God’s love is: Self starting:
It originates with God
1 John 4:10 NKJV, God’s Word tells us: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
In the NLT version, it reads: “This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
So if the love God has for us, comes from God…. can we make it go away?
We can choose not to accept it. We can choose not to walk in it.
But can make it null and void? Or is it forever?
God’s love is: Indestructible
Romans 8:38-39 KJV reads: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The NLT reads: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Have you ever considered that word “nothing”? And then looked at the long list of what nothing includes?
not death… not life… not angels… not demons…. not our own FEARS….not our own worry…. not any power of hell… no power in the sky or user the earth …in fact NOTHING not ONE THING can destroy God’s love for YOU.
How does that make you feel? Can YOU destroy His love for you? Can what others think or do or say?
God’s love is: Undeserved
Romans 3:23 KJV reads: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
The NLT reads: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.”
See? We ALL sin. All of us mess us. Most likely every single day. If we don’t mess up (sin) in actions, we sure do in our thought life. Like when we are really hurt or angry.
But God already knew that about us. He LOVES us with a love that is UNDESERVED. Yes, even when you sin, he LOVES you. Even when “they” sin he loves them too.
God’s love is: Compassionate
Isaiah 49:15-16 KJV reads: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
NLT reads "Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem's walls in ruins.”
This may be difficult for some to read. Your mom may have deserted you or been emotionally distant or worse. However, even then God know, he cares, he understands and RIGHT THIS MINUTE offers you HIS compassionate healing and tender love.
Know this: GOD is your heart healer.
God’s love is: Constant!
Jer. 31:3 KJV reads: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”
The NLT reads: “Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
EVERLASTING LOVE…UNFAILING LOVE, LOVINGKINDNESS sort of love. PTL!
God’s love is: Immeasurable
Eph. 3:18-19 KJV reads: “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
The NLT reads: “And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Love without measure. Love so big, we cannot begin to truly understand it.
How are you all feeling about now? Is your heart full?
God’s love is: Voluntary
Romans 5:18 KJV reads: “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life”.
NLT reads: “Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.”
God chooses to LOVE you. Yes, you and me too. And that is why JESUS had to die on the cross.
God’s love is: A Gift
John 3:16 KJV reads: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
The NLT reads: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
God so loved… loved you and me so much that he GAVE his son, his very life so that we could be with him and KNOW his love.
God’s love is: Made Possible By Jesus
John 1:14-18 KJV reads: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
The NLT reads: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me. From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
God’s love is: Made Possible By Jesus
John 1:14-18 KJV reads: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
The NLT reads: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me. From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
Psalm 84 sums it up for us. Let’s read it out loud (if you can) together as our closing prayer.
PSALM 84
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and raises her young at a place near your altar,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
I want to thank each one of you for coming and I pray you have a wonderful and blessed day basking in God’s love!
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
“Our Christian Calling, Part 2: Light & Darkness”
by Romans
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video: We are
"Our Christian Calling, Part II: Let There Be Light" by Romans
Before we begin our Discussion, tonight, I feel it necessary to clarify and support a position I took last week on a controversial subject, namely, “Once-Saved-Always-Saved.” I took the position, based on the many Scriptures that I quoted to you, that the Bible does not support once-saved-always-saved, as it is taught, today. I know this doctrine is popular, and is taught and believed by many people. But popularity does not make a doctrine true: God's Word is True. Noah was not concerned that only he and his family prepared for a Flood. When the rains came, they were the only ones who survived, while the entire population of earth drowned. Their popular disbelief afforded them no protection from the Flood. In like manner, if there is a difference between what is popular, and what is Scriptural, and in this case, there IS, I am going to side with what is Scriptural 100% of the time... without hesitation or apology.
Allow me to directly quote myself from, last week: I said, “Why would Peter need to write a prescription that includes the words: “... brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” if there were such a thing as “once-saved-always-saved”? Because that is a false and indefensible doctrine.”
“Wait!” you may be saying. “This can't be right! What about what Jesus said in John 10:27: 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Read the above, again. It says “neither shall [u]any man[/u] pluck them out of my hand.” It does NOT say that the person who began a relationship with Him cannot walk away of his own volition!
Consider, in this regard, Jesus' Parable of the Sower: Various seeds fell on various ground, with assorted results. And what did Jesus say all of that symbolized? Notice two particular “seeds” which represented the people who START with Jesus, but then fall away: Jesus says in Matthew 13:20: “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
In both of the above “seed” examples, no [i]man[/i] plucked the plant out the ground. The plant, after it began to grow, endured for a while but then did not continue on, or bear fruit as it had no root, or is choked by thorns ("the cares of this world"). God has given us Free Will to accept His Salvation, but also, of out own choosing, walk away from it. And [b]that[/b] is why Jesus also said, confirming my claim that Salvation follows a life of continuing in His Word, and making godly choices. Notice, in Jesus' words in Mark 13:13: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
In the Notes from last's week's Discussion, which are now posted, I added the following verses. These are a far more direct, and sobering description of someone choosing to not continue as a follower of Christ. No man plucked them out of Jesus' hand. They chose to fall away. I added to last week's posted notes regarding the error of once-save-always-saved, as it is CURRENTLY taught, “And that indisputable fact is made clear in Hebrews 6:4: 'For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.' If the “once-save-always-saved” doctrine were true, as it is taught, today, the above inspired “if they shall fall away” repudiation would make no sense, whatsoever. But it is there, and we cannot deny it or explain it away.”
