Losing Your Soul

Posted on November 22, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Leon-Pascal Jc on Unsplash

Proverbs 13:19 (KJV) The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Desire Is Not Bad In The Right Context

Word Study:“DESIRE” is not a bad thing. The word translated “DESIRE” is the Hebrew ta’ăvâ which means “desires, wishes, longing for that which you do not have”. When used in a negative way, it can mean “lust or covetousness”.

God made humans with the ability to desire, to want something outside of ourselves.

When God made man and woman, the Bible says that God said “Let Us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let THEM have DOMINION over the earth” (Genesis 1:26). God gave man and woman the whole world and everything in it. Adam and Eve lacked nothing, but were told to dominate all creatures. God told them:

Genesis 1:28-29 (ESV) Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Adam and Eve were to desire three things: one another, food, and to be good stewards of what God graciously gave them.

Adam and Eve were created with desires – needs that could only be fulfilled by relying on another. God gave Adam and Eve sexual desire, one toward another. Their desire was to be toward one another, which is the basis for Godly marriage. God demands that we direct our desires into Godly pathways.

Proverbs 5:18-20 (ESV) Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

Sexual desire is fine, but only within the marital unit (one man, one woman). When you seek to fulfill desire outside of that union, this leads to evil. Thomas A. Tarrants of the C.S. Lewis Institute notes:

“The desires of one’s heart will determine the direction of one’s life and ultimately one’s eternal destiny. … Scripture shows us that desire is not inherently evil but is good or bad depending on whether it is God-centered or self-centered. God made us to be desiring creatures. His intention in doing so was for our desire to be focused upon Him and His will — for Him to be the freely chosen supreme love and desire of our hearts and the sole object of our worship and for His will to be our will. When our desires are God-centered, they are good and fulfill their intended role. But when they are self-centered, when our desires are captured by the things of the fallen world and the sinful nature (the flesh), they are evil. These have been called disordered loves.”

The fall of man came about because of misplaced desire. The devil is the Tempter, the one who whispers to our desires, trying to lead us away from the loving God Who made us. When Jesus was fasting in the wilderness prior to the beginning of His ministry,

“The TEMPTER came to Jesus and said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made into bread” (Matthew 4:3).

Jesus was hungry – a normal human desire after 40 days of fasting – so the devil asked Jesus to make His own bread, to serve Himself rather than the Father Who sent Him. Jesus controlled His desire by quoting Scripture:

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God(Matthew 4:4).

As God become Man the Tempter sought to quote Scripture, to twist the Word of God, and to get the Son of God to live by the flesh and by self centeredness. This is where the devil always goes. He knows our desires, and offers us a way to be selfish and capitalize on our desires rather than desire God’s will. If we take the bait, we can easily be destroyed in our Communities, in our Churches, and in our Families. God tells us in The Shema, the Call To Hearing:

Deuteronomy 6:4 (Literally) Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord ALONE …

Our desires are not to be our gods, but the Lord ALONE is to be our God. When God spoke of King David, He called David “A man after My own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Why did God regard David so? Because David understood that his foremost desire was to please the Lord Who saved him. David said:

Psalm 27:4 (ESV) One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple

David’s desire was to focus on God, to meditate on God’s Word. There were times in David’s life when his desire went in an ungodly direction – and he suffered for it:

  • David’s desires led him to have an affair with another man’s wife, then have the man murdered in an attempt to cover up his evil ways. (2 Samuel 11-12)
  • David desires allowed pride to lift him up, and he numbered Israel and Judah (1 Chronicles 21)

David was punished for his sins, though he repented when confronted by the Prophet Nathan. Yet the consequences of his actions caused terrible repercussions in his family. God told David “the sword will never leave your house BECAUSE YOU DESPISED ME AND TOOK THE WIFE OF URIAH THE HETHITE TO BE YOUR WIFE” (2 Samuel 12:10). What was behind David’s egregious sins? We are told:

1 Chronicles 21:1 (NKJV) Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

The Tempter comes to our desires, and strives to twist them to where we will do his bidding. When the Devil came to tempt Eve, the Bible says:

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a DELIGHT {ta’ăvâ} to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

After the fall of mankind, God told Eve (and all women who are married) to direct your DESIRES to your husband.

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The wife should desire to follow the leading of her husband, and the husband should desire to give his life for his wife “just as Christ love the Church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).

The Fool Refuses To Re-Train Desires

Proverbs 13:19 (KJV) The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

God made us with desires, but the wise person directs their desires Godward and not toward the flesh. When King David gave in to the wrong desire, and pursued the wife of another man, David became enslaved by what he started. In time the sinful path he started on made him look like a fool. The Apostle Paul warns us:

Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Sin enslaves those who dabble in it. The Christian is told to turn away from any desire that does not glorify God, for misplaced desire leads to a destroyed sin riddled life. Again we read:

Romans 6:12-18 (ESV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

“FOOLS” or unbelievers cling to sin, for they seek to satisfy their desires regardless as to what God has said.

The Christian is called to not just restrain, but to RE-TRAIN their desires godward. We submit to the Lordship of Christ. As my commentary notes:

“Yielding to the sinful desires of the fallen world results in disordered loves, which draw us away from wholehearted love for God and into idolatries of various kinds. These idolatries corrupt and distort our lives and take a heavy toll on us and our families.”

Again, the lost person or what the Bible calls “the FOOL” is enslaved to sin. They cannot see the truth of God’s Word, but only the god, the desires that rule them. When the Christian seeks to glorify God and His Kingdom, that person “lays up for themselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, AP). Contract this to the Fool, of whom God says:

Proverbs 11:7 (ESV) When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

The desires that the lost chase in this life leads to nothing but anguish in the next life, coupled with eternal separation from God. How horrible to “gain the whole world, but lose your own soul” (Matthew 16:26)!

The Best Way To Control Desire Is To Choose Good Companions In Life

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Choose your companions carefully in life. God certainly expects the Christian to reach out to and share the Gospel with the lost.

We who are saved are called to be friendly with the lost, but NOT FRIENDS of the lost.

Matthew Henry in his commentary states, “Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company. And all that make themselves wicked will be destroyed”. The Bible is very clear that believers are not to bind themselves together with unbelievers. The Apostle told the Church at Corinth – truly one of the most liberal and sin infused Churches of the ancient world:

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”…

Of course, the Corinthian believers didn’t listen to Paul in his first letter to them, so he wrote again:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

The best way to destroy a Church is to lower the standards of righteousness so as to appeal to the unbeliever – then allow that unbeliever to “yoke” or join himself with that Church. Again, God wants us to reach out to all with the Gospel of Christ. But we must be careful lest we begin to compromise with the darkness, letting it rub off on our lives.

Our desire is to be toward our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are told:

a companion of fools shall be destroyed

A good example of this is found in the life of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Lot ignored the desires of God, and following his own heart ended up in Sodom.

Genesis 13:10 (NKJV) Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord

Lot did not desire God’s will for his life, but his own will. Was Lot a saved man? Yes, the Scripture says:

2 Peter 2:7 (ESV) … righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked …

Lot did not like the condition of Sodom, but he continued to hang out with and do business with the lost of Sodom. The Bible tells us that “Lot SAT IN THE GATE OF SODOM” (Genesis 19:1). This was where the business of the ancient world was conducted, “in the gate” (2 Samuel 19:8; 2 Kings 7:1, 18; Amos 5:12, 15). Lot knew that Sodom was horrendous with sexual sin, but he maintained a residence in that city, and routinely traded “in the gate”, because that satisfied his desire for prosperity. He should have known better. Yet Lot compromised his faith, and yoked himself to the godless.

When Sodom was destroyed, so was Lot’s family and Lot’s wealth.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a COMPANION of fools shall be destroyed.

Lot, though saved by faith in God, made himself “a COMPANION of fools”, and as a result he lost everything. Walk with the wise. Walk with the Christian who lives their faith out loud. Other than to share Christ with them, avoid intimate contact with fools, the godless, the self serving and selfish.

God is watching you!

Proverbs 13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Evil, like a wild animal, chases down and eventually destroys those who do not direct their desires Godward. Those who are righteous, however, will be blessed. The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity …

and again,

Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We must control our desires, and point them Godward. If not, we lose our blessings in this life, and perhaps enjoy damnation in the next life. Adam was made the dominate the earth, not to be a slave of his sins. Let us look to Jesus, honoring Him. Let us crucify ourselves daily, making ourselves “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1).

For the glory of God.
For the growth of Christ’s Kingdom.
For the good of God’s people.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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Doctrine Of Imputation

Posted on November 18, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by KT on Unsplash

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The Doctrine Of Imputation

I want to talk to you today about The Doctrine of Imputation. Unless you understand this Biblical truth, you will NEVER understand your salvation. We are able to “STAND in GRACE” (verse 2) before God because of imputation. The pattern for our salvation is Abraham, as we saw in the previous chapter. We are told in:

James 2:23 (KJV) … the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was IMPUTED {Greek logizomai} unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Word Study: Because Abraham believed God – following God where He led – God IMPUTED righteousness to him. The word translated “IMPUTED” is the Greek logizomai, which means “to reckon, to compute, to calculate, to make an account of, to number among”. The Bible tells us that God is holy, holy, holy. Though God is LOVE, the Bible never says that God is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Though God is MERCIFUL, the Bible never says that God is MERCIFUL, MERCIFUL, MERCIFUL. Likewise, God is all powerful. God is all knowing. These are the attributes, the characteristics of God. But God is not THRICE these things. The angels of God that Isaiah saw round about the Throne of God cried out:

Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

And when John the Revelator saw the Throne of God, He saw the four angelic beings crying out:

Revelation 4:8 (KJV) Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

When we sing of God in our worship, we sing:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

So how can we – fallen and broken creatures – find friendship with this God Who is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY? When Adam sinned, his action IMPUTED the sin of Adam to all of his children. The Bible says:

Romans 5:12-14 (NKJV) … just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned … death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned {as Adam did}…

Though we did not sin as Adam did (by eating the forbidden), sin was passed down to us. We sinned against God in other ways. God allowed us to temporarily cover our sins by animal sacrifices, and through those sacrifices showed us what Jesus would one day do for us. Jesus came to this earth to save those who have the imputation of Adam’s sin.

Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary, and while on that Cross God IMPUTED the punishment for our sins on Jesus.

Jesus was not a sinner as we are. He was born of a virgin, born pure and holy and without sin. The Bible says that Jesus was

“holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). When Jesus went to the Cross, the Bible says:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) … {God the Father} made {Jesus Christ} who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God IMPUTED our sins to Jesus as He hung on that Cross. Though Jesus is one part of the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY that the angels sing of, God the Father put His Son on the Cross as if He were a sinner. And on Jesus our sins were poured out and judged.

Jesus had sin imputed to HIS person, so that the Father could impute righteousness to OUR persons. Our text again:

Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) Therefore being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we HAVE {Greek ECHO, έχω) PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ.

Literally, “We keep on having and holding peace with God”. Our peace with God is not temporal, but eternal. Why? Because

GOD IMPUTED OUR SIN TO JESUS, SO HE COULD IMPUTE JESUS’ RIGHTEOUSNESS TO US.

We are told in:

Ephesians 2:14-16 (KJV) For {Jesus} is our peace, who hath MADE BOTH ONE {Jesus took unholy man, and united us with the God Who is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY}, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us {a reference to our sins}; Having ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH THE ENMITY, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY thereby …

We were enemies of God before we came to Christ by faith. Adam’s sin IMPUTED to us set up a barrier between us and God. But because of Jesus, because He gave His sinless life for us, the Father IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS TO US. We are told in:

Colossians 1:19-23 (ESV) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard …

We are made right with God BECAUSE OF CHRIST, because His righteousness is IMPUTED TO OUR SPIRITUAL ACCOUNT. Before Christ we were enemies of God, reveling in and enjoying sinfulness and wickedness. After Christ we are new creatures. We are reconciled to God. But now hear these words. We are reconciled to God:

Colossians 1:23 (ESV) …if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard

Those who are saved by God, by faith in Christ, will CLING to Jesus. Our hope is not in us, in our flesh, in our abilities. Our hope is in God.

We Stand In This Grace, Even When The Bad Stuff Happens!

Romans 5:3 … And not only so, but we GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also…

Word Study: The word translated “GLORY” is the Greek kauchaomai, which means “to REJOICE, to CELEBRATE, to BOAST”. This same word is used in verse 11:

Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also JOY {kauchaomai} in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

We CELEBRATE the fact that God is not our Enemy, but our Friend. We PRAISE GOD that He is our Father, not our Punisher. As Paul writes in another place,

1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV) … He that GLORIETH, {kauchaomai} let him GLORY {kauchaomai} in the Lord.

