Be Gracious But Careful

Posted on August 30, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Do you know where you are?
Photo by Jerome on Unsplash

Proverbs 11:15-21 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure. 16 A gracious woman retaineth honor: and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Christians Are Gracious

The fruit of the Christian life should be graciousness. We have received undeserved grace from the Lord Jesus Christ. We – in turn – should be gracious to others. When Jesus sent out His Apostles to minister, He told them:

Matthew 10:8 … (NIV) Freely you have received; freely give ..

The Apostle Paul gathered the Church at Ephesus and, speaking to those he so loved, encouraged the Church to live by GRACE. He said:

Acts 20:32-35 (NKJV) So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

God gave grace freely to His Children, and we, in turn, are to give graciously. The mark of the true Christian is the one who shows the fruit of hospitality. The Scripture says “show HOSPITALITY to one another WITHOUT GRUMBLING” (1 Peter 4:9). We are commanded to “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13). But our generosity is not just to be IN the Church, but OUTSIDE of the Church. We are told:

Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

The stingy Christian has forgotten where their priority is to be. As Christ gave to the glory of the Father, so we give to the glory of the Son.

However, we are to be careful in our grace giving. We read:

Proverbs 11:15 He that is SURETY for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure.

This Proverb is almost poetic! “He that hateth suretyship is sure”. What is the Proverb talking about? The Hebrew for “SURETY” is ʿāraḇ (pro. Aw-rab’) which means “to give a pledge for, to sign a contract or enter a covenant for”. As believers we are to give help to those in need – as needed. But we are NEVER to enter into a contract or an obligation for another whom we do not know. The only ones that we should give “SURETYSHIP” (tāqaʿ, pro. taw-kah’) to is someone that we are WELL acquainted with. The word tāqaʿ means “to bind yourself with contractually, to tie the knot with, to become a bondsman with or yoke yourself legally with”. You need to be very careful who you make a pledge to, who you make a contract with. Your good name is important. If you are not careful with who you become “co-signers” with, they can destroy your estate.

In short, there are a lot of godless monsters out there that will destroy you if you yoke yourself with them. Be careful! Hate suretyship with anyone that you are not VERY WELL acquainted with – even if it’s a relative.

The Bible tells us to avoid unequal yokes or partnerships with people. Particularly with unbelievers:

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

As a pastor I come into contact with people who are down on their luck, and needing assistance. I do not give loans to anyone. People come to me needing help with their utility bills. If I do this, I go to the utility myself and pay what portion of the bill I agree to. I’ve had people ask if we have “gas cards”. No, I will not give gas cards nor food cards to strangers. They can use the cards to buy alcohol, cigarettes, etc rather than gas. I go to the gas station and pump their gas myself. There was a time when we could put people in motel rooms overnight. Now I can’t. If I do, the motel requires that we exercise surety for that homeless person. If they steal a television, I am liable for it. I will NOT put someone up because of that.

As believers, we are to be gracious. But we are also to be careful. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:16 … I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Several years ago I had the pleasure of knowing a strange couple I’ll just call “R” and “K”. “R” worked a good job, and brought in much more money every week than I did as a pastor (though I didn’t know it at the time). “R’s” wife “K” was a bipolar manic-depressive person. She would get hold of the bank card and spend all their money on frivolous things, so much so that they couldn’t pay their utility bills. This is when “R” would call me, and beg the Church to pay his utility bills. I did that twice before I realized “R” and “K” were robbing me and the Church. “R” made twice my paycheck. I told “R” that before we would help them any more, they would have to come to the Church and the Deacons along with the Treasurer would help them set a budget. “R” refused indignantly. This was a violation of his privacy. “R” and “K” left the Church, spreading the news that the Church was money grubbing, and would not help its members. They are liars on the order of Ananias and Sapphira.

This couple tried looking me up a couple of years ago, but I hid from them. I gnawed my leg off one time to get away – I’m not going to get back into that trap again!

Proverbs 11:16 A GRACIOUS woman retaineth honor: and STRONG men retain riches.

Word Study: The word “GRACIOUS” is the Hebrew ḥēn (pro. Khane) which means “one who is favored, precious, the recipient of Grace”. The Christian woman should always remember that the greatest thing she possesses is her HONOR, her standing in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the world. I can’t tell you how many young women I have met who chose to marry ungodly and uncouth men thinking that they could change them in time.

Beloved, if you marry a monkey,
you’ll have to live with an ape!

The Blood of Jesus Christ purchased your salvation. You are daughters of God. Walk as His daughters. He has chosen a proper mate for you, and will reveal that man at the right time. Before giving yourselves away, realize who you are giving yourselves to. Turn away from the godless man, regardless as to how “exciting” he looks. Retain your honor – do not give away your precious life to a person who hates Christ. Now the man is addressed:

STRONG men retain riches

Being a Christian does not mean that you are to be a doormat. You are a son of God by the sacrifice of the Only Begotten. You are precious in God’s sight. Do not allow yourself to be bullied into the foolishness of this fallen world. Be generous with what you can freely give, but do not let anyone take evil advantage of you. The Bible says that …

Numbers 12:3 … the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.

Moses was a humble man, but he was not a milksop nor effeminate. Moses stood his ground when challenged, and clung to the Word of God. When challenged, he prayed to God. And Moses knew how to say NO. He was a STRONG MAN.

When we as men rely on God, we have His promise.

Psalm 37:11 … the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 147:6 … The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

Our Lord Jesus is “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29), but He was not wishy-washy, effeminate, sissy, or a floor-mat. Jesus spoke the truth in love whether it hurt feelings or not. Twice Jesus chased the money changers out of the Temple with knotted cords, saying “You shall not make My Father’s House a den of thieves” (Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 21:12-13).

A strong man will not let another rob him of his riches. The strong Christian man will not let the devil or this world rob him of his blessed walk with Christ.

Christians Are Gracious In Forgiveness

Proverbs 11:17 The MERCIFUL man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is CRUEL troubleth his own flesh.

When Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), He did not say it was BETTER, but MORE BLESSED. There is a difference. Yes, it is better to give. But it is better BECAUSE IT BRINGS MORE BLESSINGS TO THOSE WHO DO SO. “MORE BLESSED” is the Greek mallon makarios, which literally means “much greater HAPPINESS”. People today are looking for happiness in fame, in beauty, in money or power. These are all things that are focused on self. But Jesus said “If you want to truly be HAPPY, then GIVE of yourself”. When you give of yourself, freely and without strings, God will bless it. We are told in;

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

When you graciously give, God will give graciously to you. The same is true nor of just TANGIBLES like goods and food, but INTANGIBLES like forgiveness and mercy. When someone wrongs you, rather than seek retribution, do good toward that person. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

You love your enemies not because it is better for THEM, but because it is better FOR YOUR SOUL.

Proverbs 11:17 The MERCIFUL man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is CRUEL troubleth his own flesh.

When you carry grudges or hatred, a sense that you have been wronged, then it weighs down on your own soul. It is sinful to do so. I tried explaining this to a Deacon named “S” years ago. He had a grudge again another Deacon named “T” because “T’s” wife hurt his feelings with her sharp, naggy tongue. Yes, “T’s” wife “L A” was a hot mess … but Deacon “S” mounted a campaign to have the family he hated cast out of the Church. He did so, but also ended up destroying the Church. The Bible says to trust God and let it go:

Romans 12:19 (NKJV) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Let God deal with it. Put it out of your head. Be merciful, not cruel – and protect your own soul.