I did more research on this topic, and I see now that my presentation of my position last week is in need of clarification and explanation. I still believe that I drew the correct conclusion based on the Scriptures I read, that the once-save-always-saved doctrine is not true, but I failed, last week, to add an extremely important aspect to my conclusion: the element of time. In other words, when does Salvation take place? Has Salvation taken place already? If it HAS taken place already, then why do we read in Romans 13:11: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
The Apostle Paul believed that Salvation was “nearer than when we believed” but not here, yet! To him, as I said last week, based on his words, and on Peter's words, and on Jesus' words, Salvation is an ongoing process that requires us to overcome, and continue in Jesus' Words, and in obedience to the Father. Jesus confirmed this in Mark 13:13: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same SHALL BE saved.” There is endurance unto the end that qualifies the whole subject of Salvation. Unlike forgiveness, and justification and reconciliation, which are all instantaneous when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, Salvation is something we live, and continue in as we choose God's Ways over the ways of sin, the pulls of our flesh, and the ways of the world 'til our dying breath. Paul understood this, also, as a lifelong process as he wrote in Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
If Salvation has already taken place, and people are saved NOW, then we would never read of Salvation being nearer than when we first believed, we would read that it IS HERE, now. If Salvation has already taken place, and people are saved NOW, , then we would never read Paul saying that we “shall be saved” by the Life of Jesus, it would be a past event. But to him, it is yet future. He wrote of people who once walked with him in the ministry whom he said had “suffered shipwreck” in the Spiritual sense. And lastly, if Paul believed or taught the he was saved, now, and that he could not lose his Salvation, we would never read these words written by him, the greatest evangelist that this this world has ever seen, in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Jesus confirmed this when He was still on earth: We read His words in Luke 9:62: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
If Jesus says that looking back, and being found unfit is possible, then then both Salvation being present tense, and the doctrine of once-save-always-saved cannot be possible, now or true. Salvation... full and final Salvation is a future event: Notice Peter's words in 1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This may be all new to you, and even upsetting to you, but keep this in mind: Once-save-always-saved, as it is taught today, is utterly nullified by a complete review of the Scriptures regarding Salvation. It is a doctrine of men, not only unsupported by Scripture, but opposed and refuted. It is a doctrine with catastrophic implications, causing people to be deluded into thinking that they cannot lose their Salvation, when Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught the exact opposite. They all taught daily overcoming, daily striving against the world and the flesh, continuing in Jesus' words, and enduring persecution and temptation unto the end... the end! The end is not here, yet! If Salvation were here, now, and we could not lose it, why would Peter write to believers who supposedly “could not lose their Salvation,” in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Such a toothless and impotent adversary who [i]"could not devour us"[/i], would be no threat to us whatsoever. There would be no point in even mentioning that he is there. But he [i]is[/i] there, and he is bound and determined to devour us! [b]We are at war![/b] That is why, daily, we must put on the whole Armor of God, and resist Satan, oppose him and his ways, and choose a godly life over sin.
And we have to do that until we draw our last breath!
Salvation SHALL BE revealed, and shall be an established fact at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Then, and not before then, will once-save-always-saved be true. We read in Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Last week, we did an introductory and general review of the Christian Calling.
Tonight, we are going to look at specific Scriptures about our being called out of the darkness of our past lives, and into the Light of God's Liberating Truth.
I want to first acknowledge the source of the basic outline of the Scriptures I will use tonight. It is from a book called the World's Bible Handbook, a incredible study tool that I cannot begin to imagine how much time and effort went into its writing, and all by a single author: Robert Boyd. I will be using the list from this publication for upcoming installments of this Series.
Let's turn to re-read a Verse that I cited last week in Part One:
1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
After telling us that Christians are chosen, royal, holy and peculiar: He says that we are to shew forth the praises of God.
How do we shew forth the praises of God?
Last week we spoke of Jesus' reference in the Sermon on the Mount in which He identified His followers... us... as the Light of the World.
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus also had some things to say about the contrast between Light and darkness, and what that contrast means in regard to how we live our lives as Christians:
We read in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
I would be remiss if I did not include at least one comment by Matthew Henry. He wrote this in his Commentary about Jesus' Words to Nicodemus regarding the contrast between Light and darkness:
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. It could not be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was dearest to himself; and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already; which speaks a certain condemnation; a present condemnation. The wrath of God now fastens upon them; and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a condemnation grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law for all their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. Read also the doom of those that would not know Christ. Sinful works are works of darkness. The wicked world keep as far from this light as they can, lest their deeds should be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin is loved. If they had not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit down contentedly in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed hearts bid this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in all he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do it, though against his own worldly interest. A change in his whole character and conduct has taken place. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the commanding principle of his actions.”