When we think about what Jesus did for us on the Cross, that our sins were IMPUTED to Him so that His righteousness could be IMPUTED to us, we CELEBRATE. There is much to celebrate in what Jesus did. But the Apostle says that …

we who are saved “GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also”

We don’t GROAN. We don’t GRIT our teeth. We don’t GRUMBLE. We GLORY. We BOAST. We CELEBRATE. Why in the world would ANYBODY CELEBRATE TRIALS? Let me put it this way.

Preach this: God did a TREMENDOUS THING for you when He IMPUTED righteousness to your life. You are saved because the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to you. But God doesn’t stop there. God wants you to BE LIKE JESUS. He wants you to be a SON or a DAUGHTER of Heaven. So God sends trials, just as He sent trials to Abraham. Trials SHAPE and PROVE your faith. Those who can be MOVED from faith by a trial were NEVER SAVED IN THE FIRST PLACE. Jesus made this clear in the Parable of the Sower:

Matthew 13:19-21 (ESV) When any one hears the WORD OF THE KINGDOM {The Gospel} … {if he receive} the SEED on stony places, this is he who HEARS THE WORD and immediately RECEIVES IT WITH JOY, YET HAS NO ROOT IN HIMSELF, but endures ONKLY FOR A WHILE. For WHEN TRIBULATION OR PERSECUTION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD, immediately he stumbles….

Trials prove our faith. When trials come to the fleshly religious person, that person focuses on the trial rather than on the Trier. God sends trials our way to shape us. Read the text again:

Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed

God did the greatest thing He could do for us on the Cross. When tried, we know that the trial has a purpose. TRIBULATIONS work out in our lives and make us MORE PATIENT. We wait upon God when tried.

When Joseph was cast in a pit, and later falsely accused, he patiently endured, trusting God. In time God used the trials to make him second in command of a world empire called Egypt.

When Noah was told to build an Ark, he patiently did so for 120 years, enduring the mocking and ridicule of his neighbors. In time God awarded Noah, saving his family and the entire world through him.

When Daniel was enslaved to Babylon, he patiently served God. When his prayer life got Daniel thrown in a lion’s den, he patiently looked up. In time, his enemies were destroyed, and Daniel became the chief wise man in three kingdoms.

When David was anointed King of Israel, he patiently played a harp for the man he would replace. Though Saul sought his life, David patiently looked to God, and eventually was elevated from the field watching sheep to the Kingdom of Judah.

Trials bring patience. But “patience brings experience”. As you, like the Hebrew Children Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are tried and accused, the Christian learns to look toward God no matter how bad the trial. When told the bow down to the King’s godlike statue, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar:

Daniel 3:17-18 (AP) O Nebuchadnezzar, our God is able to deliver us from your fiery furnace. If He wants to, He will. BUT even if He does not deliver us, WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN to nor serve your false gods, nor worship that golden statue!

Those who are saved do not focus on the trial, nor on the fire or even the heat of the fire. Those who are saved FOCUS ON JESUS. Those who are NOT saved will quickly crumble under the strain of the trial, but the Christ follower will be REFINED by the trial.

You “experience” the presence or absence of God in the trials of life. Presence if you are saved. Absence if you are not.

As you EXPERIENCE the presence of God, dear Christian, we see:

Romans 5:4 … and experience {leads to}, HOPE …

As the Christ follower clings to the Master, we experience the love of God in our hearts.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

When the Christ follower is going through trials, we look to Jesus. As we look the Jesus the Holy Spirit of God comes along side of us, and fills our hearts with the love of God. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “The Comforter”. When you are at your weakest, dear Christian, look to Jesus. Cast every burden on Jesus. And the Comforter will come alongside of you, and sustain you through the trial.

Salvation Is A Sweet Surrender To Jesus

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

When we were lost and totally without hope, Jesus Christ gave Himself for us. God comes to us in our helplessness and saves us. God comes to us in our helplessness after salvation, and shapes us. Because each believer is a purchased possession of God, because Jesus Christ as our Federal Head has stood in our place and paid the penalty that we should have paid, because His righteousness is imputed or credited to our account – then we know that tribulations come to increase the bond between the son and the Father.

Tribulations (pressing together, oppression, distress, affliction) are the hands of the Potter pressing in on this vessel of clay.

Illustrate Do you glory in tribulations? Do you praise God when times of suffering come? Perhaps you do not because you fail to understand that that which God has imputed to you – His righteousness – is also that which He wants to impress upon you. That which has been imputed to you is that which God – through His sanctifying hand – wants to form in you. Salvation does not come by your works, but once you are saved it is God’s desire to work through you.

The silversmith must carefully hold that which he is firing in the flame. His steady hand feels the heat that the silver goes through. His watchful eye watches dross rise to the top as the silver is tried. When the silversmith can see his face in the molten metal he knows that it is purified. When God sees His face in you He knows that the trials of life have done their work. Tribulation worketh patience, patience brings experience, and experience brings hope.

How foolish for the Christ follower to fear the trial! Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 10:28-31 (NKJV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The Christ follower who focuses on the tribulation rather than the God Who saved us is in collusion with Satan. Worry, fretting, anxiety are the devil’s greatest tools. Believers in Christ should expect tribulation as God works in our lives. Our souls are saved from eternal punishment, and Heaven is our home. We know, as did the Apostles, that trials make us more like Jesus. We read:

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

There is a reason for your trials. Your trials, dear Christian, prove your faith. Your trials shape your faith. Your trials make you more like Jesus.

The little Church at Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1-4) was tried, given much trials. Rather than break the church down, the trials built it up. Though the poorest of all the local Churches, Macedonia gave the most to the Lord and the Apostles. Why? They knew that – no matter what might come – God was overseeing their trials and God was in control!

Do you belong to Jesus? If so, trials are not your enemy, but your friend. They prove your faith. I pray that you are Christ’s, and Christ is yours. Amen.

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Being Faithful Ambassadors

Posted on November 15, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Nick Thomas on Unsplash

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Christians Do Not Make Their Own Truths

One of my favorite Presidents was Ronald Reagan. I never thought he was much of an actor (I liked John Wayne or Clint Eastwood), but he made a great president. He knew how to say things gently, humorously, and in a way that even made his enemies laugh. During one speech he said:

“Anytime we question the schemes of the do-gooders, we’re denounced as being against their humanitarian goals. They say we’re always against things, we’re never for anything. Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant, it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.”

You might not have liked Reagan, but I liked how he gently said things, but clung to the truth. Truth is not malleable. Truth is absolute, just like gravity. You can, by human invention, go against gravity as you go against truth. But truth will be truth no matter what you believe. I saw a picture on the internet the other day where a woman – obviously overweight – was standing and looking down at a calculator. The calculator was set to the numbers 130, and the caption on the picture read “create your own truth”. You can believe yourself to be 130 pounds, and pretend that you’re standing on scales if you want. But the reality is you weigh what you weigh. If your chromosomes are XY, you can pretend you’re a woman – but you are a man. If your chromosomes are XX, you can pretend that you are a man – but you’re a woman. Facts are facts and truth is truth.

Every PRUDENT man dealeth with knowledge

The British Nonconformist (Protestants who rejected the state Church of England) Minister Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary:

“The rule by which the wise regulate their conduct, is a fountain yielding life and happiness. The way of sinners is hard upon others, and hard to the sinner himself. The service of sin is slavery; the road to hell is strewed with the thorns and thistles that followed the curse. It is folly to talk of things of which we know nothing, and to undertake what we are no way fit for. Those that are wicked, and false to Christ and to the souls of men, do mischief, and fall into mischief; but those that are faithful, find sound words healing to others and to themselves.”

Word Study: The “PRUDENT” person is the Hebrew ʿārûm (pro. Aw-room’) means “the shrewd, sensible, or crafty”. This word is first used in the Bible for the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, which we are later told is actually a personification of Satan, the fallen arch-angel (Revelation 12:9; 20:2). When Satan came into the Garden of Eden, he studied the facts that were established by God. He then determined how to subvert Adam, to get him to go against the facts and into the folly of sin.

The “PRUDENT” or sensible person looks at and understands the facts, the truth at hand. The “FOOL” on the other hand ignores the facts, and bases his or her actions on feelings or folly. One Commentary notes:

“In life, wisdom is an asset that shapes how we navigate decisions and interactions. The nature of our actions often reflects our understanding and discernment. A knowledgeable individual will act based on informed reasoning rather than impulsive feelings, showcasing wisdom in their responses. Conversely, those lacking such insight may display foolish behavior, undermining their potential to achieve meaningful outcomes.”

It is sad when children must be separated from their law breaking parents. It hurts our hearts to see it. But to violate the Law of the land is a criminal act – and one that is forbidden by the Scripture. The Bible says:

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV) Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Illustrate: In 2019 a Border Agent was being questioned by a member of a House Oversight Committee on child separation from those who illegally enter the United States. When pressed on the policy of “family separation”, Agent Tom Homan said, “In any criminal arrest, if the criminal has a child they are separated from the parent. If I get arrested for DUI and I have a young child in the car, I will be separated (from my child). If I am arrested for domestic violence, I will be separated from my child.” Entering the United States illegally – without going through a port of entry – is a violation of statute 1911.8 U.S.C. 1325. As citizens we do not violate the Law of our land. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, Christians obey the Law.

The Word of God establishes the groundwork of knowledge that the prudent or sensible person follows.

But a FOOL layeth open his folly.

The “FOOL” is the person who rejects authority, rejects God ordained leadership beginning with God. God says:

Psalm 14:1 (KJV) The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Those who reject authority reject the absolute state of TRUTH. These people are ANARCHISTS. They want their way, their truth, regardless as to what actually is real. As we read in the previous chapter:

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

The “FOOL” or the confused lost person who rejects any higher authority but themselves will not heed reason. They are always right “in their own eyes”. It is best to not argue with the “FOOL”, but to pray for them, BUT get as far away from them as is possible. Foolishness destroys nations, communities, and churches. Moses led the Israelites as God directed him to do. When Korah rose up to subvert the leadership of Moses (Numbers 16:1-3), Moses asked God to vindicate him. Let’s read what happened as you turn with me to …

Numbers 16:20-35 (NKJV) And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” 22 Then they {Moses and Aaron} fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” {Moses and Aaron interceded for the Congregation, the Church} 23 So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ ” 25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. 29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.” 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” 35 And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

God’s Kingdom is built on God’s truth, not on our feelings. The “PRUDENT” or sensible person heeds God’s Word, and follows Godly leadership as long as that leadership is following God. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) FOLLOW my example, as I FOLLOW the example of Christ.

Stay True To What God Has Said

Proverbs 13:17 A WICKED MESSENGER falleth into mischief: but a FAITHFUL AMBASSADOR is health.

We live in a day where “Tolerance” is the most important thing, in a day where God’s truths are being sold for popularity. This verse contrasts the “WICKED MESSENGER” with the “FAITHFUL AMBASSADOR”. An “AMBASSADOR” is a foreigner living in a country not his own, but that foreigner represents his country. Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 5:30 (ESV) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Ambassadors are not self-appointed, but are appointed by a sovereign King or President. Jesus appointed us who are Christians as Ambassadors when He gave us the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) {You are to be} … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you

Ambassadors do not create their own policies, but are given instruction in written form. The Ambassador adheres to the directives sent from the sovereign nation. We adhere to the Bible and its teachings, whether the world agrees or not.

Ambassadors are often at odds with the country they are deployed to. The Bible says that every Christian is temporarily in this world, but …

Philippians 3:20 (NIV) … our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

The “WICKED MESSENGER” lives for his or her self, putting their flesh above the needs and directives of their sending Kingdom. The “FAITHFUL AMBASSADOR” lives not for themselves, but for their nation and their Leader. The Christian is called to:

Colossians 1:10 (ESV) so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Jesus warned us that living for Him would be costly (Luke 14:26-33). The Apostle writes:

Ephesians 6:19-20 {Pray for me} that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ambassadors do not treat insults to themselves personally, but remember that they represent a greater nation. The world we live in is powered by darkness. We as Christ’s Ambassadors represent the LIGHT OF GOD, which stands in opposition to the darkness. Our Lord Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV) Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The great Puritan Preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote in his book “Charity and Its Fruits”:

“Men that have their spirits heated and enraged and rising in bitter resentment when they are injured act as if they thought some strange thing had happened to them. Whereas they are very foolish in so thinking for it is no strange thing at all but only what was to be expected in a world like this. They therefore do not act wisely that allow their spirits to be ruffled by the injuries they suffer.”

When God created this world He created LIGHT, not darkness. God said “Let there be Light”, and there was light. Though God recognized the darkness as “night”, He did not create the darkness.

Christ’s children are to imitate Him, to be LIGHT. Our job is to represent the Kingdom of God on earth, and to imitate Christ in so doing. One article I read noted:

“Our Lord was slandered and falsely accused of all kinds of offenses, but He opened not His mouth in protest (Isaiah 53:7). Like a lamb, He accepted these vitriolic attacks, and, in the very moment of His passion, He prayed for the forgiveness of those who were attacking Him (Luke 23:34). This is how we are called to react to our enemies (1 Peter 4:13). Therefore, every false accusation, every slander, every ill word spoken about me is an opportunity for me to grow in my sanctification.”