The Christian Is To Do Good, Not Evil.
To Be Light, Not Dark.

Proverbs 11:18-19 The wicked worketh a DECEITFUL work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Word Study: The WICKED or lost person is characterized by “DECEITFUL” work. The word “DECEITFUL” is the Hebrew šeqer (pro. sheh’-ker) which means “lying, falsehood, that which deceives or is fraudulent”. The Pastor who tells you that you can walk an aisle, profess Christ, then go live life whatever way you want and you’ll go to Heaven is wicked, evil, lost. That person is like the Pharisees of whom Jesus said:

Matthew 23:13-15 … woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

People are always church-hopping, looking for a preacher to tickle their ears, to make them happy. The preacher who loves you will tell you the truth – even if it stings. Jesus did this. He preached hard messages, but He did so because He loved those He preached to. God will bless those who “soweth righteousness”, who speak the Word of God truly and without embellishment. We are told:

righteousness tendeth to life

When God saves a soul, He saves that soul FROM sin, not IN sin. He saves a person, then leads us to follow Christ, to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:8-9). Those who pursue righteousness – who live for the Lord – have abundant life now, and eternal life in glory. However,

he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death

The Bible is very clear that “the wages of sin IS DEATH” (Romans 6:23). There is coming a payday someday. God promises,

Romans 2:8-9 (ESV) … those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek …

We read:

Proverbs 11:20-21 They that are of a FROWARD (ʿiqqēš, pro. Ik-kashe’, twisted or perverted) heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

God will one day cut off the unrighteous from this earth. The unrighteous cannot inherit Heaven, but are headed toward eternal damnation. But God will deliver the “SEED”, the house of those who love the Lord. Let us strive to honor our God while we have life. He will bless His children by faith – if we will but follow Him.

May God lead you to follow Christ this very day. Amen.

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We Live By The Gospel

Posted on August 27, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Cross on a Mountain
Photo by Hugo Fergusson on Unsplash

Romans 1:8-17 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

I was reading an article the other day about the first vending machine ever made. In the article the author stated:

“the first-ever vending machine was utilized all the way back in the 1st century A.D. — by the Christian church. No, it didn’t dispense indulgences, though that would have been awesome, and probably have inspired rampant sinning in a 10-foot radius of the machine. What it did dispense, as if it was Fruitopia or Surge, was holy water.

Apparently, there was a real problem with people taking more holy water than they paid for. As a non-Christian, this is surprising on two levels because first, I didn’t think that was something you bought, and second, hoarding holy water seems like a heavy-handed metaphor, not a real problem.

Nevertheless, everyone wanted as much of this water as they could get. It was like reverse Dasani. Thus, a man named Hero of Alexandria, which I assure you is his name and not a placeholder I forgot to remove, designed a solution. People would be given tokens that they could trade for their allotment of holy water…”

Of course there were numerous comments with the article about how crooked Christians were even back then. This idea has been spreading through the Internet for years – I didn’t learn of it until this week. But the reality is that the inventor of the Holy Water Dispenser – Hero of Alexandria – died in 70 AD. At that time the Church was under heavy persecution, and had no temples nor buildings until the time of Emperor Constantine in 313 AD signed the Edict of Milan. Christians didn’t have holy water dispensers nor buildings to put them in, as Christians were being killed for their faith. According to the site History Facts, the Holy Water Dispenser that Hero of Alexandria created was made for the pagan worship temples of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian gods.

It had nothing to do with Christianity.

But I’m not surprised. If the devil and the devil’s world hates any faith, it is the faith of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The devil and his dark kingdom is constantly at work striving to manipulate the Gospel message. The Apostle said:

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) .. we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

The devil does not want us to understand the Gospel, for it is the Gospel and the Gospel alone that will defeat the forces of evil, and saved those which are lost.

The Gospel Is A Work Of God That
Produces A Visible Faith

Before the Apostle chastises or corrects the Roman Christians, he starts out with a positive note. He starts out with

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul thanks God for the Christian Churches in Rome. Paul does the same thing for the Churches at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NKJV) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him …

The Churches at Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:15-16 (NKJV) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers …

The Churches at Philippi:

Philippians 1:3-5 (NKJV) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…

and to the Churches at Colossae:

Colossians 1:3-5 (NKJV) We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel …

I can go through every New Testament Book and find similar statements, but you see my point. When the Writer (inspired by God the Holy Spirit) addresses the Churches, he always notes that there is a clear evidence that the Gospel not only saved these communities of faith, but brought about a God given love in the hearts of its people – an enduring changed faith. The Gospel is not a “bootstraps” program where we work our way to God. Paul writes:

Romans 1:8 … I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all …

Paul does not thank the people for living in their faith. He says “I thank my God THROUGH Jesus Christ”. The Gospel is the message of salvation, but God is the worker in the Gospel. God the Holy Spirit – the same One Who controlled the writers of the Scripture – brings a Gospel change to those who repent and surrender their lives to Christ. Think about this statement:

Romans 1:8 … that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

The Roman Christians had a FAITH THAT WAS SPOKEN OF. Though there was no Internet, no Television, no Newspapers nor Radio, no Social Media of any type, the Roman Empire was SPEAKING about these Christians. They were living their faith out loud. Not just in Church buildings (which did not exist until after the Edict of Milan), but on the street, in their businesses, and in the marketplace. The Roman world was decidedly NOT sympathetic to these Christian believers. Had Christians worshiped multiple gods and goddesses, they would have been accepted. But Christians worshiped One God, serving Him alone. Because of this

Romans called Christians “atheists”.

The Roman citizen was taught falsehoods about Christian rituals. They were taught that the Lord’s Table was “actually a cannibalistic affair in which Christians ate the flesh and drank the blood of their master. The use of the holy kiss led the Romans to believe that the Christians were engaged in raucous orgies when they met together. And the fact that Christians referred to each other as “brother” and “sister” gave rise to rumors of incest among them.”

As the Roman Empire grew, it became harder to maintain order over the various conquered nations with their gods and goddesses. To stabilize power Rome taught Emperor Worship – that Caesar was “Lord”. An article on the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary notes:

“Toward the end of the first century, (Roman) Emperor Domitian sent out a decree that all in his empire should worship him as “God the Lord.” Residents of the empire were ordered to come to the public square, burn a pinch of incense, and speak the words Caesar kurios, “Caesar is lord.” This act of devotion seemed little enough in light of the emperor’s divine power and benevolence toward his subjects. And refusal could result in imprisonment, confiscation of property, banishment, and even death. Christians, however, did refuse. They confessed a higher allegiance: Iesous kurios, “Jesus is Lord,” recalling Paul’s admonition, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)”

The Roman Christians were on the front line of this battle with darkness, and yet “their faith was spoken of THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD”. Christians in Rome were not just shamed, but were tortured, made sport of in the coliseum, and killed. Yet they continued to stand up for Jesus. Paul knew how hard this was, as he himself was a constant target for attack. He writes:

Romans 1:9-11 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established…

Paul prayed for these Churches, that they would be strengthened in their faith to endure the persecution they were going through. Paul wanted to get to Rome where he could share the Word of God with them, to strengthen them in their battle against darkness.

Paul Wanted To Preach The Gospel To The Romans

For some weird reason (and the devil is probably at the center of it), people think that the Gospel is only for the lost, to save a person to Christ. The Gospel is not just for the lost – it’s for the saved as well.

Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

The Gospel COMFORTS the believer, and brings us into union with one another. The Gospel bridges the differences in each person. We all have different opinions, different ideas, different likes and dislikes. But we have ONE GOSPEL. The Gospel is:

1. We are ALL SINNERS, and NONE are WORTHY on their own to come to God or be in God’s Presence. “No one is righteous – not even one” (Romans 3:10, NLT). We without Christ can do no good in God’s eyes. “No one does good, not a single one” (Romans 3:12, NLT).

2. We are born hopelessly separated from God. But “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV). We are born spiritually dead, but God came to this earth to give His life for us. Jesus came down from Heaven and “died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 5:3). His end goal was to call whosoever will to His side so that God the Holy Spirit could cause us to be born again, changed from spiritually dead to spiritually alive children of God.

3. Repenting and calling on the name of Jesus, we are saved because Jesus purchased us to His Kingdom. The Scripture says:

1 Peter 3:18 (AP) Christ suffered ONCE FOR SINS, THE RIGHTEOUS (SUFFERED) FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, to BRING US TO GOD

and again,

1 Peter 2:24 (AP) (Jesus Christ) HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS. Why? So that we (who are saved by faith in Him) might DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. By His wounds WE ARE HEALED.

4. Saved into the Kingdom of God by faith, our faith SHOULD BE SPOKEN OF THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

We are saved from darkness, and to light; from sin to the Savior; from this world to the Kingdom of God.

Christians come together because our faith is ONE. We comfort one another by looking to the Gospel, and realizing how good the Gospel is. The Apostle writes to the Christian Churches of Philippi:

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) … let your manner of life be worthy (axios) of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel

Sinclair B Ferguson in his book “Worthy: Living In Light of the Gospel” writes:

“In English versions of the New Testament, the Greek word axios is usually translated “worthy.” But its flavor is expressed elsewhere when it is translated “in keeping with” (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20). Like many other words, there is a picture lying behind the origin of axios. It means “Properly, ‘bringing up the other beam of the scales,’ ‘bringing into equilibrium,’ and therefore ‘equivalent.’ … The basic idea is that a life that is worthy of the gospel of Christ expresses in the form of a lifestyle what the gospel teaches in the form of a message. Such a life takes on a character that reflects the character of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are to be like Jesus. He is THE Son of God, but we are to be “sons and daughters of God”. Those saved by Him are to imitate Him.

Those who PROFESS Christ are to be POSSESSED of Christ. The Gospel is not a “one and done” message, but is what saves us, and what we live by.

Romans 1:13-14 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Word Study: Though Paul has never preached the Gospel to the Churches at Rome, he has wanted to do so. He said “I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto)”. This is Old English. Let me put it in plain language. Paul is saying, “I tried to come be with you several times, but I was stopped up to this point”. Why? Because God sent Paul to preach the Gospel in other areas, to other nationalities of people. Paul says, “I am DEBTOR both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise”. The word “DEBTOR” is the Greek opheiletēs, which means “to be under obligation to another, be bound by duty”. Saved by the Grace of God, called to Christ’s side by the glorious Gospel, Paul is under obligation to “preach the Gospel”. He has preached the Gospel in other places, to well to do people, and to bums by the world’s standard. He has preached the Gospel to the wise, the educated, the Doctors and Pharisees. He has preached the Gospel to barbarians, uncivilized or savage people. Then Paul drops this bombshell:

Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Wait a minute! The Churches at Rome – we were told earlier – had a “faith spoken of throughout the whole world”. If they’ve got a faith that has endured through all the persecution at ground zero, through all the shaming, through all the torture and humiliation and, yes, the killing and raping …. then WHY DO THEY NEED TO HEAR THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH PAUL?

Because the Gospel is the driving force of Christianity. The Good News that God loves us, and gave Himself for us – we need to hear some form of that every time we meet.

The Gospel reminds us that we need God in Christ every single moment of every day. The Gospel is God the Son holding my hand. I came to the Gospel when the Holy Spirit convicted me that I was damned and shortly headed to hell. Down on my knees I cried out, “What must I do?” (Acts 2:37; 16:30). Broken, I needed the Great Physician. I heard the answer of the Spirit, “Repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Give your life to Him, and you will be saved” (Acts 2:38). Forsake all you have, come and follow Jesus (Luke 18:22). And He will save – and keep on saving.

When people “backslide” from Christ, the problem always lies in their perception of the Gospel. When you become “your own”, then you have abandoned the Gospel. What says the Scripture?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AP) … You are NOT YOUR OWN. You are BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your BODY and in your SPIRIT, for they belong to God.

When you try to do penance for your sins, or say “I have no sin”, you have abandoned the Gospel:

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV) … if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When I consider myself superior to another believer, we have abandoned the Gospel. We are all broken. We all need the Gospel. Not just at the point of salvation, but every moment of every day.

The Gospel Is God’s Power Unto Salvation

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Paul loved the Gospel – and we should, too. We cannot change people. But God’s Gospel can. We cannot save the nation. But God’s Gospel can. The Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”. This is not talking about a momentary belief, a one time thing. When the Gospel is first believed, it brings about a change in that person. What is that change?

Romans 1:17 … the JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

We are born into Christ’s Kingdom by the Gospel. We live our lives by the Gospel. We leave this life confident of another, greater glory with God because of the Gospel. Do you know Him? Those who profess Christ, but live in sin, do not know the Gospel. The old time Puritan Chaplain John Owen (1616-1683) wrote:

“Never was there less regard of the person and offices of Christ, of his grace, and benefits of his mediation, among them that are called Christians, than is found among many at this day. Unless God graciously relieve, the world is like to lose Christ out of the gospel, as to the true glory of his person, and use of his mediation. … That which is the foundation of our profession in opposition hereunto, which we lay the weight of all our eternal concerns upon, is, that without Christ, before we receive him as set forth by God to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, we are in a lost, undone, and accursed condition; that our closing with him, our believing in him, is upon a conviction of our want of him for life, righteousness, and acceptation with God, both before and after believing.”

The Gospel is found in Christ. Christ is the Gospel. We need Him for salvation. We need Him for life. We need Him through life. We need Him throughout all eternity.

I think I’ll make Jesus my all and all
And if I’m in trouble on his name I’ll call
If I didn’t trust him I’d be less of a man
‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand
Oh Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand
The mountains too high and the valleys too wide
Down on my knees that’s where I learned to stand
‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand
Oh Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand.
(Cody Johnson)

May God touch your hearts with His Gospel! Amen.

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Community Relations

Posted on August 23, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

Proverbs 11:9-14 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Religious Hypocrisy Destroys Communities

Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

God calls the Christian to be an encourager, with our words to sow the seed of the Gospel so that others might be saved. There are times when our words should rebuke or call out sin. But we need to always remember that Jesus, though He rebuked sin, more often called people to salvation through faith in Him. To the lost person, we are to remember that they abide in darkness and need the light that only God can bring. The Bible says:

Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

As we have learned before, “Wisdom” is the very Word of God. Wisdom comes from God Himself, not from us. We have read:

James 1:5 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We should ask ourselves before talking to someone stumbling, “Are my words GRACIOUS? Is what I am saying POINTING THIS PERSON TO CHRIST? Is what I am saying truthful, according to the Scripture?” If not, perhaps I should hold my words. We are told “through knowledge shall the just be delivered”. It is the Word of God that directs the believer. Not opinion, not feelings or desires, but what God has said.