That was Matthew Henry. Did he not perfectly sum up and answer what I just asked regarding how do we shew forth the praises of God in his comments on this Verse? I find his insights as being among the most inspiring and edifying of any Bible Commentator I have ever read: He is thoroughly familiar with Scripture, demonstrated by his seemingly effortless cross-referencing, but, far and above familiarity, he is also genuinely in awe of the Word of God. But... as amazing as his insights are, the timelessness of what he wrote is equally amazing to me: In spite of the fact that this year his published Commentary is 300 years old, it is no less powerful and every bit as fresh and relevant to our Christian lives as this morning's news!
Just as an aside.... when these words were originally written, those who wanted to leave Europe and travel to the New World in search of religious freedom, boarded ships and sailed for three months on an open ocean so that they might be able to follow God according to the dictates of their conscience and understanding, and without fear of persecution. And it is that very same Bible that leads us today. But look at how the technology has advanced. I don't have to sail for months in order to lead a Discussion with believers in Canada or New Zealand or Afghanistan. I am here, sitting in my own house, and speaking in a conversational tone, and people in all of those places I named, can hear these very same words of Truth instantly. But let's go back farther than 300 years: Matthew Henry comments on writings that are thousands of years old. But... in spite of the technology that we take so for granted, man has not changed: his rebellious nature, his failings, his sin and his need for a Savior has not changed!
And that is why all of these writings, the words that God inspired, and the comments that are inspiring are timeless. Because our Creator has reached down into our realm of existence to call us out of the darkness that we are born into, and into His Marvelous Light.
There is spiritual application to the Genesis account of Creation when we read in Genesis 1:4: “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” We are also to separate ourselves from the works of darkness.
We read in Colossians 1:12: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
It sometimes happens, however, when we turn from the past lives that we lived in darkness, that those who were in the dark with us will often react badly to our withdrawal from their circles.
We read in 1 Peter chapter 4, and beginning in Verse 1: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”
But evil speaking or no, withdrawal from our past lives, with a renewed mind is exactly what the Christian is supposed to do: It will not be a immediate separation, but it will be a separation if we are walking true to our calling. The new Christian and his old circle of friends will begin to appreciate each other's likes and priorities and taste in morals and entertainment and jokes less and less.
Peter refers to it in 2 Peter 2:20 as having escaped “the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” And it is an escape. Xxx We were being held prisoner. But what did say part of his Mission on earth was? It was “to preach deliverance to the captives.” Let's read the entire text of what He said He was anointed to do... In His first public sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth He announced in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised...”
We were among those captives to whom Jesus preached deliverance. We've been delivered, and in so doing we have escaped the pollutions of the world. We have new lives in Christ to live, and as such, we cannot go on living the way we were before, walking down that wide path that leads to destruction. That is behind us now... we have been set free. We have been forgiven.
But Forgiveness is not a blank check for us to continue in sin, or as we read in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Well, the answer is that we can't. We have to come out of, and separate ourselves from the ways and standards of the world.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:13: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
I'd like to focus in on Verse 13 of 2 Corinthians 6 in specific regard to our being a Light in the world.
Paul wrote that Christians should not be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The primary thrust of that verse in regard to marriage. There are, however, times when in a marriage where the man and the woman are both unsaved, and then one of them comes to Christ.
This was the case, with Lee Strobel, who is another of my favorite authors. He and his wife were atheists, and his wife came to Christ. What happened in that marriage was exactly what the Apostle Peter said should have happened.
We read in New American Standard translation of 1 Peter 3:1: “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives.”
It was not Lee Strobel's wife's preaching or coaxing to come to Church with her that won him over. He was, as Peter put it, “won without a word” by her behavior. Lee Strobel writes about his own conversion in the introduction of his book “The Case for A Creator: “... my wife announced that she had decided to become a follower of Jesus... I simply couldn't comprehend how such a rational person could buy into an irrational concoction of wishful thinking, make-believe, mythology and legend... In the ensuing months, however, as Leslie's character began to change, as her values underwent a transformation, as she became a more loving and caring and authentic person, I began asking ... 'What's gotten in to you?' Something, or, as she would claim, 'Someone' was undeniably changing her for the better. Clearly, I needed to investigate what was going on...”
And now he, too, is a Christian, and has gone on to becoming the prolific author of a series of books defending and strengthening the faith that he once arrogantly dismissed and wrote off as so much mythology.
Leslie Strobel's Light xxx was shining for her husband and others, as our Lights should also be shining for all of those who encounter us. We are, after all, the only Bible that some people have ever come into contact with.