When the Ambassador is recalled to his country, this is tantamount to a declaration of war. There will come a day when Christ will call His Church to Himself from this earth. At that time, the Great Tribulation will begin, a terrible time on the face of the earth. Until that time comes, the Ambassador is to speak the Gospel and uphold the Word of God in the way we live our lives. The Wicked Messenger will twist the Gospel and/ or the Word of God, seeking to remove the elements of the Kingdom Message that are repugnant to this world. The Apostle told the Church at Galatia:

Galatians 1:6-9 (NKJV) … I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

It is a Wicked Messenger that will preach Grace without Repentance, Salvation without Sanctification, Heaven without New Birth, Resurrection without the Cross, or Christianity without Christ.

We are called to be Faithful Ambassadors, just as Jesus is the “Faithful and True Witness” (Revelation 1:5; 3:14). Christ left us on this earth to represent Him and His Kingdom. We cannot earn nor deserve our salvation, but we can honor Jesus by faithfully sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom to whosoever will.

Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

You cannot be a Faithful Ambassador if you will not LISTEN TO THE DIRECTIVES OF THE KINGDOM. The Faithful Ambassador reveres the Word of God, and fears the King of Kings. The Prophet wrote:

Isaiah 33:5-6 (NKJV) The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure.

The Wicked Messenger cares only for themselves, not for the Kingdom. They bring “MISCHIEF” and trouble on the land. God told Israel:

Jeremiah 6:12-15 (NKJV) I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord. 13 “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. 14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.

The Faithful Ambassador brings HEALTH, blessing to the world around him, whereas the WICKED MESSENGER brings mischief and trouble. Let us strive to live for Christ’s Kingdom – and for the future of America. There are only two choices, light or darkness. Let us live for the LIGHT, being Faithful Ambassadors. Amen and Amen.

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At Peace Or In Crisis?

Posted on November 12, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

Romans 5:1-3 THEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also …

Do You Have PEACE, Or Are You In CRISIS?

Our text begins with “THEREFORE”. When you read your Bible and encounter the word “THEREFORE”, you should ask yourself,

“What is it THERE FOR?”

This “THEREFORE” is pointing backwards to what we learned about Abraham last week. Abraham is called “our father”, because his life is the pattern of saving faith. The Bible says,

Romans 4:3 (AP) … Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and HIS BELIEF was counted or IMPUTED unto him for righteousness …

God came to a broken man, and called him to follow Him, to be a follower of Christ. Abraham followed. He believed in Jesus, and followed Jesus – even when he did not understand where he was going or what he was going through. Abraham was saved by believing in Jesus (John 8:58). Abraham was saved apart from ritual, apart from Church, apart from Law, apart from good works, apart from any human agency whatsoever. Abraham cast his broken life on Jesus, and followed the Great Shepherd where ever He led.

Period.

God imputed or accounted righteousness to Abraham. God covered Abraham’s sins with His hands, which would one day be nailed to a cross on Calvary.

When Jesus Christ – God’s Only Begotten Son – ministered on this earth He did two things throughout that ministry. Jesus preached the “Gospel of the Kingdom and healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

The only people who ever met Jesus and went away unchanged were those who rejected His help. Unlike Abraham, they would not follow Jesus in faith.

The Pharisees – in love with themselves and in love with self righteousness – were the greatest persecutors of the Lord. They found fault with Jesus because He spent time reaching out to “publicans and sinners”. Jesus told these self deceived people:

Matthew 9:12-13 (KJV) … They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. {13} …. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus is not looking for numbers. He doesn’t care if you “Like” Him on Facebook or Instagram. Jesus is looking for BROKEN SOULS that will follow Him.

Illustrate: No one goes to a doctor when they are well, but when they’re sick. When someone goes to a doctor they do what the doctor says if they want to get well. We go to the doctor’s office and take off our clothes. We then sit on a little metal cold table in a little cold room in this state of undress until the doctor comes in. He says “stick out your tongue” and we comply. He says “cough” and we do it. We want to get better, so we do what the doctor says. The Pharisees, the self righteous Scribes, and the rulers of Jesus’ day didn’t know that they were sick, so they rejected the doctor. They refused to hear Jesus. They loved themselves and thought they were right with God, but for all their good works they were at war with the Almighty. A disease called sin ate not only on their bodies, but also ate on their souls.

Those who refused to give themselves to Jesus, to follow Him, were sincere in what they were doing. They thought they were doing right, but they weren’t. They were in CRISIS.

What they did, they did apart from God. They thought they belonged to God, but were deceived, because they would not follow Jesus. God told us previously:

Romans 3:24-25 (NKJV) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood …

The only Person God has ever “set forth” as a means to Himself is “Christ Jesus”. Those who claim to be “Christian” but are NOT Christ FOLLOWERS are not God’s Children.

The Scribes & Pharisees & Priests refused to follow Jesus. They refused to believe His testimony, and refused to surrender to His leading. Jesus told them:

John 5:39-40 (KJV) Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. {40} And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Jesus was clear in what He said. “Look in the Scriptures – and I am there. The Scriptures testify of Me. The Bible told you that I was coming, and now that I am here you will not hear Me.” Dear friends, the Bible says that there are many who, like those Pharisees, they will not come to Jesus. The Scripture says:

John 3:18-19 (KJV) He that believeth on {Jesus} is not CONDEMNED: but he that believeth not is CONDEMNED already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. {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.

Word Study:The word rendered “CONDEMNED” in verse 18 is the Greek word “krinō” which means “to be under the judgment of God as a criminal”. If you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you are not under the adverse judgment of God, for God applies the work of Christ to your soul. Your status changes from criminal of Heaven to citizen of God’s Kingdom because of Jesus. BUT …The word “CONDEMNATION” in verse 19 is a different Greek word, one you are familiar with. It is the word “KRISIS”. This word is pronounced like CRISIS but beginning with a “K”.

Without Jesus, You Are In CRISIS!

The big CRISIS everyone is upset about today is the election results. I have never seen so many people crying, throwing tantrums, screaming, making threats, promising revolution – any manner of weird and childlike – yes, like a 6 year old child – threats. Why is this? Because their faith is not in Jesus Christ, but in a god of this world. Misplaced faith brings a crisis. And before anyone in this room begins to feel superior,

If YOUR candidate had lost, and the OTHER candidate had won, if the tables were switched, would YOU being throwing tantrums too?

I said this before the election, and I’ll say it again. Regardless as to who won the Presidency, the Senate, and the House, Jesus Christ will still be on the Throne! It is Jesus Christ Who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15). It is God Who is ultimately in control. It is in Christ we who are His put our faith, not in the gods of this world. The great “CRISIS” in America today is not inflation, high interest rates, the borders of our country, the increasing gas prices, nor global warming. The great “CRISIS” according to God is that “Light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light”. The great “CRISIS” is that many would rather hold on to their sins than bow their knee to the Lord Jesus.

You can only have peace with God THROUGH our LORD Jesus Christ. The CRISIS is that people today want to be cured, but don’t want to take the Cure. If you want to be cured from sin and to find peace with God you can only do this through our Lord Jesus Christ. You must come to Him, surrendering yourselves to Him. Those who put aside their pride and came to Jesus were changed when they walked on this earth, and they will be changed now. Lay down your lives at His feet, and He will give you true life.

We Need To Be Aligned Spiritually With God

Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

You cannot have peace with God before you are justified. To be “justified” is to be brought into spiritual alignment with God.

Before a person surrenders their lives to Jesus Christ they follow one of two Biblical patterns. We either act like Pharisees, that self righteous crowd who felt that they were good enough in their own power to please God, or else we act like Sadducees, the liberal crowd that only accepted the portions of the Scripture that they liked. Nothing has changed from the beginning of the world unto today. We may have …

cars instead of carts
motorboats instead of paddle boats
electricity instead of kerosene and candles
calculators instead of fingers and toes
television & internet instead of common sense

… but humanity has not changed one little bit. As God tells us in

Ecclesiastes 1:9, “there is no new thing under the sun”. Unchanged man never changes. We may develop greater technology, but at heart we are born into this world self righteous Pharisees and Herodians, or liberally humanistic Sadducees and Scribes. We easily see other people’s shortcomings but never see our own.

Illustrate: We’re like the woman who said: “I don’t know what this world is coming to. Someone broke into my house and stole all my Holiday Inn towels!”

Apart from Christ we are at war with God. He is truly righteous, but we are naturally not. He is holy, we are filled with holes. He is always good and giving, but we are always grasping.

The Devil’s great trick is not to make us more evil, but to make us worship the wrong gods.

We cannot justify ourselves, but the devil convinces us we can do so. The Devil promised Jesus riches and fame, power and world domination. Jesus told that fallen critter:

Matthew 4:10 (AP) …. Get away from Me, Satan! The Bible says, “You shall WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, and YOU SHALL ONLY SERVE HIM”.

The devil offers us substitutes for Jesus. He says “You are good enough. Follow another god, not the God of the Scripture”. But The Bible tells us:

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

When we believe on Jesus, following Him as Abraham followed Him, God considers us spiritually aligned with Himself. He imputes or credits righteousness to us for Christ’s sake. We cannot justify ourselves. The Scripture says:

Romans 8:33 (NKJV) … It is God who justifies.

God must justify or declare a person righteous. God alone is always right, always righteous. We are not always right, no matter what you might think. The Bible says that all of us are naturally sinners, naturally wrong, and naturally apart from God. God must supersede our natural wrongness.

We can’t make ourselves right by doing good religion (like the Pharisees) or by doing good acts of humanism (like the Sadducees). These are false gods. We must surrender to and follow Jesus.

All have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God must intervene – and He has through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Scripture says that God did not arbitrarily justify people, but that Jesus “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Jesus paid the penalty that we couldn’t pay to give us a righteousness that we couldn’t earn. God is eternal. Every sin committed against God brings an eternal punishment. Yet we are but mortals. How can we pay for our sins? We cannot. We must believe what the Bible says. We must surrender our lives – our very intellect – to the truth that Jesus was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.

Grace is free, but it’s not cheap. Grace cost God the Father the life of His Only Begotten Son.

Grace caused Jesus Christ our Lord to hang, naked and bleeding, before a jeering crowd as He cried out under the weight of our sin. Grace costs the believer everything as he lays his life down at the foot of the Cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification. Jesus alone made full payment for the sins of “whosoever will”.

So many “Christians” miss the glory of the Christian life because they refuse to surrender their lives to the Lord.

They think that they can work their way to God, or be good enough to get to God. They miss the miracle of new birth because they – like all Pharisees – hold on to the Law with one hand while trying to please God with the other. We cannot please God until we submit to His resources. We must deny the flesh and submit to the Spirit. We must give our lives to Jesus Christ, so He can give life to us.

Romans 8:5-8 (KJV) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. {7} Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. {8} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Those who follow the gods of this world – the flesh – “CANNOT PLEASE GOD”. The power of our salvation is in Jesus Christ, not in our own strength. We follow Jesus, just as Abraham followed Jesus. We are flawed in our following, but we follow knowing that in Him and Him alone is life. By Jesus …

Romans 5:2 … we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We “STAND” in Grace. We “REJOICE in hope of the glory of God”. We know that God is faithful, and will do as He has said He will do.

Those who worship the gods of the flesh, whether it be politics, money, fame, whatever, those gods shall fall. But our God shall never fall. As Christ followers we do not despair.

Christians do not live in CRISIS. We live looking toward the CROSS. We follow the CHRIST no matter what comes our way.

Whatever “Faith” You Have Will Be Tested

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also …

What is the difference between the Christ Follower who, like Abraham, keeps their eyes on Jesus, and the “Christian” who has put their faith in the flesh?

When someone turns off the lights, the Christ Follower gives GLORY TO GOD. The “Christian” has tantrums, pity parties, and relying on the flesh literally goes all to pieces. They have no peace with God. The Bible says:

“WE (Christ Followers) GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS”

Word Study: The word translated “TRIBULATIONS” is the Greek thlipsis, which means “afflictions, troubles, anguish, persecution, something that presses down on our spirits and our bodies”. Jesus warned His followers that “they shall deliver you up to be AFFLICTED” (thlipsis). Those who follow Christ can expect the pains and failures of this world, but also the attacks of the darkness. Those who profess to be “Christian” but who are yet in the flesh “have no root in themselves. They endure for a while, but when affliction (thlipsis) comes they are offended – and leave the faith” (Mark 4:17; Matthew 13:21). The heretic Charles Darwin, the inventor of that idiocy we call human evolution, was once a minister of the Gospel. There are other people, pastors and ministers, who look “Christian” but are not Christ followers.