Jesus Called The Self Righteous Pharisees “Hypocrites”

The religious hypocrite is a person who puts on a mask, and pretends to be what he is NOT. The religious hypocrite speaks not to better to other, but to better themselves, to make themselves look better. The religious hypocrite is not directed by Scripture, but by Self, Self Love. Jesus chastised the religious hypocrites, because:

The hypocrite seeks glory for himself rather than God (Matthew 6:2)
The hypocrite pretends to pray so others think him great (Matthew 6:5)

The hypocrite judges others but is blind to his status (Matthew 7:5)

Hypocrites do not know the Lord, and prevent others from knowing Him (Matthew 23:13)

Religious hypocrites do not make the community better, but worsen it. Religious hypocrites come in all shapes and sizes. They are not necessarily tied to a “church”, but can be tied to “social justice” or “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” programs. Just the other day I saw an interview where a newsman asked a lady,

“Should a ten year old child be allowed to buy guns, or tobacco, or alcohol?”

The woman replied, “No, they’re too young to have those things, too young to make those choices”. The newsman next asked,

“Should a ten year old child be allowed to choose his or her sex, and choose to go through a medical sexual change?”

The same woman then said, “Well, that’s a different question. It’s the child’s body, and the child should be able to make that choice”. This is a religious hypocrite, a liberal hypocrite. Choosing sexual change surgery is a permanent and irreversible course. It mutilates the child’s body, just as a mishandled firearm or use of tobacco would.

The Just – those who are not only born again through faith in Christ – but those who live by KNOWLEDGE, by God’s Word are DELIVERED from satanic darkness and destructive foolishness.

Christians live by the standard that our Lord Jesus set:

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

We are to live our lives for the Lord, and love others enough to tell them when they are departing from sanity and into foolishness. We live by Christ’s Word, and call others to His side through the glorious Gospel of Salvation. We seek to encourage the growth of His Kingdom on earth, knowing that as the righteous, God fearing base grows in a country, that nation becomes more stable and peaceful.

When Christ’s Kingdom Grows, The Nation Stabilizes

Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

As the number of righteous people (saved by the grace of God, by faith in Christ, who LIVE following Jesus) grow in a nation, the better that nation will be. When Jesus was teaching one day, the religious leaders of Israel, the Pharisees, were listening. They got very offended! The Bible tells us that:

Matthew 15:12-13 … His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

The hypocrites like the Pharisees were not planted by the Heavenly Father, but by human tradition and human desire. Jesus’ advice to those who are resistant to the Word of God is “LET THEM ALONE”. If they will not hear the truth of God’s Word, and resist God’s Spirit, “LET THEM ALONE”. And yet, continue to preach the Gospel of Salvation.

The devil hates that!

God calls His people to STAND and BUILD HIS KINGDOM through proclamation of His Word.

When the Prophet Jeremiah spoke to Judah – a Judah that had departed from the Word of God – they would not listen. Jeremiah was ridiculed and mocked as he warned of God’s impending judgment on the nation. Jeremiah said “the Word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long” (Jeremiah 20:8). The Prophet wanted to quit – but God wouldn’t let him. Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV) … if I say, ‘I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

When God sent Jonah to preach in the Capital City of Assyria, Nineveh, Jonah tried running away. God had a whale swallow him, and spit him out on the shores of Nineveh. God made Jonah preach the Gospel. After Nineveh repented and turned to Christ, a sullen Jonah asked God why he was made to preach to those people. God told Jonah:

Jonah 4:11 (NKJV) … should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left …

There were 120,000 children in Nineveh – young children – who could not tell their left from their right hand. Jesus loves the children! If Nineveh was destroyed in the judgment of God, those children would have died as well. Our God is not willing that any perish, but that all come to eternal life through Christ!

The devil hates that!

When the early Christian Church began witnessing and growing adherents, the Sanhedrin, the Ruling Council of 70 and the High Priest demanded they stop speaking of Jesus. Peter told them,

Acts 5:29 (NKJV) We ought to obey God rather than men.

This infuriated the Council, who decided to kill Peter and the other Apostles. When the Council was debating this, Rabbi Gamaliel stood up and said:

Acts 5:38-39 (NKJV) … keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God

If God is in it, and the righteous grow, the city grows and rejoices. But if God is NOT in it, then the wicked grow, the darkness grows, and the city begins to stumble and fall.

If there are no justified people living and speaking out for Christ and righteousness, then as the wicked perish, there is shouting. There is anarchy – and we have seen it in America many, many times.

In our country the First Amendment to our Constitution states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In America our Constitution allows the people to speak out, and to speak freely. And yet, as we get farther and farther from God, we are seeing more and more restriction of free speech, or illegal expansion of free speech.

Illustrate: When a young black man named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a white man, George Zimmerman. Though Zimmerman was tried and acquitted for murder and manslaughter, and investigated for three years by the Department of Justice which found no evidence for further prosecution, the aftermath sparked riots and destruction throughout the nation. Rather than peaceful protest, groups of protesters vandalized and burned private and public property. The later unjust deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd again set off another wave of vandalism and destruction. Public statues and commemorative plaques were torn down and destroyed while law enforcement was commanded to look the other way. “As the wicked perish there is shouting” A nation without God is a nation soon to lose all its freedoms and prosperity. We have seen anarchy. We will see more if the Gospel is not proclaimed.

Without God’s Word As A Moral Compass,
We Mistreat Others

Proverbs 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

The lost person has no genuine love for his or her neighbor. TheEvolutionist that teaches that humanity is no more than an animal, derived from lower animals, rejects any concept of God or Divine Design. Thus morality is a social construct. Man is a “primate” much like the Ape (Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Orangutan, Gibbon). Darwinism teaches “survival of the fittest”, and that man outgrew the ape to compete with and control the environment. If children are taught that all humans are animals, then why shouldn’t we indiscriminately enjoy sex, bully, attack the weaker, fight to the top, and do whatever we feel is best to enjoy our own life? Though 70 different people suggested human evolution between 1748 and 1859, Charles Darwin published On The Origin of Species and popularized the Theory of Evolution. It was Darwin himself who suggested that – if evolution were true – then human morality also evolves. He wrote:

“With me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man’s mind, which has been developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would any one trust in the convictions of a monkey’s mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?” (The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, 1:285)

Biblical Apologist Frank Turek noted:

“If evolution is the source of morality, then what’s to stop morals from evolving (changing) to the point that one day rape, theft, and murder are considered moral?” (Frank Turek, “Evolution Cannot Explain Morality,” Cross Examined Blog, July 1, 2008)

When we teach in school that we evolved from lower primates and are in fact primates, animals, and allow our children to play video games where people are killed by their hand, then why is it a surprise when there are school shootings and other atrocities against humanity?

When you take God and the Ten Commandments out of society and promote the concept that we are only evolved animals, then life becomes cheap.

Why not eat humans without guilt if they are only animals – wolves will eat other wolves, Polar Bears eat each other when seals are hard to find. Tiger sharks, hamsters, rats, hippos – in fact 1500 species of animals practice cannibalism. If we are only animals, why bury our dead? If you are outraged, you should be.

We are not animals.
We are created in God’s image.
We are given dominance by God over His planet.

Genesis 1:27-28 (NKJV) God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

If we are mere animals, then “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor”. But to the Christian we know that humans are not animals, but are made in God’s Image. So we respect life. We love others, as we want to be loved.

People Need The Lord Jesus

Proverbs 11:13-14 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

People need someone to confide in, someone who will listen to them as they share their troubles – and yet will NOT broadcast their troubles. There is nothing worse than sharing a hurt or a need with someone, and then have them carry your secret to others.