In the context of providing letters of approval for Paul, we read in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
Paul said that the members of the Corinthian Church manifested themselves as the “epistle of Christ...
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.”
Our lives, our choices, our priorities, our willingness to serve and to forgive, our honesty, our not listening to or repeating the juicy gossip that comes our way, our turning the other cheek in the face of opposition or ridicule for the sake of Christ, do not go unnoticed by the unsaved. Do you think for a minute that the unsaved don't notice the difference between worldly behavior when they come into contact with genuine, Spirit-filled Christian behavior? Think again. It has all the obvious effect of being in a windowless, pitch black room during a power failure, and someone walks in with a flashlight or even a lit candle. It is noticed. And that is part of our calling. To be that light in the darkness.
As Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
In the beginning, in preparation for the Creation of Adam, God said, Let there be light. And there was light.
In Luke 2:32, when Jesus, the Second Adam came, Simeon was in the Temple when Jesus' parents brought the Christ child there to be presented according to the custom of the Law, and he thanked God because he had seen “thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
And just as God approved of the Light in Genesis, saying that it was good, the Father was pleased with His Son, Whom He sent to be the Light of the world. We read in Mark 1:11: “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus was that “great light” spoken of in Matthew 4:16, where it is written: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”
Speaking of Himself, Jesus said in John 8:12: “... I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
We can read this as a Promise to us from Jesus. Those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness.
Paul reminds us of our past life that we have been called out of darknessin Ephesians 5:8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Let me read that again because the meaning is too easy to miss.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Notice how Paul phrased this: not that we formerly walked in darkness, but that we “were sometimes darkness...” We were darkness. “But,” he says, we are not now merely walking in the Light, he says “now are ye light in the Lord.”
I will close with Paul's summary words, “Walk as children of light.”
This concludes this Evening's Discussion on “Our Christian Calling, Part 2: Light & Darkness.”
This Discussion was originally aired “live” by Romans, on May 22nd, 2011
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video: We are
"Our Christian Calling, Part II: Let There Be Light" by Romans
Before we begin our Discussion, tonight, I feel it necessary to clarify and support a position I took last week on a controversial subject, namely, “Once-Saved-Always-Saved.” I took the position, based on the many Scriptures that I quoted to you, that the Bible does not support once-saved-always-saved, as it is taught, today. I know this doctrine is popular, and is taught and believed by many people. But popularity does not make a doctrine true: God's Word is True. Noah was not concerned that only he and his family prepared for a Flood. When the rains came, they were the only ones who survived, while the entire population of earth drowned. Their popular disbelief afforded them no protection from the Flood. In like manner, if there is a difference between what is popular, and what is Scriptural, and in this case, there IS, I am going to side with what is Scriptural 100% of the time... without hesitation or apology.
Allow me to directly quote myself from, last week: I said, “Why would Peter need to write a prescription that includes the words: “... brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” if there were such a thing as “once-saved-always-saved”? Because that is a false and indefensible doctrine.”
“Wait!” you may be saying. “This can't be right! What about what Jesus said in John 10:27: 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Read the above, again. It says “neither shall [u]any man[/u] pluck them out of my hand.” It does NOT say that the person who began a relationship with Him cannot walk away of his own volition!
Consider, in this regard, Jesus' Parable of the Sower: Various seeds fell on various ground, with assorted results. And what did Jesus say all of that symbolized? Notice two particular “seeds” which represented the people who START with Jesus, but then fall away: Jesus says in Matthew 13:20: “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
In both of the above “seed” examples, no [i]man[/i] plucked the plant out the ground. The plant, after it began to grow, endured for a while but then did not continue on, or bear fruit as it had no root, or is choked by thorns ("the cares of this world"). God has given us Free Will to accept His Salvation, but also, of out own choosing, walk away from it. And [b]that[/b] is why Jesus also said, confirming my claim that Salvation follows a life of continuing in His Word, and making godly choices. Notice, in Jesus' words in Mark 13:13: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
In the Notes from last's week's Discussion, which are now posted, I added the following verses. These are a far more direct, and sobering description of someone choosing to not continue as a follower of Christ. No man plucked them out of Jesus' hand. They chose to fall away. I added to last week's posted notes regarding the error of once-save-always-saved, as it is CURRENTLY taught, “And that indisputable fact is made clear in Hebrews 6:4: 'For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.' If the “once-save-always-saved” doctrine were true, as it is taught, today, the above inspired “if they shall fall away” repudiation would make no sense, whatsoever. But it is there, and we cannot deny it or explain it away.”