How you respond to trials and tribulations proves whether you are a born again Christ follower, or a follower of the flesh.

When I was younger I read a book written by Corrie Ten Boom called “The Hiding Place”. As Christ followers, Corrie and her family hid persecuted Jews from the Nazis during that terrible time called the Holocaust. When Corrie and her family were discovered they were all imprisoned. Her father and her sister Betsy died in prison. Corrie was supposed to be executed by the Gestapo, but due to a “clerical error” was released. Corrie remarked,

“God does not have problems. Only plans.”

Before she left this life in 1983 to be with Jesus, Corrie wrote:

“Often I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ said Betsie, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word:

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.”

“There is an ocean of God’s love available—there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love – whatever the circumstances.”

God did the greatest thing He could do for you at the Cross and the empty Tomb. Would God save you, dear believer, then abandon you to the darkness? Absolutely not! We have peace with God. We who follow Jesus are God’s Children. No good Father will abandon His children. We are “His Workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10). God is at work in our lives through tribulations and tests, making us more like Jesus. Our faith is not in our flesh, but in Him, the Spirit of God. Our hope is not in fallen man, but in Perfect Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do you know Him? Are you following the flesh, or the Holy Spirit? Oh Beloved, whether you follow the god of the world, or the God of the Bible, you will be tried. Whether you prosper, whether you grow, or crash and burn – depends on where your faith is.

My faith is in Jesus Christ, and in the promises of this glorious Bible. How about you? May God pierce your heart with His glorious Gospel. Amen.

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Cherish God’s Word

Posted on November 7, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Proverbs 13:10 Only by PRIDE {zāḏôn} cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

The source of man’s fall from Paradise, the source of every war or division in the history of mankind is “PRIDE”.

Word Study: The word used for “PRIDE” here is the Hebrew {zāḏôn}, which means “pride, insolence, presumptuousness, arrogance”. Pride always looks for something shinier and prettier than the glory of God, and seeks to secure it for oneself. My commentary notes:

“The word translated “insolence” comes from a Hebrew verb literally meaning “to boil.” This suggests a kind of inward, bubbling pride that refuses to learn anything from anybody … An insolent person is a contentious, know-it-all, egotistical individual with a superior attitude. He is quick to quarrel and unwilling to agree with anyone with a different view. Such persons create a great deal of drama but accomplish little else.

The Apostle advises us:

Titus 3:9-11 (NKJV) But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

When someone in their arrogance has their heart and mind hardened to any discussion, to any other thought than what pumps up their self, the Apostle said to REJECT THAT DIVISIVE PERSON. Love them, but do not spend time in argument with them. They will deflect and find fault, and in short do anything and say anything in order to cause you to lose your composure.Get away from that person before they draw you into their web.This is akin the what the Scripture says:

Proverbs 26:4 (NKJV) Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Word Study: The person who is “WELL ADVISED” {yāʿaṣ} is the person open to receiving counsel from various others, then reaching your own conclusion. In our day Satan has taken over the airwaves, leading reporters and social media activists to spout either far right or far left propaganda. In chapter six of Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf he explained how he used propaganda to manipulate the German people. He wrote:

“The function of propaganda is, for example, not to weigh and ponder the rights of different people, but exclusively to emphasize the one right which it has set out to argue for. Its task is not to make an objective study of the truth, in so far as it favors the enemy, and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.”

Our greatest Advisor if God. The well advised or well counseled person will examine all worldly “truths” through the lens of God’s Holy Word. God has given us His Holy Spirit to not only SAVE us, but to SANCTIFY us with the truths of God. Jesus said:

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word, dear Father, is Truth.

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

We have the counsel of God’s Word and the guidance of God’s Spirit – a PERSON and not a FORCE. We also have the counsel of God through other persons called Pastors and teachers that we can heed. The Bible says:

Romans 12:16 (ESV) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

The arrogant will never learn – but the humble will. May God lead us all to humility.

Cheap Riches Quickly Lost

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten BY VANITY shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.

This proverb compares the wealth that a person gathers “BY VANITY”. The Pulpit Commentary notes:

“literally, wealth by a breath; i.e. wealth obtained without labor and exertion, or by illegitimate and dishonest means, is soon dissipated, is not blessed by God, and has no stability. {the Latin}Vulgate {translates this as}, ‘riches acquired hastily’; {whereas the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, the}Septuagint {translates this as}, ‘substance gotten hastily with iniquity’.”

Money represents an expenditure of your life, invested in work. God commissioned work in the Garden of Eden. Though creation was perfect, God created Adam to work. We are told in:

Genesis 2:15 (KJV) the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Even in a perfect environment God required WORK. When Adam and Eve were not doing that which God ordered, it wasn’t long before Satan came in and offered prideful sin. Proper Work always honors God. Jesus said:

John 5:17 (ESV) My Father is working until now, and I am working.

Believers are to honor God in their work, whether secular or religious.

God does not honor welfare for those who are able bodied but lazy. When we honor ourselves but ignore God, the Lord will not bless it. He spoke through the Prophet Haggai:

Haggai 1:6-10 (NKJV) “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.

Wealth gained through God honoring labor increases, and establishes a lasting legacy. “he that gathereth by labor shall increase”. A person unashamed to work and glorify God in that work shall increase their soul, and appreciate the things that they have. The magazine Business Insider did an article on purchasing Lottery Tickets.

William (Bud) Post won Pennsylvania Lottery 16.2 million
but was 1 million in debt within a year.

Evelyn Adams won $5.4 million, but gambled it all
away in Atlantic City.

Pentecostal Preacher Billy Bob Harrel, Jr. won the Texas Lottery $31 million dollars. He died penniless, saying “Winning the lottery is the worst thing that ever happened to me”.

Janite Lee won $18 million lottery jackpot in 1993, but filed for bankruptcy in 2001 – about 7 years later.

This is just a few of the over 20 cases that Business Insider spoke of. This secular publication concluded with, “While it may be tempting, buying a lottery ticket is almost certainly not worth it. History has countless examples of winners whose lives took a turn for the worse after hitting the jackpot.”

That which we earn with honest work, and that which we do which glorifies God, will certainly last. When Satan offered Jesus the whole world if He would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:5), Jesus quickly replied:

“It is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:8)

We All Need Blessed Hope

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

A life without hope is a miserable life. I see so many today walking around with dead eyes. They are ciphers, just existing, because they have wandered from the Source of Hope. The Source of all hope is God.

One of the main teachings in Scripture concerning Christianity is “HOPE”. The hope of the Christian is not in the flesh, nor in our abilities. Our hope is in the Lord. The Bible says:

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Our God is actually called “The God of Hope” (Romans 15:13). Hope for the believer in Christ is not wishful thinking, but a calm assurance that God is in control, and that our loving God will work all things out for our good. When the Apostle wrote about love, and described how great and persistent love is, he wrote:

1 Corinthians 13:13 and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

An article in “Our Daily Bread” the devotional notes:

“Hope that is reduced to the level of wishes and dreams can be like soap bubbles that look beautiful to the eye but disappear at the slightest touch. … One of the Bible’s most comprehensive statements on hope is Paul’s crowning comment on the subject in Romans 15: ‘Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (v. 13). This marvelous prayer reveals … God is the God of hope. Our joyful expectation isn’t without foundation. Hope’s foundation is not a theory or a philosophy; it is a Person. Paul wants us to embrace hope as a reality rooted in God Himself, not as something we have to work up in our own strength.”

God is the foundation of our hope. Not our abilities, but God’s empowerment. The lost put their hope in insecure and unable things and people. I have heard this quoted:

“For those who don’t know Jesus, ‘hope’ is a verb. For the Christian, ‘hope’ is a Noun. Hope IS God. We possess hope because the God Who possesses us is the God of Hope.”

How Do We Respond To God’s Word?

Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Those who turn away from the teachings of God’s Word are on a pathway that will ultimately lead to destruction and death. When the Prophet Jonah heard the Word of God directing him to go to Nineveh and preach the Gospel,

Jonah 1:2 (KJV) Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah despised God’s Word. We are told:

Jonah 1:3 (KJV) But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD …

God sent a GREAT WIND, a Hurricane to attack the ship, and a GREAT FISH to swallow Jonah and bring him to Nineveh. What is our takeaway on this? If you will not heed God and His Word, you can expect misery, darkness, and eventually you will be swallowed by the darkness until you REPENT or DIE.

The blessing or the cursing of every person – saved or unsaved – depends on their positive response to or rejection of the Word of God. Those who respect God’s Word and do that which He says “SHALL BE REWARDED”. But those who “DESPISE” God’s Word {Hebrew bûz, pro. Booz}, “those who hold it in contempt or as insignificant, unworthy of consideration”, their reward shall be destruction. God considered the rejection of His Word so severe that He told His Israel:

Numbers 15:30-31 (NKJV) ‘But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’

The Israelite that despised God’s Word were “cut off from among his people”. They were not killed, but exiled for rejecting the clearly presented Word of God. This did not apply to accidental or unintentional sin, but to deliberate rejection of what God said. Israel did not follow this rule. As a result, wickedness grew in Israel.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 36 our Lord gives us the account of various kings who – though they sat on the Throne of David – did not honor God.

The King of Egypt put Jehoiakim on David’s Throne (2 Chronicles 36:4-5). Jehoiakim “did evil in the sight of God” and God caused him to be overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Then Jehoiachin sat on David’s Throne (vs 9), but “did evil in the sight of God”. Once more God used Nebuchadnezzar to dethrone the king. Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon put Zedekiah on David’s Throne (vs 10-12), but once more “Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord” (vs 12).

God tells us:

2 Chronicles 36:15-17 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. 17 Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.

God is serious about His Word, and we need to be just as serious. To reject His Word, to belittle what He has said, to refuse to obey Jesus Whom God has sent, is a terrible error in judgment. We are told by the LORD:

Isaiah 66:1-2 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My Word.

What impresses God, the Creator and Savior of all, is that we HUMBLE ourselves and HONOR His Word!

Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The reason I believe that many who profess Christ as Lord and Savior and yet are frightened to death of death is because they have not fed their faith the Word of God. A person may be saved by simple faith in Christ, but sanctification and the calm assurance of STRONG FAITH only comes by reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. The phrase “a fountain of life” reminds me of what our Lord Jesus said in:

John 4:14 (NKJV) … whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

The Christian who holds God’s Word in low regard never grows into the “FOUNTAIN OF LIFE”. To this sad creature faith in Christ is a ticket to a paradise one day. It is like the traveler who buys a ticket to Hawaii or the Caribbean, then puts it into a drawer, pulling it out occasionally to look at it and dream. If you are doing this, you are robbing yourself of the quiet joy of God’s Kingdom RIGHT NOW IN YOUR HEART. That is what the Apostle called “receiving the Grace of God in vain”:

2 Corinthians 6:1 (AP) We then, as WORKERS TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, plead with you to NOT RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN …

The Christians at Corinth received God’s Grace, but fed their flesh rather than feeding their spirits. Compare them to the Church at Thessalonica, who:

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (AP) … RECEIVED THE WORD {of God} in MUCH AFFLICTION, with the joy of the Holy Spirit ..

and again, Paul told Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (AP) … when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers

The lazy believer, the believer who will not heed God’s Word will not grow in their faith. They will not find the favor of God, but darkness and tribulation. Whether you claim to be a Christian or not,

Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Jesus said:

John 7:37-38 (Amplified) “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in me, who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me, as the Scripture has said (some believe Jesus is referring to Isaiah 58: 11), from his innermost being shall flow continuously springs and rivers of living water”. But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed, trusted, had faith in Him were afterward to receive”

Pastor Sam Storms writes:

Perhaps receiving the grace of God in vain pertains not so much to salvation per se, or its forfeiture, but to the loss of potential blessings related to spiritual growth, knowledge, and joy that they would suffer by rejecting Paul as their apostle. In other words, the people are truly saved. They have genuinely received the gospel and believed it, but they have failed to progress in their Christian growth and stand in danger of losing those spiritual blessings and rewards they otherwise might have obtained. Philip Hughes embraces a similar view and suggests that “for them to receive the grace of God in vain meant that their practice did not measure up to their profession as Christians, that their lives were so inconsistent as to constitute a denial of the logical implications of the gospel, namely, and in particular, that Christ died for them so that they might no longer live to themselves but to His glory”.

Salvation is given by Grace. But once saved, we HEED AND OBEY the Word of God. We do not minimize it or consider it inconsequential, but cherish God’s Word. We seek to understand it through prayerful meditation and careful observance.

May God bless you as you grow into Christ’s image. Amen.

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Living By The Flesh Or The Spirit?