This is the gossip, the TALEBEARER.

The gossip or the talebearer causes division in the community in order to themselves feel superior to their victim. God commanded Israel:

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the LORD.

To “stand against the blood of thy neighbor” or more literally “take a stand against the life of your neighbor” (NKJV) means to tell a lie about someone that can ruin their life, either literally or figuratively. You may not actually have someone killed, but by spreading falsehoods about someone you can destroy their reputation. This was done to Jesus by the Pharisees when He stood trial before the High Priest.

Matthew 26:59-60 (ESV) … the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward…

The talebearer does Satan’s work, and hinders the Gospel of Christ. People need the Lord. They need a faithful Counselor Who will never leave them nor forsake them. When we read “in the multitude of counselors there is safety”, this is another way of saying “two heads are better than one”. But the best Head is Jesus. Our Lord Jesus is called:

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) … Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus listens to His people. He “never leaves nor forsakes us” (Hebrews 13:5), and promises to stay with His sheep “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Every person needs the Lord. The gods the world follows will eventually consume them, but those who follow Christ find His promise to be true:

John 10:9-11 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

May God bless you richly through His Word, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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What Is The Gospel?

Posted on August 21, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Jesus The True Savior
Photo by Alan Bowman on Unsplash

Romans 1:1-6 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Opening: A Pastor preached on the Grace of God one Sunday. As he stood at the door following the service, an elderly man came up to him and shook his hand. He said “Pastor, your sermon really struck home! It perfectly illustrated the grace and love of God.” The Pastor was thrilled, and said, “Wonderful brother. How did my sermon show you the grace and love of God?” The man said, “Your sermon passed all understanding, and it seemed like it endured forever!”

Hopefully this sermon won’t “pass all understanding” or seem to “endure forever”. Last week we learned how Saul the Church Persecutor became Paul the Church builder.How did Saul become Paul? He met the Lord Jesus Christ on Damascus Road and, calling upon His Name, the Name of Jesus, Saul became Paul. He was changed, gloriously changed. Before Saul met Christ, he was a giver of death. After meeting Jesus, Paul was a giver of life.

Saul became Paul when he was “separated {made a Saint} unto the Gospel of God”

What is the “Gospel”? The word “GOSPEL” is the Greek euangelion (pronounced yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on), which literally means “The GOOD NEWS”. Everyone knows what “good news” is, though we rarely hear it today. The Bible gives us bad news in that “God is Perfect, and yet we are far from perfect. We are all broken, and are born into this world sinners.” But the GOOD NEWS – the GOSPEL – is that God has provided a way to fix us in our brokenness.

Our text tells us that:

Romans 1:1-2 the gospel of God, 2 (Which HE HAD PROMISED afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

The Gospel is the fulfillment of God’s PROMISE to us.

Romans 1:3 Concerning HIS SON JESUS CHRIST our Lord

God offers the Gospel through His handpicked PERSON.

And thirdly,

Romans 1:6 Among whom ARE YE ALSO THE CALLED of Jesus Christ

God sets apart a Kingdom PEOPLE as His own through the Gospel.

Let’s break this down from His Holy Word:

The Gospel is the fulfillment of God’s PROMISE to us.

Let’s look at verses 1 and 2 again:

Romans 1:1-2 the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

The Gospel is a promise that God made to humanity – to whosoever would accept it – from the very beginning of our creation. The Gospel was “promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures”. As Paul writes this, the only “HOLY SCRIPTURES” that exist are the Old Testament prophetic writings. Paul wants us to understand that the Gospel is not some “Hail Mary, last ditch desperation pass”, but the Gospel has ALWAYS been God’s plan and purpose for us. The Apostle Peter will tell us that the Gospel and the Messiah …

1 Peter 1:20 (KJV) … was foreordained BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD ..

The Gospel is not God’s Plan B, but it is God’s Plan A.

The Gospel is not God’s backup plan because the first plan didn’t work. The Gospel is God’s plan from the beginning of creation. Our God is ALL KNOWING as well as ALL MIGHTY. When God made Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, God made Adam perfect and gave him a perfect free will. God made Adam and Eve, speaking within His Trinity:

Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV) .. God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it …

Adam and Eve were given very clear instructions. Though they were not gods themselves, they were God’s Representatives. What this first Man and Woman did would impact all of creation. Before God created Eve, He made Adam. And God told Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV) … the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Notice the EXACT wording that God gave to Adam. God told Adam not “IF you eat of the forbidden you shall surely die”, but “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”.

God created Adam knowing that the Serpent, that old devil (Revelation 20:2) would creep into the Garden and tempt Adam. God knew that Adam would eat of that which was forbidden.

Our God knows all things BEFORE they occur – He is all knowing. “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 John 3:20). The Psalmist said, “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”James, the Pastor of the early Church at Jerusalem told us “Known to God from eternity are all His works” (Acts 15:18). God knew that Adam was going to fail, that Adam would choose to follow the serpent rather than His directive. When Adam fell, it was not a surprise to God. He knew it was coming.

The Gospel is Plan A.

The Gospel teaches us that WE ARE NOT GODS, though we are MADE in His image. The Fall came because Adam assumed the role of not husband and gardener, but God!

The Bible says in Romans 5:12 (KJV) … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

Adam freely chose the Serpent and the human worldview over God’s Word, and brought sin and death into the world. After Adam’s sin God makes His PROMISE of the GOSPEL to the Serpent, that Old Devil:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

The first promise in the Bible is the promise God made to Adam, “In the day you eat of it, you shall SURELY DIE”. The second promise in the Bible is the promise God made to the devil, the promise of the Gospel. God promised that “the seed of the woman” would attack the serpent, “bruising His heel”. His attack would hurt Him, but not be fully fatal or life ending. But the serpent, that Old Devil, his “head would be bruised”. The head is where knowledge and wisdom are stored. It is where thinking comes from. Satan’s word and his worldview would be crushed by the heel of the Messiah. The intent and promise of the Gospel is to destroy the works of the devil, to free mankind from sin.

The Promise of the Gospel was not just to Adam and Eve, not just to the Jews or to any one nation of people. The Gospel promise is to whosoever will.

God told Abraham, the father of faith:

Genesis 22:17-18 (NKJV) … blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because YOU HAVE OBEYED MY VOICE.

God promised Eve that her “Seed” would be the bringer of the Gospel. God promised Abraham that his “Seed”, Israel, would be “as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore”. But God went on to promise that out of Israel would come the Messenger of the Gospel. This Gospel was not just for one people, but God said “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”.

A wayward prophet called Balaam who had often turned to sorcery was filled with the Spirit of God one day. Through this broken Balaam God promised:

Numbers 24:17 (NKJV) I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

Jacob, also known as Israel, is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. God promised that “A Star shall come out of Jacob”. The Light of God would come from Jacob’s seed. A Ruler or “A Scepter shall rise out of Israel”. This Messiah Who will rise will bring Light into the world, and defeat the forces of darkness and sinfulness. As time passed, God refined the Promise of the Gospel and of the Messiah more and more.

Isaiah 11:1 – The Messiah would come from the line of Jesse
Jeremiah 23:5-6 – The Messiah will be from the line of David
Micah 5:2 – The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
Isaiah 7:14 – The Messiah would be virgin born
Jeremiah 31:15 An Evil King will try and kill the infant Messiah
Hosea 11:1 God would hide the Messiah in Egypt

God promised the Messiah would come, and when He came, He would bring a message of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. God showed the Messiah to Isaiah, who wrote God’s Words:

Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV) Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.