I did more research on this topic, and I see now that my presentation of my position last week is in need of clarification and explanation. I still believe that I drew the correct conclusion based on the Scriptures I read, that the once-save-always-saved doctrine is not true, but I failed, last week, to add an extremely important aspect to my conclusion: the element of time. In other words, when does Salvation take place? Has Salvation taken place already? If it HAS taken place already, then why do we read in Romans 13:11: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
The Apostle Paul believed that Salvation was “nearer than when we believed” but not here, yet! To him, as I said last week, based on his words, and on Peter's words, and on Jesus' words, Salvation is an ongoing process that requires us to overcome, and continue in Jesus' Words, and in obedience to the Father. Jesus confirmed this in Mark 13:13: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same SHALL BE saved.” There is endurance unto the end that qualifies the whole subject of Salvation. Unlike forgiveness, and justification and reconciliation, which are all instantaneous when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, Salvation is something we live, and continue in as we choose God's Ways over the ways of sin, the pulls of our flesh, and the ways of the world 'til our dying breath. Paul understood this, also, as a lifelong process as he wrote in Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
If Salvation has already taken place, and people are saved NOW, then we would never read of Salvation being nearer than when we first believed, we would read that it IS HERE, now. If Salvation has already taken place, and people are saved NOW, , then we would never read Paul saying that we “shall be saved” by the Life of Jesus, it would be a past event. But to him, it is yet future. He wrote of people who once walked with him in the ministry whom he said had “suffered shipwreck” in the Spiritual sense. And lastly, if Paul believed or taught the he was saved, now, and that he could not lose his Salvation, we would never read these words written by him, the greatest evangelist that this this world has ever seen, in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Jesus confirmed this when He was still on earth: We read His words in Luke 9:62: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
If Jesus says that looking back, and being found unfit is possible, then then both Salvation being present tense, and the doctrine of once-save-always-saved cannot be possible, now or true. Salvation... full and final Salvation is a future event: Notice Peter's words in 1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This may be all new to you, and even upsetting to you, but keep this in mind: Once-save-always-saved, as it is taught today, is utterly nullified by a complete review of the Scriptures regarding Salvation. It is a doctrine of men, not only unsupported by Scripture, but opposed and refuted. It is a doctrine with catastrophic implications, causing people to be deluded into thinking that they cannot lose their Salvation, when Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught the exact opposite. They all taught daily overcoming, daily striving against the world and the flesh, continuing in Jesus' words, and enduring persecution and temptation unto the end... the end! The end is not here, yet! If Salvation were here, now, and we could not lose it, why would Peter write to believers who supposedly “could not lose their Salvation,” in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Such a toothless and impotent adversary who [i]"could not devour us"[/i], would be no threat to us whatsoever. There would be no point in even mentioning that he is there. But he [i]is[/i] there, and he is bound and determined to devour us! [b]We are at war![/b] That is why, daily, we must put on the whole Armor of God, and resist Satan, oppose him and his ways, and choose a godly life over sin.
And we have to do that until we draw our last breath!
Salvation SHALL BE revealed, and shall be an established fact at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Then, and not before then, will once-save-always-saved be true. We read in Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Last week, we did an introductory and general review of the Christian Calling.
Tonight, we are going to look at specific Scriptures about our being called out of the darkness of our past lives, and into the Light of God's Liberating Truth.
I want to first acknowledge the source of the basic outline of the Scriptures I will use tonight. It is from a book called the World's Bible Handbook, a incredible study tool that I cannot begin to imagine how much time and effort went into its writing, and all by a single author: Robert Boyd. I will be using the list from this publication for upcoming installments of this Series.
Let's turn to re-read a Verse that I cited last week in Part One:
1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
After telling us that Christians are chosen, royal, holy and peculiar: He says that we are to shew forth the praises of God.
How do we shew forth the praises of God?
Last week we spoke of Jesus' reference in the Sermon on the Mount in which He identified His followers... us... as the Light of the World.
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus also had some things to say about the contrast between Light and darkness, and what that contrast means in regard to how we live our lives as Christians:
We read in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
I would be remiss if I did not include at least one comment by Matthew Henry. He wrote this in his Commentary about Jesus' Words to Nicodemus regarding the contrast between Light and darkness:
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. It could not be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was dearest to himself; and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already; which speaks a certain condemnation; a present condemnation. The wrath of God now fastens upon them; and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a condemnation grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law for all their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. Read also the doom of those that would not know Christ. Sinful works are works of darkness. The wicked world keep as far from this light as they can, lest their deeds should be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin is loved. If they had not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit down contentedly in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed hearts bid this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in all he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do it, though against his own worldly interest. A change in his whole character and conduct has taken place. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the commanding principle of his actions.”
That was Matthew Henry. Did he not perfectly sum up and answer what I just asked regarding how do we shew forth the praises of God in his comments on this Verse? I find his insights as being among the most inspiring and edifying of any Bible Commentator I have ever read: He is thoroughly familiar with Scripture, demonstrated by his seemingly effortless cross-referencing, but, far and above familiarity, he is also genuinely in awe of the Word of God. But... as amazing as his insights are, the timelessness of what he wrote is equally amazing to me: In spite of the fact that this year his published Commentary is 300 years old, it is no less powerful and every bit as fresh and relevant to our Christian lives as this morning's news!