Posted on November 5, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Romans 4:1-3 (KJV) What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

A Quick Review To This Point

As God talks to us about genuine salvation, we have learned in Romans so far that:

Chapter 1: God is LOVE, but God is also WRATH. God offers us His love through the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”. But if we reject His love, and instead focus on satisfying ourselves through the flesh or “vile passions”, God will let us burn ourselves out. If God calls us, but we reject His Gospel, He will leave us to our own destructive ways.

Chapter 2: We are all sinners. God gave us an external diagnostic tool called “The Law” to show us how broken we are. The Mosaic Law declares that we need to repent, and come surrendered to God in faith. We need God to write HIS LAW in our hearts so that we might want to serve Him and not our flesh. In the end, God will judge the fruit of our lives. If that fruit was God honoring, we will be rewarded. If that fruit is flesh honoring, we will be damned (Revelation 20:11-14).

Chapter 3: God determined to send His Messiah and His Gospel to this world through a chosen nation called “Israel”. Though God used and will use Israel (for Israel shall be saved, Romans 11:26), a Jew is not automatically saved because they are ethnically from Israel. The Bible establishes that “there is NONE righteous, NO NOT ONE. ALL are UNDER SIN” (Romans 3:10-18). God has a purpose for Israel, and this purpose will not be fulfilled until the Messiah sits on the Throne of David in Jerusalem during the Millennial Reign. The Jew, just like the Gentile, is saved by “the Law of Faith” (Romans 3:27-28). Once a person is saved by faith in Christ, God writes His Law in that person’s heart. As we are told in the last verse of this Chapter:

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void {katargeō, render useless or abolish} the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish {histēmi, abide or uphold} the law.

When a person comes to God by faith, heeding His call, He causes that person to be “born again of the Spirit” (John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23). As God prophesied of the New Covenant in the Old Testament, “I will make a NEW COVENANT … writing My Law on their heart” (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8). Salvation is a supernatural event that is enjoyed when we surrender by faith to God.

So now we come to Chapter 4. And as we enter Chapter 4, God wants to give us an example of what He’s discussed in the first three Chapters.

The Example Of Saving Faith Is Abraham

Romans 4:1 (KJV) What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

There are a lot of great characters in the Bible: Enoch who walked with God until God took him to Heaven (Genesis 5:22-24), or Noah who built the Ark and saved humanity when he was 500 years old (Genesis 5:32; 6:8-9). There are many others who were great believers. But God chooses to explain salvation by introducing us to Abraham. Why Abraham? Because Abraham is distinct in that he shares a title with Adam:

Adam is our FLESHLY father, the head of the human race. But Abraham is our SPIRITUAL father, the prototype of faith.

In verse 1 he is called “Abraham OUR FATHER”. How did Abraham get this distinction? Abraham was a broken man from a broken background. Broken people are in a perfect place to need Jesus!

Abraham’s daddy was named Terah, the son of Nahor (Genesis 11:24). The name Terah means “to breathe”, and that pretty much summed up Terah’s life. He just lived, and he died. Terah had no more influence on the world than a hand dipped in the Atlantic would change to ocean. Terah and his wife are like so many people today. They’re born, they grow up, they meet, they mate, they have children, they work, and they die. Terah and his wife have three children: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Abram was his firstborn, and Terah hoped that Abram would bring blessing to his life. The name Abram means “High Father”. Terah had high hopes for Abram, but Abram married a barren woman named Sarai (meaning Princess).

The “High Father” was laughable. He had no children, and wasn’t likely to have any children. Terah did not know God. The Lord tells us in:

Joshua 24:2 … Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.

Terah is like so many today. Their lives are empty. Rather than turn to the God of the Universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, they “serve other gods”. People today serve the flesh, rejecting the Spirit of God. They try to fix themselves with doctors, designers, and devilish idols. Terah and his family lived in Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:28) until his youngest son Haran died, then Terah moved to Canaan. Terah had experienced so much heart ache and disappointment that perhaps a move would do him good.

Yet Terah’s heart was focused on the flesh, on false gods.

Illustrate: You’ve all seen elevators. I used one just the other day at the hospital when I went to visit a Church member. We get on the elevator, punch a button, and then get off on the floor we want. I was on the elevator one day with another lady, and we were both heading toward the fifth floor. As is often the case, the elevator stopped on another floor, and the doors opened. No one was there. Perhaps they pushed the button, and got tired of waiting. Anyway, this lady that was with me stepped off the elevator and I called out “Ma’am, this is the fourth floor – you said you wanted the fifth.” Red faced, she got back on the elevator. We’ve all done that.

Terah had a broken life, and sought to fix his life through his children. When his children didn’t bless him, he changed his location. He was pushing different buttons on the elevator of life – using everything humanly possible to make things better. But you’re not going to find blessing and peace until you get off on the right floor.

You need Jesus.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

What did Abraham discover about human ability and human blessing? What did he discover “as pertaining to the flesh”? God the Son – Jesus Christ our Lord – came to Abraham in Genesis 12. How do I know that this was Jesus Who spoke to Abraham? Because Jesus told the Pharisees in:

John 8:56 (NKJV) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.

Jesus came to Abraham as “The Great I AM” (John 8:58). He spoke to Abraham, just as He speaks to hearts today. Jesus told Abraham:

Genesis 12:1 (NKJV) Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

Abraham is the Father of faith – and here is the saving pattern of faith. Jesus told Abraham “Leave the false gods. Leave every tie that holds you down. Leave every empowerment of the flesh, and go WHERE I SHOW YOU TO GO”. There is a technical term for this. It is called:

“REPENT and BELIEVE”

That was the Gospel Jesus came proclaiming. Jesus said,

Mark 1:15 (KJV) The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Abraham, life has dealt you nothing but misery. Do you want blessing? Acknowledge what Terah would not acknowledge. You can’t fix yourself. Leave the false gods and goddesses. Leave the false spirituality. Leave the self help nonsense that does no good. Follow Jesus. Go where He says, and do what He says. Why? Because that’s where the blessing is. Jesus told Abraham:

Genesis 12:2 (NKJV) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

When you surrender the direction of your life to God, He blesses you in your brokenness. Jesus told Abraham “I will make you a great nation”. You had no children before, but if you follow Me, I will create a NATION out of you. Further Jesus said, “I will bless you And make your name great”. Born “Abram” or “High Father”, Abram was unknown, as useless as Terah was. But following Jesus Abram will become Abraham, the Father of All believing. But Jesus didn’t stop here. He told Abraham:

Genesis 12:3 (NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

God told Abraham “I will protect you if you follow Me. And through you, ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED”. What did Abraham do?

He followed Jesus!

Abraham believed the call of God, responded to that call, and was saved. Abraham had highs and lows in his life, but whether up or down he kept looking UP. He kept his eyes on the Lord Who loved Him and Who gave Himself for Him. The Bible calls Abraham the father of faith and the father of us all:

Romans 4:16-20 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God

God chose Abraham to be the father of faith, for Abraham was both sexually dead as well as spiritually dead. God said “believe Me, and I will give you life”. Abraham believed the promise of God and, stepping forth in faith, the righteousness of God was credited to his life. God will not save any person on the basis of their works.

We must, like Abraham, cast ourselves fully upon God’s Grace, believing that He will keep His promise and save us. The Lord must empty us of self and pride before He can do any great work in us.

The first emptying of pride comes at the point of salvation. Are you willing to admit that you are a sinner, lost and undone, as the Scripture has said (Romans 3:23)? Are you willing to rest on God’s promise that He has provided the perfect and only Way of Salvation in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 14:6)? Are you willing – like the Publican in Jesus’ parable (Luke 18:13) to admit your defeat in righteous, to cry out to God in the Name of Jesus “God be merciful to me a sinner”? Are you willing to put down all your gods and goddesses and turn to the Only True God, trust in Him and Him alone for salvation? If so, dear one, you have the key to Heaven, the Gospel. You are prepared to see Him face to face one day in that sweet and beautiful place called Heaven.

Terah Is The Flesh, Abraham Is The Christ

The way of Terah leads only to disappointment and judgment. The way of Abraham is the Way of Faith. May God draw you to Him with His Word and His Spirit. Saving Faith Believes In The Person of God, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The difference between Terah and Abraham was that one “believed in a god” whereas the latter “believed in Jesus Christ”. Many people believe in God. If you ask most of the people in any given city today you will find that most believe in God. Yet the Scripture says:

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

To say “I believe in God” is fine. Thou doest well. But the devils, the fallen angels who rebelled against God, they believe and tremble for they know the person of God. God is immense – awesome – everywhere – and able to do that which He has promised.

Belief surrenders to God. To work for salvation is not surrender, but faith in self.

Romans 4:2-3 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

What “work” did Abraham do to be saved? He believed in Jesus. Under the Old Covenant God gave the Law on “Tables of Stone”:

Exodus 32:16 … the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

The Law that God gave us could not save us, but it established a standard of living. It diagnosed us as sinners, but could not fix us. Abraham was saved prior to the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. There were no tablets of stone. There was no Moses. Abraham was prior to that giving of the Law. And yet “Abraham believed God, and God counted it for righteousness”. Abraham believed on Jesus. Someone asked Jesus one day:

John 6:28 (NKJV) … What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?

How can WE work our way to Heaven? How can WE please God with our lives? Jesus responded:

John 6:29 (NKJV) … This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.

What “work” did Abraham do to be saved? It was not the work of the Law, for the Law was not given. It was not circumcision, for Abraham was counted righteous before he was told to submit to circumcision. It was belief in Jesus Christ, the One Whom God hath sent. When Jesus said “Believe in Me”, the Pharisees refused to do so, wanting to see Jesus do another miracle to prove Himself the Messiah. But Jesus reminded the Pharisees:

John 6:32-33 (NKJV) … Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

Jesus Christ is God’s Manna, God’s Bread of Life. It is He we must believe in, He we must follow – or we have no life!

Abraham did not earn righteousness by doing anything. He HEARD the call of Christ, then FOLLOWED Him where He said. We are told:

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

If I get a job working for, say, “Smith Construction”, once every week or so I expect a check for my labor. If I work for a company, that company owes me what they said they would pay me upon hiring me. We are in a contract. If I don’t do my job, Smith’s is justified in firing me. Abraham was given not a job but GRACE. Abraham came to God broken. He was sexually broken, and spiritually broken. Jesus told him, “Follow Me”, and Abraham followed Him. Did Abraham do so perfectly? No. He made numerous errors in judgment. But Abraham heard the Word of the Gospel:

Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

If you want the blessing of God, DENY YOURSELF. Put away the flesh. DENY YOURSELF, let no earthly treasure come between you and following Jesus (Matthew 19:21). DENY YOURSELF and become like a “little child” (Luke 18:17).

Once you have denied yourself, “TAKE UP HIS CROSS”. Make HIS Cross YOUR Cross. Believe that Jesus did the work of salvation for you on the Cross of Calvary. Let the Cross be YOUR CROSS. Jesus died for Me. And third “FOLLOW ME”. Jesus is not dead and gone, but resurrected. He is the GREAT I AM Who appeared to and called Abraham, and the GREAT I AM Who rose from the grave and sits on the right hand of the Father.

Before Or After The Law, Salvation Has Always Been By Faith In Jesus

Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

The greatest blessing in life is not money, fame, power, health, status, or anything that is tied to the flesh. The greatest blessing is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers. God covers our sins, and receives us into His Family when we – broken as Abraham – heed the call of Christ.

Are you broken? We all are. Will you repent, turn from chasing the flesh, and turn fully to Jesus? Will you believe in Him as Abraham believed in Him. Will you turn your back on whatever gods and goddesses you are following, and decided to follow Christ?

There is no other way to blessing. There is no other way to salvation. May God draw you to His side through Jesus Christ this very day. Amen

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Follow The Father

Posted on October 31, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Roger Chapman on Unsplash

Proverbs 13:1-9 (KJV) A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. 7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. 8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

To Be Blessed, You Need To Listen And Do

Proverbs 13:1 (KJV) A wise son HEARETH his father’s instruction: but a SCORNER HEARETH not rebuke.

In the original language the word HEARETH is not found in the reference to the son, but to the SCORNER. The text actually reads:

“A wise son his father’s instruction, but a SCORNER (lûṣ) HEARETH (šāmaʿ) NOT (lō’) REBUKE (gᵊʿārâ)”

Various translations ADD the word HEARETH between the words SON and HIS FATHER’S, reasoning that this is what should be there. In believe the word was left out intentionally by God. The word “HEARETH” (šāmaʿ) means “to hear with intelligence or with the intent of obedience, to perceive, to hear with interest or give heed”. The SCORNER (lûṣ) – “one who scoffs or makes fun of, one who derides or belittles” will never hear the counsel of the mentor, because that person is their own god or goddess. They minimize all others but themselves. They are the ones who choose their own pronouns or declares that they can desexualize their chromosomes by what they feel. People who are self involved, the scorner, the scoffer, the mocker, these people cannot be helped. They will not listen to the counsel of their mentor.