Over and over again God promised the salvation of mankind through the Gospel. The Messiah that God chose will bring the Gospel.

Consider the Old Testament to be a puzzle, a 300-400 piece puzzle. When all the pieces of prophecy are put together, they are the picture of Jesus Christ!

God offers the Gospel through His uniquely
handpicked PERSON, Jesus Christ

Romans 1:3-4 Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

When Adam sinned and spiritually died (in the day that you eat of it you shall SURELY die) he and his children became separated from God by our sin nature. God told humanity:

Leviticus 17:11 (ESV) … the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

The Gospel requires a Sacrifice, One Who will stand in for the sinner and pay the penalty of death that Adam brought on all.

Sin had to be ATONED for, that is COVERED by the sacrifice of the blood of an innocent. A sinner could not pay for a sinners sin. That would be trading evil for evil, soiled for soiled. God established the animal sacrifices to “atone” or “temporarily cover” the sins of humanity, as it was NOT the animal that sinned in Eden but Adam. Animals were not guilty of the sin that brought death into the world. Animals cannot permanently pay for our sins.

A Perfect Person had to come and fulfill the promise that God made. This Perfect Person is Jesus Christ. God promised King David:

2 Samuel 7:12-14 (NKJV) When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.

Out of the line of King David, God would raise up a Messiah, One Who would rule forever. This Messiah would be the Son of God. He would enter this world as “the SEED OF THE WOMAN”, a Man virgin born. The Prophet Isaiah said of the Messiah:

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) … the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

This Person is Jesus Christ our Lord. He came preaching the Gospel to those who would hear Him. Jesus would go about doing good, not evil, and no sin would ever be found in Him. Jesus was sinless:

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

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) {Jesus} was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Peter 2:22 (NKJV) {Jesus} … committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”

Jesus had to be innocent of sin, or His Blood could not ATONE or COVER our sin. A sinner cannot pay for the sins of a sinner, no more than a beggar can pay off the debts of another beggar. No one born outside of Jesus can claim to be sinless. But Jesus – Eternal God in human form – is absolutely sinless, for He is God incarnate. Jesus was “made of the seed of David according to the flesh”. Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power”. As He went from town to town, Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, and caused those who were lame to walk.

Jesus also did something no one else could do.
Jesus forgave sins.

No one can forgive sins but God, but sins are an offense against God. I cannot forgive an offense against someone else, nor can you. We can only forgive the offense against us. We read this in…

Matthew 9:1-7 He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”— then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

Jesus had the power on earth to forgive sins. Why? Because He is the Son of God, God the Son. Jesus was:

Romans 1:4 … declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead

God fulfilled the promise of the Gospel by sending a Perfect Person, His own Son. Jesus proved Himself God by the healing miracles He did. But He also proved Himself “by the resurrection from the dead”. To fulfill the promise that He made, God had to give His only Begotten Son over to death, a horrid death on the Cross. While on the Cross the Blood of Christ was poured out as our sins were poured out on Him and judged.

The Person Who fulfills the Promise of the Gospel is Jesus Christ. The Bible says:

Romans 10:9-11 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

John 3:15-16 (NKJV) whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Laying His life down, dying on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus fulfilled the promise of the Gospel. It is only through Christ that the Gospel is possible. There is no salvation without Jesus being your Lord and Savior.

God sets apart a KINGDOM PEOPLE as
His own through the Gospel.

Illustrate: One of the saddest things I’ve heard was of the death of Matthew Perry. Matthew became famous as one of the stars on NBC’s show called Friends. He appeared on many other television shows, starred in numerous movies, and was a creator, writer, and executive producer. Addicted to drugs and alcohol, he died last October (28th, 2023) at only 54 years old due to “acute effects of ketamine”. In short, he took a drug that was originally intended for veterinary medicine as an anesthesia, and he overdosed on that drug. This was not the first time this happened. In 2020 his heart stopped for 5 minutes, and the doctor that revived him broke eight of his ribs. Prior to that he suffered a “burst colon brought about by opioid abuse”.

Matthew said that “I believe there is a higher power. I have a very close relationship with Him that’s helped me a lot.” When he moved to Hollywood and began auditioning Matthew said he prayed: [sic] “That prayer was, ‘Please God, make me famous. You can do anything you want to me; just make me famous. Three weeks later, I got ‘Friends’ – and God did not forget about the second part.”

I do not know where Matthew is now, and cannot make that judgment. But I believe that the fruit of his life and of his religion is very similar to what many people label as “Christian” or “Religious” today. When Matthew entered drug rehab in 2001, he said that his decision came during “a very lovely spiritual moment. I realize(d), I’ve got to go save myself. I got on the phone and called the people who were willing to help me.” Matthew labeled himself as a “seeker”.

Beloved, you do not need to be a “seeker”. Jesus Christ is the Seeker. He is seeking you. Not to make you famous, but to bring you into His Kingdom. Not to make you a stand out, but to claim you as one of His beloved sheep. Jesus did not come and give His life on Calvary so that you could be glorified. He gave His life on Calvary so you could be saved from a life of hell, and a future life of hell.

Life without Jesus is HELL! Life with Jesus is Heaven!

God PROMISED the Gospel. God raised up a PERSON – Jesus Christ – to fulfill the Gospel. The intent of the Gospel – it’s target – is to raise up a people who follow God and honor His Kingdom, His Rule.

Romans 1:5-6 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also THE CALLED of Jesus Christ

Jesus CALLS us. He SEEKS us. We do not seek Him, but He seeks us. What does the Bible say? “We love Him, because He FIRST loved us” (1 John 4:19). God does not save us so we can continue in our sins. Christ saves us from our sins, from the hell our sins bring in our lives. He CALLS us out of Darkness, and “into His marvelous LIGHT” (1 Peter 2:9). Our final verse says:

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ does not call you to His side as an addict. He calls the addict to repent, to trust in Him. Then Jesus cleans up the addict. There are no “saved practicing addicts”, no more than there are “saved practicing murderers” or “saved practicing rapists”. When you come to Jesus, you are made “born again”. He calls you to His side, and cleanses you. Away with the foolish thoughts that you can be “saved sinners”. The little lamb can and does sin, but runs back to the Great Shepherd when we do so. The sheep can get in the mud, but we do not wallow in it like pigs. We are no longer pigs, but His Sheep, His people. Those who come to Christ are “beloved of God”. He loves us with an infinite love. We are “called to be saints”. The word “saint” means “one set apart, uniquely chosen, dedicated to the Shepherd”. Our identity is not in our fame or our power or our money or in our looks, but in our Jesus Who “has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light”. We are the Children of God, the redeemed of Christ – if we have received Him as He is. Redeemed from the hell that satan offers, we are given “GRACE” and “PEACE”, but only through “our LORD JESUS CHRIST”.

Do you know Him? Have you received Him? He calls you to His side. Do not be a “seeker”, but a “finder”. Find Him Who calls you to salvation today. Do not delay, dear one. There is no joy in this life without a living relationship with God through His Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen.