Just as an aside.... when these words were originally written, those who wanted to leave Europe and travel to the New World in search of religious freedom, boarded ships and sailed for three months on an open ocean so that they might be able to follow God according to the dictates of their conscience and understanding, and without fear of persecution. And it is that very same Bible that leads us today. But look at how the technology has advanced. I don't have to sail for months in order to lead a Discussion with believers in Canada or New Zealand or Afghanistan. I am here, sitting in my own house, and speaking in a conversational tone, and people in all of those places I named, can hear these very same words of Truth instantly. But let's go back farther than 300 years: Matthew Henry comments on writings that are thousands of years old. But... in spite of the technology that we take so for granted, man has not changed: his rebellious nature, his failings, his sin and his need for a Savior has not changed!
And that is why all of these writings, the words that God inspired, and the comments that are inspiring are timeless. Because our Creator has reached down into our realm of existence to call us out of the darkness that we are born into, and into His Marvelous Light.
There is spiritual application to the Genesis account of Creation when we read in Genesis 1:4: “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” We are also to separate ourselves from the works of darkness.
We read in Colossians 1:12: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
It sometimes happens, however, when we turn from the past lives that we lived in darkness, that those who were in the dark with us will often react badly to our withdrawal from their circles.
We read in 1 Peter chapter 4, and beginning in Verse 1: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”
But evil speaking or no, withdrawal from our past lives, with a renewed mind is exactly what the Christian is supposed to do: It will not be a immediate separation, but it will be a separation if we are walking true to our calling. The new Christian and his old circle of friends will begin to appreciate each other's likes and priorities and taste in morals and entertainment and jokes less and less.
Peter refers to it in 2 Peter 2:20 as having escaped “the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” And it is an escape. Xxx We were being held prisoner. But what did say part of his Mission on earth was? It was “to preach deliverance to the captives.” Let's read the entire text of what He said He was anointed to do... In His first public sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth He announced in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised...”
We were among those captives to whom Jesus preached deliverance. We've been delivered, and in so doing we have escaped the pollutions of the world. We have new lives in Christ to live, and as such, we cannot go on living the way we were before, walking down that wide path that leads to destruction. That is behind us now... we have been set free. We have been forgiven.
But Forgiveness is not a blank check for us to continue in sin, or as we read in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Well, the answer is that we can't. We have to come out of, and separate ourselves from the ways and standards of the world.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:13: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
I'd like to focus in on Verse 13 of 2 Corinthians 6 in specific regard to our being a Light in the world.
Paul wrote that Christians should not be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The primary thrust of that verse in regard to marriage. There are, however, times when in a marriage where the man and the woman are both unsaved, and then one of them comes to Christ.
This was the case, with Lee Strobel, who is another of my favorite authors. He and his wife were atheists, and his wife came to Christ. What happened in that marriage was exactly what the Apostle Peter said should have happened.
We read in New American Standard translation of 1 Peter 3:1: “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives.”
It was not Lee Strobel's wife's preaching or coaxing to come to Church with her that won him over. He was, as Peter put it, “won without a word” by her behavior. Lee Strobel writes about his own conversion in the introduction of his book “The Case for A Creator: “... my wife announced that she had decided to become a follower of Jesus... I simply couldn't comprehend how such a rational person could buy into an irrational concoction of wishful thinking, make-believe, mythology and legend... In the ensuing months, however, as Leslie's character began to change, as her values underwent a transformation, as she became a more loving and caring and authentic person, I began asking ... 'What's gotten in to you?' Something, or, as she would claim, 'Someone' was undeniably changing her for the better. Clearly, I needed to investigate what was going on...”
And now he, too, is a Christian, and has gone on to becoming the prolific author of a series of books defending and strengthening the faith that he once arrogantly dismissed and wrote off as so much mythology.
Leslie Strobel's Light xxx was shining for her husband and others, as our Lights should also be shining for all of those who encounter us. We are, after all, the only Bible that some people have ever come into contact with.
In the context of providing letters of approval for Paul, we read in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
Paul said that the members of the Corinthian Church manifested themselves as the “epistle of Christ...
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.”
Our lives, our choices, our priorities, our willingness to serve and to forgive, our honesty, our not listening to or repeating the juicy gossip that comes our way, our turning the other cheek in the face of opposition or ridicule for the sake of Christ, do not go unnoticed by the unsaved. Do you think for a minute that the unsaved don't notice the difference between worldly behavior when they come into contact with genuine, Spirit-filled Christian behavior? Think again. It has all the obvious effect of being in a windowless, pitch black room during a power failure, and someone walks in with a flashlight or even a lit candle. It is noticed. And that is part of our calling. To be that light in the darkness.
As Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
In the beginning, in preparation for the Creation of Adam, God said, Let there be light. And there was light.