The greatest gift God can give us outside of salvation and a good spouse is a good mentor, a wise guide.

Solomon was not born into a perfect family, but his father David, though he made many egregious and horridly sinful decisions in his life, was nonetheless a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David’s sins were many. He stole another man’s wife, then had that man murdered. David spoiled his son Absalom, instead of punishing his many transgressions. David numbered the armies of Israel so he could brag about what a good king he was. David had feet of clay. But when confronted with his sin, David repented and told the Lord:

Psalm 51:4 (NASB) Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

David heeded God his Father, and considered the mentoring that God gave him as precious. Solomon paid attention to his father David. By heeding his father David’s example, and trying to stay close to the Lord through obedience and repentance, Solomon’s kingdom grew to be one of the greatest in all the ancient world.

Solomon’s son Rehoboam, however, did not heed his father’s example. He would not listen to what his grandfather David said, nor did he imitate his father Solomon. As a result Rehoboam divided the kingdom of Israel into North and South.

A wise mentor always follows God. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) Follow my example, AS I FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST …

Paul followed Jesus. Who did Jesus follow, Jesus Who is the Greatest Mentor of all time? He said:

John 4:34 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 5:19, 30 (ESV) So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. … 30 I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 14:31 (ESV) but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

The wise son watches the Father, the Mentor, and does as He does. The scoffer, the scorner, the fool does as they please.

You cannot help a scoffer.

What You Say Matters

Proverbs 13:2-3 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Good words from a person will bring forth good fruit, good results. When Peter failed Jesus, denying the Lord three times (Luke 22:54-62), the fruit of his mouth caused great violence to his soul. We are told:

Luke 22:62 (ESV) [Peter] went out and WEPT BITTERLY.

It is true that “the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence”. The misuse of his mouth brought violence to his soul. Following Peter’s failure and our Lord’s resurrection, Jesus approached Peter and asked him three times:

John 21:15, 16, 17 (ESV) Simon, son of John, do you love Me?

Each time Peter, ashamed of what he had done before, said “Lord, You know everything. You know I love you.” (John 21:17). Each time Peter affirmed his love for Jesus, our Lord told him:

“Feed My Sheep. Feed My little Lambs. Tend to the Flock of God.”

What Jesus was telling Peter – and us – is to use our tongues as Jesus used His tongue. Speak so as to yield fruit, not destruction. Speak so as to point to Christ, and to spiritually nourish others. Peter heeded this Word, and on the Day of Pentecost preached Christ crucified and resurrected. The Bible says that the good fruit of his mouth blessed not only Peter and the 120 of the upper room, but the whole Church:

Acts 2:41 … those who RECEIVED HIS WORD (the Gospel) were baptized, and there were ADDED that day about THREE THOUSAND SOULS.

Peter heeded the word of his Mentor, and spoke the Scripture. God blessed the fruit of his mouth with the salvation of three thousand who previously did not know God. Contrast what Peter did with King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who was a scoffer and a scorner of God and his father. Though given godly counsel, Rehoboam would not listen. As a result Northern Israel revolted from Judah, making Jeroboam their King, and making Samaria the capital of their new Kingdom (1 Kings 12).

Rehoboam not only divided a once peaceful empire, but his foolishness caused Israel to leave the Temple and create their own gods and temple to worship in.

Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Had Rehoboam controlled his tongue, he would have kept the Kingdom his father left for him. Instead he “openeth wide his lips” and brought on the kingdom “destruction”. God’s Word is so true!

Is Your “Soul” Lazy Or Diligent?

Proverbs 13:4 The SOUL of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the SOUL of the diligent shall be made fat.

As I said before, you cannot help a person if they are not willing to change. Some are in bad places in this life because – though they are in bad places – they refuse to move. This happens with people, with companies, even with local Churches.

I have seen local Churches drift into extinction because it’s members are slothful or sluggish with the stewardship that God has given them.

Jesus spoke to the Church of Laodicea who were lukewarm and sluggishly content:

Revelation 3:15-18 (ESV) I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

The Church had “WORKS” but they were not Christ honoring nor glorifying, but of the flesh. In God’s eyes the Church was naked, and needed to clothe itself in Christ. God does not bless sloth in either the Church, nor in a person.

If you do not like where you are, then you must be DILIGENT to go to Christ and do as He says.

The Keil and Delitzsch Bible Commentary notes:

“The slothful wishes and dreams of prosperity and abundance … but his desire remains unsatisfied, since the object is not gained but only lost by doing nothing; the industrious gain, and that richly, what the slothful wishes for, but in vain.”

Often we allow sloth to take over because of fear of the unknown. We imagine the worst case scenario, and do nothing, but hope for better days. There is an interesting (and somewhat amusing) story in 2 Kings 6 & 7. The King of Syria waged war against Northern Israel, and his army put a siege on Samaria. Elisha the Prophet had warned Israel to repent and return to God, and they refused to do so. God allowed the Syrian Army to besiege Samaria, and a great famine was in the land because of it. It got so bad that women were killing their children, and eating them (2 Kings 6:28-30). Yet they would not repent and return to God.

Elisha prayed, and God in His mercy drove the Syrian Army away from Samaria. The Bible says:

2 Kings 7:7 (ESV) So {The Syrian Army} fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.

There were four lepers who were starving at the gate of Samaria. As they talked among themselves they said:

2 Kings 7:3-5, 8 (ESV) Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. … 8 when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.

The slothful will sit there until they die. But “the SOUL of the diligent shall be made fat”. There is no blessing without doing. To sit around and hope for better days will do nothing. God calls His people to get up and step out in faith, glorifying Jesus by shining brightly.

The Righteous Follow The Right Path

Proverbs 13:5-6 A righteous man HATETH LYING: but a wicked man is LOATHSOME, and COMETH TO SHAME. 6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

The righteous person “HATETH LYING”. The word translated “LYING” is the Hebrew sheqer {sheh’-ker}, which means “falseness, lying, deceit, falsehood, fraud”. This is the word found in the Ninth Commandment:

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear FALSE sheqer {sheh’-ker} witness against thy neighbor.

Those who speak that which is untruthful – even if they are well meaning – are “LOATHSOME, and COMETH TO SHAME”. The believer in Christ is to speak the truth in love.

Pastors, Deacons, Teachers, Elders in the Church must love the truth, and speak it even if it hurts.

When God was calling the Prophet Samuel to ministry, God called to him and said:

1 Samuel 3:11-14 (ESV) Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.

The High Priest Eli had been Samuel’s mentor, and Samuel had nothing but respect and love for this older man. When Eli asked Samuel what God had told him, we are told:

1 Samuel 3:18-19 (ESV) Samuel told {the High Priest Eli} everything and hid nothing from him. And {Eli} said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” 19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

It would have been easy for Samuel to hide the truth, but that would not have been good for Eli. In America today too many so called “men of God” are hiding the truth of God, rather than speaking the Word of God. We must not look away in order to be “tolerant” or more accepted. No one grows or is blessed by half truths, for half truths are only whole lies.

wickedness overthroweth the sinner

Those who do contrary to God’s Word will suffer the consequences. The righteous are encouraged to “stay in the way”, to maintain our walk with God regardless as to what others think.

If you walk with God, God will protect you. If you walk in wickedness, it will sabotage you.

Money Is A Poor God

Proverbs 13:7-8 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. 8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

This proverb speaks of the foolishness of worshiping money. Those who chase after the god of wealth, who “maketh himself rich”, ends up with nothing that matters. I read an article one time that spoke of women who pursued riches and power, but who now, later in life, are sad because they cannot bear a child. They “gained the whole world, but lost their soul” (Matthew 16:26). Many who are rich and famous have burned their way through several wives, and have left a string of broken families in their wake.

The one who is poor but humble before the Lord “maketh himself rich”. When John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, he sent word to Jesus asking “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). After John’s messengers watched Jesus for a while, He told them:

Matthew 11:4-6 (ESV) Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

Those who have no sight go to Jesus and now see. Those who cannot walk go to Jesus and now run. Those with skin cancer go to Jesus and are cleansed. Those who cannot hear go to Jesus and can now enjoy music. Those who are spiritually dead go to Jesus and are given eternal life. And those who have none of the riches of this world – the poor – go to Jesus and are given the immense treasure of Heaven.

The ransom of a man’s life are his riches

The greatest gift you can have is to go to Jesus and have your life ransomed. This is why Jesus came to this earth, to ransom us from Satan, Sin, and Selfish Silliness. Jesus said:

Matthew 20:28 … the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus Christ “gave Himself a ransom for ALL” (1 Timothy 2:6). Do you know Him? If you do, you are the richest person on planet earth.

Proverbs 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Those who are Christ’s are the light of this world, whereas the dark lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished. Let us shine for Jesus while we can. Amen!

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Return To His Family

Posted on October 28, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Vladyslav Tobolenko on Unsplash

Romans 3:24-28 (KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

What was God’s purpose when He created Adam and Eve, and placed them in a Garden East of Eden (Genesis 2:8)? The Bible says that God made man – male and female – in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:27). The Bible tells us that God is One (Galatians 3:20). Jesus said:

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord
(Mark 12:29)

God is ONE, but in three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. God is unified. God is family. God made the Family in the Garden. “God said, Let US make mankind in our image, in our likeness”. What God made was the family. The family was to follow God, and to rule the earth as stewards of what God had made. The family God placed in Eden was to heed God’s Word, not create their own word to follow. The family was placed under the leadership of Adam, but Adam was to follow God as Eve followed Adam.

Though theologians will tell you it is not proper to call GOD a FAMILY, in one sense God is the perfect picture of what a family should be. The Father, the Son, the Spirit are all separate and distinct Persons, but are all in perfect agreement with one another. There is no disagreement nor disharmony in God. Truly, “God is ONE”.

God created the family to rule creation,
not to be ruled by it.

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) by the Triune God (let US make man in our image). God designed the family. God gave the family a duty to fulfill. God gave the family a command. How did our fore-parents fulfill the command of God? Adam knelt down at the altar of self and, ignoring the Father of Lights (James 1:17) followed his wife in listening to Lucifer, that evil lord of darkness (2 Corinthians 11:14). Adam’s failure caused the condemnation of God to fall on all creation. Mankind came under the control of sin and Satan. The family that God originally created was fragmented, broken away from Paradise, separated from the Almighty by the consequences of sin.

God is pro-family. Satan and the world are pro-self. What the world calls love is mere self interest, making oneself god and goddess. God designed the family to work best when it operates in harmony with His Word and His ideal. It is the devil’s desire to fragment the family. As the family fragments, society fragments. Every nation that has collapsed has done so because the family disintegrated.

Adam and Eve fell from the Family of God,
Then their family fell.
Sodom and Gomorrah fell because the family fell.
Rome fell because the family fell.
Babylon and Assyria fell because the family fell.
America itself is falling because families are falling.

What is the solution to what ails us?

God Offers Us A Return To His Family

Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by His grace through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a PROPITIATION through faith in his blood ….

Every key word in this text:

JUSTIFIED
GRACE
REDEMPTION
PROPITIATION

emphasizes something that God has to do to bring you into His family. When Adam rejected the Word and Command of God, and ate that which was forbidden, his action misaligned himself and his progeny with God. The Bible says:

Romans 7:14 … the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Just as Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a little soup, Adam sold his birthright – his place in the family of God – for a bite of forbidden fruit. We were as humans designed to be in alignment with God, to walk with God, to be blessed of God. But Adam’s sin misaligned us. We were no longer JUSTIFIED or in step with God. We are told in:

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned …

We are born in bondage to sin, an old sin nature. We need to be JUSTIFIED, that is, brought into alignment with our Heavenly Father. But we are SOLD UNDER SIN. We are born sinners, and we cannot justify ourselves. In John chapter 3 we see a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler among the Pharisees. He comes to Jesus at night because he has heard of the great things that Jesus had been both doing and saying. As this ruler, this powerful religious figure addresses Jesus very respectfully, Jesus interrupts him. Our Lord says:

John 3:3 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

You may be religious. You may be proper. But you are born into this world in misalignment to God. You MUST BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:7).

The Lord must cause you to be JUSTIFIED. The Lord must bring you in alignment with Himself. You must be born again.

Is this something you can do? No. Look at verse 24 again:

by His grace through the REDEMPTION

You are born into this world “a servant or slave of sin”. Jesus said:

John 8:34-36 (NKJV)… Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. [35] And a slave does not abide in the house forever, [but] a son abides forever. [36] Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

We are born into this world chasing sin, SLAVES OF SIN. The slave cannot free themselves, but must be REDEEMED. It is Jesus Who gives us REDEMPTION. He redeems us from sin’s hold, and frees us so that we can be brought into alignment with God. This is offered “by His grace”. It is a free gift offered to whoever will turn their life over to Jesus. Again in verse 24:

by his GRACE through the REDEMPTION
that is IN CHRIST JESUS

God offers whosoever will entrance into His family through His Son, and only His Son.

