide a ship so we need a captain of our souls. The author warns us if we loosen our anchor lines, we will drift away from the Captain who has set us free from the power of the fear of death. Therefore do not become untethered lest you drift from Jesus, the very radiance of God, the one who left heaven to become human, was tempted and suffered. To keep us from drifting from the shore of truth, our line must be tethered to Him. He alone is the security that will anchor us to the truth.

Photo Credit: knowingJesus.com

Hebrews 2 “Jesus Christ our Captain”

One of the wonderful tools learned in Inductive Bible Study training is that to unearth the truths of the passage one asks the “5W’s and H” questions. One needs to observe by asking “who, what, when, where, why, and how.” Yesterday the author of Hebrews answered the “who” question. Jesus Christ is the very radiance of the glory of God. Today in chapter two he continues to add more evidence to the “who” along with what, when, why and how.

Who/When: Jesus was made lower than the angels “for a little while.” He is “now” crowned with glory and honor because he is the pioneer of our salvation.

What: he suffered and experienced death on behalf of everyone. Because of that he is unashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

Why: He shared in our humanity so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death. Therefore, it was fitting in order that he may bring sons to glory. He was made like his brothers and sisters “in every respect” so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of his people.

How: He was tempted and suffered.

All of this is important because just as one needs a Captain to guide a ship so we need a captain of our souls. The author warns us if we loosen our anchor lines, we will drift away from the Captain who has set us free from the power of the fear of death. Therefore do not become untethered lest you drift from Jesus, the very radiance of God, the one who left heaven to become human, was tempted and suffered. To keep us from drifting from the shore of truth, our line must be tethered to Him. He alone is the security that will anchor us to the truth.

Photo Credit: knowingJesus.com

“Checkmate?”

There is a story that has circulated about a tour group in an art gallery. After the initial description of the painting titled “Checkmate” all moved on but one man who was an expert chess player. The painting reveals a chess game between the devil and Faust who had sold his soul to the devil. It appears from the smirk on the devil’s face that he has won and is ready to announce “Checkmate!” But, after studying the painting the chess player noted that the devil had not won and the king had one more move. The enemy of our souls wants us to think that he has won and is ready to announce Checkmate but the truth is found here in Proverbs 11: The King of Kings has one more move.

As believers in Christ, the righteous want to know how to move and live in a world that seems as complicated as a chess game. But, if we study and meditate we find that the next move is found in God’s Word which is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [2Ti 3:16] The enemy would have us think he has the last move and that life is over. But God shows us what life is really all about using the characters of righteousness, truth, humility and integrity vs the characters of wicked, prideful, despair. Each of us chooses to moves in our walk of life and God has given us free will to choose. We can become His ears, hands, feet to a dying world devoid of the love of God or we can choose not His way but our way. Thirteen times in this chapter the word or a form of the word “righteous” is given as a trait that delivers one from all kinds of danger. The contrast is glaring in vs. 23 “What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath.” Dr. Ross writes: “Since life and death result from moral choices, righteousness must be pursued. . .” 

God made the first move which was to offer His Son for our salvation. Will you this day choose to follow Him? The King of Kings has one more move for you if you will choose.