In Luke 2:32, when Jesus, the Second Adam came, Simeon was in the Temple when Jesus' parents brought the Christ child there to be presented according to the custom of the Law, and he thanked God because he had seen “thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
And just as God approved of the Light in Genesis, saying that it was good, the Father was pleased with His Son, Whom He sent to be the Light of the world. We read in Mark 1:11: “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus was that “great light” spoken of in Matthew 4:16, where it is written: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”
Speaking of Himself, Jesus said in John 8:12: “... I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
We can read this as a Promise to us from Jesus. Those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness.
Paul reminds us of our past life that we have been called out of darknessin Ephesians 5:8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Let me read that again because the meaning is too easy to miss.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Notice how Paul phrased this: not that we formerly walked in darkness, but that we “were sometimes darkness...” We were darkness. “But,” he says, we are not now merely walking in the Light, he says “now are ye light in the Lord.”
I will close with Paul's summary words, “Walk as children of light.”
This concludes this Evening's Discussion on “Our Christian Calling, Part 2: Light & Darkness.”
This Discussion was originally aired “live” by Romans, on May 22nd, 2011
Friday, November 21, 2014
Conflict Among Christians
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
I was talking last night to a member of the Church I currently attend about some things. He was telling me about some of the Church's history, and how the Church had lost a few dozen members when one of the Associate Pastors played divide and conquer with the Congregation. He sent out e-mails to just the people who he thought he could trust to not tip off the Lead Pastor about his plan to draw away members after himself. Division is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
A similar thing happened during the Apostle Paul's ministry. As he was about to leave Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, he called the elders of the Church together to bid them farewell. We read his farewell to them beginning in 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.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Of this Matthew Henry writes, in part: “If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge...”
But it is not just the leadership of the Church that must be concerned with this. Every member must make it his or her personal responsibility to preserve and protect the Body of Christ, and every member of that Body.
What was the sign, the sign that Jesus said would identify who his true followers were? Was it how much Greek or Hebrew they knew? How much of the Bible they could quote, blindfolded? Perhaps it was how many Church Committees they serve on, or how many solos they sang with the choir?
No... it's much more simple than the above. But it is also much more difficult than the above. Jesus said in John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
There are two Greek words that were translated in to English as “love.” One is the Greek word, philèo, which Strong's Concordance defines as: “to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling;)
The other Greek word is agape`. Agape` In Paul's list in Galatians 5, of the God-given Fruit of the Spirit, love (agape`) is listed as the first Fruit. It is not something just to comes to us. Agape` love has One Source, and that Source is God. It outstrips, outlasts, outperforms, and supersedes any human-level emotion. Agape` is translated into English as “charity” in the following verses written by the Apostle Paul. It clearly rises far above the “friendship or fondness” level of love. Let's read how it differs from human filèo, beginning in 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 ¶Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 ¶Charity never faileth:
Loving one another as Jesus said we should, is not possible to fulfill with just human emotions. If anything, human emotions are volatile, unpredictable, usually vengeful and self-serving. That is not agape` love. But Jesus said agape` love would be the identifying sign to men, of true discipleship. More than that, Jesus actually presented this identifying sign as a prerequisite to our loving and worshiping God in a way He would find acceptable. Let's notice His words, very early in His sermon on the Mount, beginning in Matthew 5:23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Matthew Henry comments: “We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!”
Worshiping God inextricably involves our seeking peace with fellow believers, in Jesus words, as a prerequisite. This is not always possible when someone who has been offended by a real or imagined offense, will not forgive you. But that is not your problem if you attempt to apologize and make things right. A person refusing to forgive you will have to answer to God about their unforgiveness. Where each of us in concerned, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:18: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
In another part of the Book of Matthew, Jesus spoke again about how to address and resolve conflict with a fellow believer: We read beginning in Matthew 18:15: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Matthew Henry comments: “If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much neglected by all. But how few try the method which Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highly prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.”
But let's look at this, again: There are some ancient manuscripts that omit the two words “against thee,” and have Christ saying: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass... go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” In the verse written that way, the trespass need not have been committed against the person witnessing it.
Notice Paul's words for that situation in Galatians 6:1 ¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
But why did Paul include a warning about being tempted? What temptation is there in discovering a fault or a sin in a brother or sister? And who, while we're on the subject, is the source of temptation? The temptation is to react to such a discovery in an ungodly manner, with unthinking and irrational human emotions, and not the love of God that only He can provide. If you become aware of a brother or sister sinning in some capacity, God would have you react by going to that person, alone, and bring it to his or her attention, and only to his or her attention. To do so is not a Biblical suggestion, it is a Command. And it also must be kept a matter of strict privacy between the two of you. A true follower of Christ will not seize it as an opportunity to light up the phone lines, or text lines, or chat room lines, or e-mail lines, to report to other believers or members, or to anybody else what their brother or sister did or said, to poison their reputation.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 26:20: “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
To repeat a real or imagined fault or a sin of a brother is a very serious matter to God. We read in Proverbs 6, seven activities that are abominations that God hates are listed: Four of the seven are characterisitic of talebearers: A proud look, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Reacting to offenses is a test we will all face at some time or another. Jesus said in Luke 17:1: “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
And when we are faced with them, God commands us to act and react according to His Guidelines. But to do that, you have to know what those Guidelines are. If you don't actually read the Bible, and know what God requires, or which reactions that seem good to us God hates, then you cannot act and react within those prescribed Guidelines. But too many of us do not read Scripture, and, too often, we respond with emotional knee-jerk reactions to certain circumstances in ways that may seem right and justified to us, but oppose God's Laws. Talebearing and spreading gossip are ungodly emotional reactions that do no good to anyone. Whispering is an abomination to God! God hates backbiting! These reactions are divisive, and are not how God would have us respond to the discovery of sin in a brother or sister in Christ. As Solomon said in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We need to be able to route out behavior thatseems right to us, and behavior that God hates. We need to follow His Ways, and only His Ways!