Though it is a FREE GIFT – that’s what GRACE means – there is a cost to it. What is that cost. It is complete and utter surrender to Jesus. It is to take your broken and misaligned life, and give it utterly to the Lord Jesus. When the multitudes began to follow Jesus, our Lord turned and told them:

Luke 14:26-33 NKJV – If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [27] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has [enough] to finish [it]– [29] lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see [it] begin to mock him, [30] saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

The surgeon cannot fix your body while you demand to hold the knife. The plumber cannot fix your faucet while you command the tools he uses. The auto mechanic cannot repair your vehicle while you refuse to give him the keys. Even so, God cannot bring you into His family unless you surrender your life to Jesus.

Romans 3:24 Being JUSTIFIED FREELY

God will cause our new birth, He will bring us into alignment when we surrender our lives to Christ. We are JUSTIFIED FREELY. Surrendering to and giving your life to Jesus, the Father looks at you and says “you are now forgiven – your punishment paid”. Why would God do this?

Romans 3:25 … Whom God hath set forth to be a PROPITIATION through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD …

Our faith is not in the LAW nor in our own supposed GOODNESS. We are born broken, enslaved by sin. The Bible says:

1 John 1:5 God IS LIGHT, and in Him is NO DARKNESS AT ALL.

God has not a trace of sin in Himself. We are born broken sinners. We cannot make ourselves aligned with God, we cannot cause ourselves to be born again. But God SET HIS SON FORTH to be a PROPITIATION, a SATISFACTORY PAYMENT for our sins.

Jesus freely died for our sins. The Apostle wrote:

1 Peter 1:18-20 (ESV) … knowing that you were RANSOMED from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

It is not by our efforts we are brought into alignment with God, but through Jesus.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

When we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Father looks at our hearts, and says “I am PROPITIATED. I am SATISFIED that the punishment was paid”. The Bible tells us that:

1 John 2:2 (AP) JESUS IS THE PROPITIATION, the satisfactory payment for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD…

Our Lord Jesus died for all. There is no good in us that God finds commendable. If we will enter into His Family, then we must enter by His Grace. This Greek word, χαρις, charis, (pronounced khar’-ece), means a gift freely given. God offers entrance into His Family as a free gift given without a cause. We did not cause it, but His great love provided it. Pastor C.H. Spurgeon said:

“A sinner without grace attempting to reform himself is like {a man} rolling the stone up hill, which always comes down with greater force. A man without grace attempting to save himself, is engaged in as hopeless a task as {those who attempt} to fill a vast vessel with bottomless buckets. He has a bow without a string, a sword without a blade, a gun without powder. He needs strength. I grant you, he may produce a hollow reformation; he may earth up the volcano, and sow flowers around its crater; but when it once begins to stir again, it shall move the earth away, and the hot lava shall roll over all the fair flowers which he had planted, and devastate both his works and his righteousness. A sinner without grace is a slave: he cannot deliver himself from his sins.”

Jesus The Righteous Gave Himself
For The Unrighteous To REDEEM Us

What a great truth these words “through the REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS” (vs 24). We sing the words:

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

Jesus on Calvary paid the penalty of our sin. Receiving Him as Savior and Lord, we are REDEEMED FROM ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. Jesus paid the penalty. He died for me. We are REDEEMED FROM SLAVERY TO SIN. Sin is no longer our Master. Jesus is our Master and Lord – it is He we follow and glorify. We are REDEEMED TO ENTER THE FAMILY OF GOD. The Son of God left the splendor of Heaven and came to this earth. He became incarnate, took on Himself humanity, so that He could redeem those who believe in Him. God became incarnate, taking on Himself humanity, so He could deliver us from the slave market of sin, death, and hell.

Christian, you are redeemed from the law of God. The law was a harsh master who pointed out your every flaw, your every sin, your every failure in righteousness. Christ fulfilled the Law of God so that those who believe in Him stand before God clean and just. Is it our works that cleaned us up? Absolutely not. Look to the focal text:

Romans 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law

Does this mean that the Christian is lawless? Absolutely not! The Christian is not lawless, but under new management. Redeemed from the Law you now belong to God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought {REDEEMED} with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You now belong not to Satan, nor to this world, nor even to yourself. You belong to God. You are redeemed from the Law so that you can freely serve the greater Master. We were under the Law:

Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The Christian is redeemed from the Law, from Sin, from Lawlessness. We walk in step with Christ, the Son, as sons and daughters of God. We are family. Again the Scripture says:

Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

You were redeemed, purchased from the Law and from Lawlessness to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Show me a person who justifies sinfulness and I will show you an unsaved hell-bound person. The Scripture says:

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

and again,

1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments

Grace brings a person into the Family of God. Those in the Family walk with the Family. Those in the Family walk in unity with the Father, in the power of the Spirit, with Christ Jesus as our Leader and Guide.

Old time Pastor George Whitefield put it this way:

“You need not fear the greatness or number of your sins. For are you sinners? So am I. Are you the chief of sinners? So am I. Are you backsliding sinners? So am I. And yet the Lord (forever adored be His rich, free, and sovereign Grace), the Lord is my righteousness.”

Are you saved? If so, you will follow Jesus. Will you do so perfectly? No, none of us do. I ask you,

Do you love Jesus perfectly?

I think if we were honest, we would say “No, not perfectly”. So now I ask,

Do you love Jesus as much as you should?

Again I think if we were all honest, we’d say “No, not as much as I should. If I did, I’d love Jesus perfectly.” So now I ask simply:

Do you love Jesus knowing He is your only hope?

I believe this is where all Christians reside. We love Him, knowing what He gave for us. We love Him, for He first loved us, and gave Himself for us. We often hate ourselves and our failures. But we love Jesus, and love the family for His sake. Jesus is my Righteousness. Jesus is my Shield. Jesus is my Hope. Jesus is my Life. May you all come to surrender to and love Jesus.

Amen.

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Wicked Snared, Just Saved

Posted on October 24, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Shivendu Shukla on Unsplash

Proverbs 12:13-14 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

God wants us to be careful with how we use our lips. God is particularly hard on the liar, on the person who uses deceit or tells untruths or is a false witness. Under the Mosaic Law a person was tried and found guilty only under the eyewitness verbal account of two or more witnesses. The Bible says in:

Deuteronomy 19:15 A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

This standard did not change as Christ brought in His Church under the New Covenant. God spoke through the Apostle declaring:

2 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV) … Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Hearsay was not allowed. To be a witness, you actually had to have seen the event with your own eyes, not report what another had said. When God established the Law of Lex Talionis, the Law of Tooth and Claw, it was a general law that set limits for punishment. This Law of “Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” was particularly applied to the false witness:

Deuteronomy 19:18-21 (ESV) The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Transgression Of The Lips Are Snares

Proverbs 12:13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

The evil person is “snared” or caught because lies eventually are uncovered. The righteous person sticks with the truth, the Word of God, and in time is vindicated. When the Pharisees attacked Jesus (Who “committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22)) with slander and libel, Jesus easily proved them wrong with the Word of God. Jesus said:

John 8:44 (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The devil invented the lie in the Garden of Eden, and did so to lead humanity into the Fall.

There are times when “lies” are justified.

For instance, Rahab the Prostitute told the soldiers of Jericho “the spies did come in, but they left. I do not know where they went.” But the Bible says “she brought them to the roof of her home, and hid them with stalks of flax” (Joshua 2:2-4). When Pharaoh demanded that the Hebrew midwives (Exodus 1) kill all male babies, they claimed “Hebrew women are vigorous, and give birth before we get to them” (Exodus 1:19). David’s wife Michal deceived her father, King Saul, in order to protect her husband (1 Samuel 19:13-14).

In each case where a lie is justified in Scripture, it is always to save life, not to benefit the liar. Our God honors truth. In our fallen world there may come times when we must lie – as Christians did in Nazi Germany to save Jewish lives – but never is a false witness blessed of God.

Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

The words of the Christian are to be honorable – we should be trustworthy in what we promise, and in what we do. Our mouths should speak “GOOD FRUIT”. When we came to Christ and gave Him our allegiance, God wants us to hold to our promise. Solomon wrote in another place:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 (ESV) When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake.

Those who will not keep their word do not understand the Way of Christ. We are told in 1 John 2:5, “Whoever KEEPS HIS WORD, in him truly the love of God is perfected”.

If you have a tendency of making promises that you do not fulfill, in time people will come to mistrust all that you say. It will effect your business, your marriage, your home life. Keep your word!

Learn To Listen And Correct Yourself Before God Corrects You

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

The majority is not always right.

When we speak the good that God tells us to speak, there is blessing in it. When Israel sent 12 spies into the Promised Land, 10 spies spoke against following God into Canaan:

Numbers 13:27-28 (ESV) … We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.

Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to trust God, and step out of their comfort zone and go into the land.

Numbers 13:30-33 (ESV) Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.

The faithless speech of the Ten Spies led the people to plan a coup against God and Moses, even though Joshua told them:

Numbers 14:8-9 (ESV) The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.

This foolishness brought God’s condemnation on Israel, and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years until all died but Joshua and Caleb. Even Moses and Aaron died just short of the Promised Land. But Joshua and Caleb trusted God, and glorified Him with their tongues. They entered the Promised Land, and were well blessed even unto their old age.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes

The person who will not heed the counsel of God, but who believes themselves right no matter what, is branded as a “FOOL” by God. But we are told:

he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise

Some people refuse to listen to counsel, and they will always be at a loss. But those who heed counsel, the counsel of God’s Word and the counsel of the Elder, are wise.

The Fool’s Tactic Is To Make A Scene

Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

We live in a day of fools! People spew lies, then shout lies louder, becoming animal like in their voraciousness, demanding that you agree with them. Such people are “FOOLS” and their anger is called “FOOL’S WRATH”. The Bible says:

Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both

No one likes to be around a “certain” person, especially the “certain” person who, though wrong, will not listen to truth nor correction.

The “FOOL” explodes when challenged, or insulted. The PRUDENT PERSON ignores insults and anger, and judges that which is brought before him on the merit of God’s Word.

Our Lord Jesus often got angry, especially when He saw people mistreated. Jesus was angry when the Pharisees would have a man with a withered hand not healed just because it was the Sabbath (Mark 3:5). But angry, Jesus never allowed anger to control Him. He allowed the Word of God to control Him. Anger is NOT a sin:

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

The FOOL is controlled by anger. The PRUDENT are controlled by God.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (AP) Control your temper, for ANGER LABELS YOU A FOOL

The shouting fool can never grow intellectually nor spiritually, for learning requires listening and following. When Jesus was angry, His anger was always CONTROLLED, and the end result was an improved situation. When Jesus was angry at the Pharisees, in the end the man with the withered hand was restored. When Jesus cleansed the Temple, He made a whip with cords, and made a scene by turning over the money changers tables. Yet at the end of the day, the Temple was cleansed.

Uncontrolled fools anger does little to contribute to progress or growth. The Prudent understand the admonition:

Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) [Let] your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Our speech is not to be SALTY, but SEASONED with SALT. It needs to improve the climate of the room.

Your Tongue Should Not Be A Wrecking Bar, But A Source Of Blessing

Proverbs 12:17-19 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

In verse 17 we are reminded of the words of our Lord Jesus:

Matthew 12:34 … out of the ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS …

Those who habitually speak lies are those who need a new heart. Their problem is spiritual. They need the new heart that only faith in Jesus Christ can bring. God promised under His “New Covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) that He would put a new heart in those who believed in Him. The Bible says that:

Hebrews 12:24 … Jesus [is the] the mediator of the new covenant …

In verse 18 we are told:

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health

Thoughtless or critical speech can hurt others, but words spoken that are endorsed by God’s Word are beneficial, “HEALTHY”. As King, David was well acquainted with evil tongued people. He wrote:

Psalm 57:4 (KJV) My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

The sharp and uncontrolled tongue can wound a person’s soul, much like the claws of a lion or the sharp sword. The Bible speaks of Doeg the Edomite (1 Samuel 22:9) who fueled King Saul’s hatred of David. We should follow the example of the Evangelist Barnabas who told the Church concerning Saul of Tarsus:

Acts 9:27-28 (ESV) Barnabas took [Paul] and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

Had Barnabas done less, we might never have been blessed with the ministry and writings of the Apostle Paul. In fact, the Gospel might not have went out to the Gentiles. Praise God for the Barnabas believers among us!

Blessed Are The Peacemakers!

Proverbs 12:20-21 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace is joy. 21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

I have found over the years some in the Church who, when they do not get their way, look for ways to verbally torpedo any forward movement, any growth, and any glory to God. These people are more than likely unsaved mischief makers. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 5:9 (KJV) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The Peacemakers are believers in Christ, Christians who follow the Lord. They want to see Christ’s Church grow, and God’s Kingdom reign. But there are those who deceive and tell lies, who mean no good to the Church, the community, nor the country.They are self puffed up pretend Christians who only want to promote themselves.The intent of the liar is to deceive others, and to promote themselves. These people are not joyful in their hearts because, as I wrote before, they are not God centered but self centered.