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Salvation Brings Change

Posted on August 16, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
stair steps to Sanctification
Photo by Mark Ellsworth on Unsplash

Proverbs 11:5-8 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Let’s Start With A Gospel Review

Last Sunday as we started studying the Book of Romans, we talked about the nature of salvation. Salvation is not a “work your way to Heaven” thing. Salvation is a supernatural act of God. Prior to salvation, a person is dead in their trespasses and sins, spiritually dead. We are born into this world as sinners. The Bible says:

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) But we are ALL like an unclean thing, And ALL our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We ALL fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

Babies are born into this world innocent and unknowing until they reach the age of accountability. The Jews usually considered this to be around 12-13 years old, when the child goes through a Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Dr John MacArthur writes:

“There is no “age of accountability” identified in Scripture as such. There is nothing in the Bible that says, “Here is the age and from here on you are responsible!” I think the reason for that is because children mature at different paces. That would be true from culture to culture, and from age to age in history.

So the Lord in His wisdom didn’t identify a specific moment. God knows when each soul is accountable. God knows when real rejection has taken place; when the love of sin exists in the heart. When enmity with God is conscious and willful. God alone knows when that occurs.”

Until the child is able to grasp the concept of God and His infinite holiness, along with our utter inability, the child is “innocent” and unaccountable.

A child who dies in that state goes to be with God because God does not hold the innocent unaccountable. When God caused King David’s infant to die, David said (2 Samuel 12:23, NKJV) “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me”. As a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) David knew that upon death in this life, his soul would go to be with his child in the next life. But this does not mean David’s child was sinless. “we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”. We are all born sinners. Our “hearts are deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) … ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

This is a problem, because God Himself is without sin. Because of this, “Those who are IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD” (Romans 8:8). Though God commands that we “be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2), before we are saved by Grace we not only don’t try to be holy, we don’t want to be holy. The lost are spiritually dead. We must be made spiritually alive. This is what Jesus called “being born again”.

Those who are unregenerate – the technical term for “dead in trespasses and sins” – measure right and wrong by themselves and by human tradition. The regenerate or those who are “born again” have believed on Jesus as Lord and Savior, measure right and wrong by God’s standard, by what God has said. The Apostle Paul talks about this in

Romans 9:30-33 (NKJV) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The Gentiles who believed on Jesus attained righteousness because they surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Believing Him to be Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they were born again into God’s Kingdom. Once born into God’s Kingdom, the Gentiles relied on God’s Word and Christ’s teaching to define right and wrong. The Jews, however, refused Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Rather than resting on the Rock that is Christ, they rejected the Rock (like many do today) and relied on themselves. As a result God did not send His Spirit, and they were not born again.

I was talking to a man at Cabin Coffee today about Christ. He told me that “there is only one Jesus, but many paths to Him”. I told the man – his name was Bob – that there is but one path to Jesus – the Holy Scripture. The Bible takes us to Jesus, and Jesus takes us to God as Father. Bob disagreed, as all lost people do. Our Lord Jesus warned:

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The “GATE” to Jesus is the Word of God, the Holy Scripture, our Bible. The “WAY” to God is Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I AM THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father BUT BY ME”. The Way is difficult because, once you are “born again” into Christ’s Kingdom by the action of God (see Colossians 1:13), the world will tell you “there are many options”. In fact, the old sin nature still in you will encourage you to turn to other ways and means. But the born again follow their Heavenly Father.

The Born Again Follow Their Heavenly Father

Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the Perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Word Study: What does this text mean in light of the Scripture we have discussed so far? The “righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way”. What directs the way of the Christian? Is it our righteousness, our desires, our thoughts, our choices? Is it our human traditions? No. This text is better translated “righteousness of the Complete, Whole, or Sound shall direct his way”. The Hebrew tâmîym (pronounced taw-meem’) refers to that which is without spot or blemish, what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact”. It is God Who is PERFECT and WHOLE within Himself. We are not perfect, but imperfect. Once we are born again, we who are Christ’s walk in His presence, following His Word, the Bible.

We can only be tâmîym when we walk in God’s presence, following God’s Word.

This is what God told Abraham, the father of Faith. He told Abraham:

Genesis 17:1 I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou PERFECT (tâmîym).

When you walk “BEFORE” God, in His Word and in His Way, doing what He clearly tells you to do in Scripture, then you are tâmîym. Before he retired, Joshua told Israel:

Joshua 24:14 (KJV) fear the LORD, and serve him in SINCERITY (tâmîym, perfection, without blemish) and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

We “put away the gods” that we used to serve, and do as God directs – even commands. The “righteousness of the Perfect”, the righteousness that God has established in His Word, directs us. But the lost, the unregenerate follow any path but God’s path. Choosing the wrong path, they shall in time “fall by his own wickedness”.

Those who follow Christ and His Word may at times be discouraged. Those we thought would never leave us have found other paths, other ways to go. We walk against the flow of cultural corruption and social media satanism. But those who are Christ’s follow Christ. Though we battle the flesh as all do, we know that

Galatians 5:24 … (KJV) they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to Jesus. We love Him, so we follow Him, and obey His Word. “Ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:23). God directs our steps, but the lost choose their own path. Though the wicked may seem successful, their days are numbered.

the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

There is a payday coming. Dr. R.G. Lee in his sermon “Payday Someday” wrote:

“Dr. Meyer says: ‘According to God’s constitution of the world, the wrongdoer will be abundantly punished.’ The fathers sow the wind and the children reap the whirlwind. One generation labors to scatter tares, and the next generation reaps tares and retribution immeasurable. To the individual who goes not the direction God points, a terrible pay-day comes. To the nation which forgets God, payday will come in the awful realization of the truth that the ‘nations which forget God shall be turned into hell.’ When nations trample on the principles of the Almighty, the result is that the world is beaten with many stripes. We have seen nations slide into Gehenna — and the smoke of their torment has gone up before our eyes day and night. To the home that has no room for the Christ, death and grave clothes are certain. ‘Ichabod’ will be written about the church that soft-pedals on unpleasant truth or that stands not unwaveringly for ‘the faith once delivered’ — and it will acknowledge its retribution in that it will become ‘a drifting sepulcher manned by a frozen crew’ ”.

God Leads His People

Proverbs 11:6 The righteousness of the Upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

What shall “DELIVER” the Christian, the Disciple of Christ? The “righteousness of the Upright”. This is not our righteousness, but what God has said is right and true.

We are saved by “imputed righteousness”, that is, because Christ is righteous, and we have believed on Christ, His righteousness is placed on our spiritual account.

But once saved we are to “walk in the Light as He is in the Light” (1 John 5:7). We walk in the Light that Christ has given us. Not our Light, but God’s Light. Not our traditions and relative goodness, but in His. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of {God} are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

We who are saved are “DELIVERED” from wasted lives, from the evil effects of wickedness, and from eternal damnation. Yet the lost have this promise from God:

Proverbs 11:6 transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness

The word rendered “NAUGHTINESS” is the Hebrew haûâ (pronounced hav-vaw’), meaning “wickedness, perversity, iniquity, that which is contrary to God’s nature”. The thing which they do, will actually be their undoing. It is what God has set as an eternal truth:

Hosea 10:12 (KJV) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy …

2 Corinthians 9:6 (KJV) … He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV) 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.

There are those who profess Christ as Savior, and yet live selfishly. They stay home from a local Church, and live so as to please themselves and not God. They are able to go to Church and worship with their brothers and sisters in Christ, but refuse to do so. They sow haûâ, do as THEY please, and yet expect a harvest of glory at a later date.