In either case, if we witness a brother or sister in Christ commit a sin in word or in deed, we have, as witnesses, several commands from God as to how to react. If it is directed against us, accidentally or intentionally, we are commanded to forgive that individual. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Becoming the town crier regarding their sin, and gossiping about it behind their backs to anyone else, is NOT what Jesus said to do! How can talebearing be a “good” reaction when God calls it an “abomination” to Him? How can whispering about what a brother or sister did wrong be “blessing them,” when God said He hates when someone “soweth discord among brethren”?
Consider: In both cases, if the sin committed is or is not against us personally, it is definitely against the one who committed it. Whatever the sin was, it must be repented of! For that to happen, it must be brought to the attention of the sinner, and NO ONE ELSE! Notice Paul's words to Timothy as he spoke about the obligation we each have to go to the sinner, and how to approach him or her: We read in 2 Timothy 2:24: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (emphasis added).
In another area of Christian conflict, the Apostle Paul responded to the situation where brothers and sisters in Christ were taking each other to court, in order to get what they thought was rightfully theirs: Paul issued them a scathing rebuke beginning in 1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
On another subject, where offenses are concerned, ministers and Bible teachers are not magically exempt from sin. No honest minister or Bible teacher would ever say that he or she does not or cannot or will not sin. Speaking for myself, I have said on many occasions that when I present these Discussions, I do not present them from the perspective of not needing to apply to my own life the things I am teaching. Paul said in Romans 2:21: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” My answer is is an unequivocal and enthusiastic “Yes!” I need every word of the things I teach you.
We all sin every day. As John wrote in 1 John 1:10: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” We may not sin the same sins, but the bottom line is, that all sin brings with it a death penalty. That means we are all tied for last place. But being a Bible teacher holds me, in God's eyes, to a stricter standard. James writes the very sobering words to those who teach the Word of God, in James 3:1 ¶My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
I take this responsibility very serious. But I also need you to know that I am not perfect, nor have I ever pretended to be, claimed to be, or even implied to be. I get things wrong because I am human, but I do not willfully or intentionally offend or mislead. If you think I have said something wrong, I invite, no... I urge you, and Christ commands you to come to me, and me alone, and tell me what I did or said. That is the Bible's prescription for correcting a fellow-believer who has done something offensive.
If a brother or sister in Christ, says or does something that was, or appeared to be inappropriate or ungodly, becoming a gossip, or a talebearer or a whisperer in response to that situation is condemned in both the Old and New Testament. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:28: “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Such activity will be answerable to God. If you think this is a minor matter with God, let's take a look at the sins that Paul lists, in which he includes whispering. Look at the sins that surround “whisperers”! Romans 1:28: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, spiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
The correct response to a brother or sister that sins is love, mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness. To do anything less, anything more, or anything different is to cut one's own throat. Jesus made a statement to all who would think themselves above the need to forgive, that removes all doubt on the subject. He said this at the end of the Parable where a king forgave an incredible sum, and the one who was forgiven refused to forgive a fellow-servant: Matthew 18:33: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
We also need to look at another important facet of forgiveness, and that is repeat offenders:
Do we impose a ceiling on how many times we can or should forgive an offending brother or sister? We read in Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
Forgiveness does not come easy. Jesus said it must be more than mere words... it must be from the heart. Only then will God acknowledge a forgiving attitude. If He does not recognize whole-hearted forgiveness, He will not forgive us when we ask for it. If that does not scare the living daylights out of you, nothing will.
Matthew Henry comments: “Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.”
In another place, Peter thought that he could max out forgiving offenses at the seventh offense, and was stunned to learn that he was wrong: We read in Matthew 18:21 ¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
T0 love our bothers and sisters in Christ, as God would have us love them, to forgive them from the heart, and to forgive on an unlimited basis, without counting the number of times, without seeking revenge, all the while being willing to suffer loss is not humanly possible. But it can and must be a part of our lives through, and only through, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And the Fruit of that Spirit, that makes it all possible, is found in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
This concludes this evening's Discussion, “Conflict Among Christians, Part 1”
This Discussion was conducted “live” by Romans on June 5th, 2014
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