When King David’s son Absalom sought to overthrow his father and steal his throne, he used every deception he could to achieve his ends. Absalom did not care about the glory of God, nor the Kingdom of Israel. He just wanted to be King. He wanted to be the B.M.O.C., the “Big Man On Campus”. In the end, Absalom died a lonely death. So will all who stand against the glory of God and His Kingdom.

Yet God’s children will continue on, for God looks after His people. “to the counselors of peace is joy”. The vessel filled with joy is at peace with God and others. The wicked, however, are “filled with mischief”.

Beloved, how you live your life matters. As the Apostle Paul came toward the end of his life, he wrote:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul lived our his life honoring the Lord Who saved him on the Damascus Road. Though it was tough, Paul stood with God and with the truth. We’ll finish with these words:

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

As believers we are to speak the truth with love. Only by obeying the truth of the Gospel is a person saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Peter 1:22). As the light of God dims in our country, let us commit to stand firm in the Word of God, following Jesus with all our hearts. God will bless those who honor Him and His Word. May God fortify us as His Church as we go forward this year. Amen.

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Bad News And Good News

Posted on October 21, 2024 by bibleteacherorg

Romans 3:21-24 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Photo by Luis Cortés on Unsplash

Jesus Saves From What?

People do not understand the GOOD NEWS until they first hear the BAD NEWS. I used to see bumper stickers that said “Jesus Saves”, to which I’d reply sarcastically, “From What?” Jesus saves from what? What do we need to be saved from? What do I need to be saved from?

In our opening text God tells us that “Jesus saves”, and shares the wonderful Gospel of Christ. But we skipped the introduction. Before the Apostle shares the Gospel or the Good News, God through him gives us the Bad News.

The “Good News” is not good until you hear the bad news.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

“AS IT IS WRITTEN”. The Bad News is not the Apostle’s opinion, nor my opinion, but God’s judgment. When Jesus Christ was giving us the very words of God (John 6:68-69), He never gave us His opinion. Jesus always used “IT IS WRITTEN”. Jesus referred to the Word of God that God Himself gave to the Jews. As Paul writes “IT IS WRITTEN”, he is not just quoting from one section of the Old Testament. He is quoting various texts from the Old Testament Scripture:

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [from Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20]

Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre {grave}; with their tongues they have used deceit [from Psalm 5:9] the poison of asps is under their lips: [from Psalm 140:3]

Romans 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [from Psalm 10:7]

Romans 3:15-17 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: [from Isaiah 59:7-8]

Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. [from Psalm 36:1]

Why this extensive, exhaustive series of quotes from the Scripture, the old Testament Word of God? The Old Testament as Paul is writing this is the only Bible available. The testimony of the only Bible is that people are dead, spiritually dead, totally unable to please God on their own.

We are born dead men – and women – walking.

When the preacher tells people they need Jesus, their response is often:

“I’ll come to God when I’m worthy, when I clean up my life”.

“IT IS WRITTEN by God”

There is none righteous, no, not one

You can never clean up your act, or make yourself right enough for God. Unrighteousness is ingrained into your very soul from birth. You’ll never be worthy, never be able to fix yourself. From infant to ancient of days, within our power we are not righteous. The preacher tells the sinner this. Their response?

“I don’t understand God nor this salvation you are speaking of. Once I understand it, I’ll consider it.”

“IT IS WRITTEN by God in His Holy Word”

There is none that understandeth…

You’ll never understand God. The dead cannot understand the living. The preacher can explain the mechanics of salvation, how when you call on Christ Jesus to save you, God the Holy Spirit will enter your soul and cause your New Birth. The preacher can explain things that the Theologians talk about, the Doctrines of Salvation, Sanctification, and Glorification. But no one ever fully understands, will not even close to understanding, until you come to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith.

We cannot understand cancer or Alzheimer’s – how can the dead understand the Living God?

The preacher begs the sinner to come to Jesus, but the lost say

“When I feel I really need God, I’ll seek God out. But I’m doing all right at the moment.”

“IT IS WRITTEN by God”

there is NONE that seeketh after God. They are ALL gone out of the way.

Sinners blinded by sin do not chase after the Savior. No one is born seeking Jesus. Jesus said:

John 3:19 … light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil …

Death runs toward death. Sin toward sin. The sin nature in us pursues darkness rather than light, and we run from God, minimize God, ignore God. If you wait till you “need” God you’ll never find God, but you’ll find hell and damnation!

The preacher bids the wanderer to come to Jesus, but instead they say:

“I’ll come to God when I can give Him something, do something good for Him.”

Once more “IT IS WRITTEN by God”:

they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Though God loves every creature that He has ever given life, there is nothing good we can do for God in our own power. It is true that once a person is saved by faith in Christ that they should seek to do the good, seek to sow righteousness, this empowerment comes only by being first bound to Christ. The Lord Jesus taught …

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Our every work apart from Christ are profitless, vain, useless. We cannot in our flesh do anything profitable to God. Jesus must be in it. Our faith must be in Him.

In the Old Testament Israel promised to obey God’s Law (Exodus 24:7). “All that the Lord has said will we do, and be obedient”. Yet they could not. Their promises meant nothing, for their hearts needed to be changed – as it is with us all. This is why God says “IT IS WRITTEN”:

Their throat is an open {grave}; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “Out of THE HEART proceed evil thoughts … false witnesses … blasphemies … which defile a person”. The heart we are born with is broken. We need another heart, a heart cleansed by Jesus. Because we are born with broken hearts, our bodies head toward wrong places.

“IT IS WRITTEN by God”

Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known

Oh Beloved, we all need a heart that only God can give us. God promised in the Old Testament that He would bring in a New Covenant. He said:

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant … 33 After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 … they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The Old Covenant of the Old Testament gave us a Law that diagnosed sin. But the Old Covenant did not give life to the spiritually dead. It did not change the heart of the person. The Bible says that God’s Old Covenant people, Israel, did not truly fear God.

There is no fear of God before their eyes

Because their heart needed to be changed. So God sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus to this earth to be the “Mediator of the New Covenant, to the Blood of sprinkling, that speaks of better things” (Hebrews 12:24). The ceremonies and sacrifices of the Law of God temporarily covered sin. But these animal sacrifices did not save, because God Himself must save us.

God Himself must bear our sins. This is what God did through Jesus.

The Law Diagnosed Sin, But Did Not
COVER It Nor CORRECT It

Romans 3:21-23 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…

Having given us the BAD NEWS of the Old Testament, the Apostle says But now. Under the Old Covenant God gave us the Law to show our need for Him. People are not naturally righteous, and cannot make themselves righteous. We need Jesus. We need a new heart.

Illustrate: I was putting gas in my car the other day when I noticed a bright red and yellow sticker on the pump. The sticker read, “No need to pre-pay! We trust you!”. I thought to myself, “That’s nice – they trust me. How rare in today’s world.” Yet as I continued to put gas in the car I noticed another brightly colored red and yellow sign attached to a post next to the pump. This sign read, “Warning, you are under video surveillance. A video camera has recorded your license plate as well as your face. Drive offs will be prosecuted.” If they really trusted the customer there would be no video camera, nor would there be a need for one. If people were inherently trustworthy our world would be getting better and better, not worst and worst. The bad news that no one wants to hear is that we are born into this world with corrupt hearts. God repeats His first “IT IS WRITTEN” we studied today,

Romans 3:10 … There is none righteous, no, not one …

Since there are none righteous, God says:

Romans 3:23 … all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

We all are born into this world with damaged, corrupt hearts. None of us are born pleasing to God. So how can we fix this. We cannot – but God can. We can heed the warning of the Law:

Romans 3:20 by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

You cannot make yourself right with God “BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW”. Animal sacrifices do not work. As a pastor, I am always getting cultic stuff through the mail. I came home from Church last Sunday to find a copy of a book entitled “The Great Controversy” leaned up against my front door. This is a book from the cult called “Seventh Day Adventists”. The Seventh Day Adventists believe (and Ellen G. White their founder teaches)

“every time we turn away from the true Sabbath {Saturday}, we turn our backs upon the law of God, and our faces toward the false gods”.

Yet God’s Word through His Apostles says:

Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

The Church worships on Sunday because it was the first day of the week that Jesus rose from the grave (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). The early Church had services on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

As God brought LIGHT into creation on the FIRST DAY (Genesis 1:5), God brought the LIGHT of Jesus from the grave on the FIRST DAY.

Beloved, “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin”. The Law of God cannot save us, but diagnoses our need for salvation.

Preach this: Every cult that arises – be it Seventh Day Adventist, Catholicism, Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness – always, like the Pharisees, tells us to go to the Law of God and save ourselves. But the Gospel is to HEED the Law and it’s diagnostic, to REPENT and turn fully to JESUS CHRIST for salvation.

The Law Is Not Our Savior.
God Is Our Savior.

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The Law never promised to save us. God has always been the Savior. The Scripture testifies of this:

2 Samuel 22:3 (KJV) The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior…

Isaiah 43:11 (KJV) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

Isaiah 45:15, 21 (KJV) … O God of Israel, the Savior. 21 … there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

Hosea 13:4 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no savior beside me.

There is no Savior but God. We cannot save ourselves. We are hopelessly lost and undone according to the diagnostic of the Law. What is our Solution? It is Jesus Christ. When He was born in Bethlehem, the GOOD NEWS was:

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

As the Gospel was preached, the Apostles preached the Law as the diagnostic, but Jesus Christ alone as the Savior. They said:

Acts 5:31 (KJV) {Jesus} hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Repent and believe. To whom is Jesus offered? Read again with me:

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

The Calvinist says, “God offers the salvation of Christ to the ELECT, to His Chosen”. I agree. But the Bible says that the offer of Christ is not just to some, but TO ALL.

Salvation by faith in Christ is offered unto all. There can be no charge leveled at God that He was unfair in the offering of salvation. All have sinned, missing the mark of God’s glory. Sin is universal but Jesus Christ is the Universal or Sovereign Remedy for what ails you. Jesus is offered unto all, and I pray that you all accept Him as Lord and Savior! God made atonement or a satisfactory payment for sin through the Cross of Calvary and through the terrible suffering of our Lord Jesus. Hear the words of the Master:

John 11:26 And WHOSOEVER liveth and believeth in Me shall never die . Believest thou this?

There are none excluded. God offers salvation through faith in Christ to WHOSOEVER. Without Christ you are dead in your trespasses and sins. When you die you go to a place called The Second Death or the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14). Those who have accepted Christ as Savior are priests of God and of Christ (Revelation 20:6). Life belongs with life, and death with death. Those who belong to Jesus rule and reign with Him and those who do not belong to Jesus belong to death.

Listen Beloved – those who die to self now and surrender to God in Christ – not “almost” but surely – shall never see death. That Living Relationship that we call “salvation” is offered to whosoever will – it is unto all.

What effect does this true salvation have on every person who believes? Jesus said:

John 3:15-16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life .

There is payment for sin, eternal payment, for whosoever believes in Him. But something else occurs at the point of salvation. You Who believe in Him are radically changed. Christ’s payment on Calvary not only satisfies God (1 John 2:2), but also became the means by which we became a Divine Work in progress (Ephesians 2:10).

The Saved Are Changed By Jesus

Why do you think Jesus healed so many people while He walked on this earth? Why do you think “The blind received their sight, and the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and the deaf made to hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5). It is to show us that

An encounter with Jesus is a life changing experience.

Jesus said in John 12:46, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness”. Jesus finds you dead, lost, sick, broken, in need of a new heart. But Jesus does not leave you where He finds you. Jesus saves you from spiritual death and eternal damnation.

A far better preacher than I, C.H. Spurgeon, wrote:

“Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Christ? If so, thou art born of God. If thou hast cast thyself, sink or swim, on Him, then art thou saved. … Jesus Christ has taken my poor guilty soul ever since I believed in Him, and has wrapped around me the blood-red flag of His atoning sacrifice, and before God can destroy me or any other soul that is wrapped in the atonement, He must insult His Son and dishonor this sacrifice, and that He never will do, blessed be His name.”

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Grace is undeserved. Grace is unmerited. Jesus Christ died on Calvary to REDEEM us from a just eternal damnation. Jesus Christ rose from the Grave to REDEEM us from being the walking dead, and to bring us into the family of God.

If you are a Christian, the best is yet to come. I close with:

1 John 3:1-3 (ESV) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

If you have not received Christ as Lord and Savior, I beg you, do so this very day. There is no salvation in keeping the Law. There is only salvation by receiving Him Who loved you, and loves you still. May God the Holy Spirit draw you to Jesus. Amen.

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