If You Are Not Serving The Lord, Your Final Destination
May Not Be Heaven

Proverbs 11:7-8 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

When a wicked person – one who has not be “born again of the Spirit” leaves this life, their “expectation shall perish”. They expect Heaven, but end up in Hell. They lived their lives selfishly, themselves as the center of attention, and expect to go to a paradise where 70 virgins wait on their every need. Sadly, this is a false expectation. I am reminded of Hugh Hefner, the founder of the porn rag Playboy® who died in 2017. Following his death newspapers carried cartoons of Hefner entering Heaven. That is the expectation of the lost, that God allows all “good” people to go to Heaven. And yet the Bible says:

Revelation 21:8 … the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Those who have no use for Christ’s Church, who think nothing of the Lord until they are in trouble, will one day hear Him say “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). The righteous are delivered out of trouble.

Those who are Christ’s fear the Lord, thus they need never fear damnation.

A better rendering of Proverbs 11:8 is:

(NKJV) The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

God looks after His Children by faith. But to those who profess Him as Savior and lord, but do not live as if He is Savior and Lord, a payday is coming. Get ready. The Bible says:

2 Timothy 2:19 (KJV) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen.

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What Does It Mean To Be Saved?

Posted on August 13, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Martin Jernberg on Unsplash

Romans 1:1-6 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ…

What does it mean to be “saved”?

That’s a very important question that you need to answer for yourself. “What do I think “being saved” is?” Some people tie salvation to an action, or a series of actions they consider sacred (sacraments). For instance, you might think you’re saved because you were baptized by a preacher, or you may think you’re saved because you are a member of a church. Some think they are saved because they were born into a Church family.

Let’s look into the future. Imagine that you leave this life, and are standing at the entrance to Heaven. Peter is not there – that’s a fantasy of Catholicism. Do you know Who is at the entrance to Heaven? Jesus gives us a clue. He said in:

John 5:21-22 (ESV) as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son

Jesus said “the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son”. So Who is standing at the entrance to Heaven? It is Jesus Christ. All judgment is committed to the Son. And now Jesus asks you,

“By what right do you enter My Heaven? What makes you worthy to be here?”

How will you answer this? Will you list off a series of things that you did in this life, religious stuff that makes you worthy? Will your Church membership or tithing or attendance, your Bible knowledge, will these things make you worthy to enter? Jesus answers this in the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Do you know what the proper response to Jesus is, if He asks you “why should I allow you in My Heaven?” The answer is, “Lord, I’m not worthy. But when I was on earth, I realized I was a sinner who deserved to be condemned. But I heard that You gave Your life for me on Calvary, that You paid for my sins in full. Jesus, I called on Your name. I confessed my sins, and committed my life to you as Savior and Lord. And I did my best to do what You told me to do. Jesus, I know You”.

That’s the key. Do you know Jesus? I’m not asking if you know the Bible, but do you know Him? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Is He your Savior and Lord? If so, you know Him – and He knows you. Do you seek to obey Him? When you fail, do you ask Him to forgive your sins.

Is YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS part of your life?

The Bible is a great Book, with 66 great Books in it. We’ve just finished studying the Book of Hebrews, and seen how the Old Covenant was replaced with the New Covenant. We will have the Lord’s Table in a few moments, and when we drink of the Cup we will say Jesus’ words:

“Take, drink. This Cup is the NEW COVENANT in My Blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20, ESV)

The Old Covenant was distinguished by repeated animal sacrifices, but the New Covenant by the Blood of Jesus Christ. “We are BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD by the BLOOD OF CHRIST” (Ephesians 2:13). “If we walk in the Light as Jesus is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON cleanses us FROM ALL SIN”. (1 John 1:7). It is Jesus Who “loved us, and WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD” (Revelation 1:5).

It’s all about the relationship. Do you know Him?

Saul Didn’t Know Jesus – But He Knew The Bible
And He Was LOST

The Book of Romans starts with:

Romans 1:1 Paul…

Who was this “Paul”. Before Paul met Jesus, he was “Saul”. Saul was named after the first King of Israel, King Saul. King Saul was a man who started out humble, but because of his position as King he became arrogant. Saul erected a monument to himself at Carmel (1 Samuel 15:12-28), refused to obey God, and made sacrifices as only priests should do. Because of this God told Saul,

“You have rejected My Word, so I reject you as King over Israel”
(1 Samuel 15:26)

He was arrogant. Before he met the Lord and became Paul, Saul was arrogant. He tells us in:

Philippians 3:5-6 {I was} circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Saul was – by every work possible – outwardly a saved man. He was circumcised as a child, dedicated in the Temple on the eighth day. He was of God’s Chosen People Israel. He was “born into the Church”. Saul not only knew his Bible, but he was a “a Pharisee”, of a very strict religious sect. The Pharisees prided themselves on keeping the Law of God perfectly. Saul said, “concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless”. Saul dotted his i’s and crossed his t’s. Saul served on the Sanhedrin, the ruling Council of the Jews – 70 Elders highly respected in Israel.

By every human metric Saul was a saved person, someone who loved God. When the followers of Jesus Christ began to meet in the Temple, the Sanhedrin put out a contract on them. The Sanhedrin tasked Saul with looking for and capturing these “disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) as they were called at that time.

The name “Christian” was not given to believers in Jesus until the Church was established in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Till then, believers were “disciples of the LORD”.

The Sanhedrin believed these “disciples of the Lord” were evil, blasphemous. The Bible tells us that:

Acts 9:1 (AP) … Saul breathed out threats and murder against the Disciples of the Lord …

As he headed toward Damascus, intent on trapping and killing more “disciples” he met Jesus. Jesus knocked him down on the Damascus Road, and asked him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3). When Jesus spoke to him from Heaven

this Saul,
this Hebrew of Hebrews,
this Pharisee,
this Law Keeper,
this member of the Sanhedrin,
this self righteous man cried out,

“Who ARE YOU, Lord?” (Acts 9:5)

He thought he knew God, but Saul didn’t know God. He had all the earmarks of being saved, but he was not saved. He knew the Bible, but did not know the God Who wrote the Bible. He went through all the motions – but missed what mattered most. Saul didn’t know Jesus.

Jesus introduced Himself. “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). At this point Saul asks the Lord,

“Lord, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?”
 (Acts 9:6)

That’s when Saul was saved. Saul was saved when he met Jesus, and realized that he was on the wrong path. Saul was saved when he humbled himself before the Lord. How is a person saved?

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

While Saul was lifted up by his accomplishments, he was arrogant, murderous. He was sure of himself. But meeting Jesus, Saul humbled himself … and the LORD LIFTED HIM UP. That’s where salvation is. That’s how Saul became Paul.

When you meet Jesus and humble yourself before Him as both Savior and Lord, HE WILL LIFT YOU UP. It is His Blood that will save you. It is Christ’s Spirit that will come to you. You will become changed. When you were born, you were given a name by your birth parents. But when you meet Jesus, you will be BORN AGAIN.

Saul becomes Paul. Your life is never the same.

Salvation Is Not Something You Do,
But Something GOD Does

There was a man named Abram. Abram – whose name mean “great father”, had no children, and was not likely to have any children. God comes to Abram one day, and says “If you’ll follow Me – if you’ll do as I say – I will trade your inability to have children with ability. I’ll take what was dead – you and Sarah – and give you life!” Abram started following God. God took Abraham outside one night and said:

Genesis 15:5 …(NKJV) “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And {God} said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

The Bible tells us

Romans 4:3 … Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.

When Saul believed in himself, he was Saul. But when Saul met the Lord and believed in the Lord, Saul became Paul. When Abram met the Lord and believed in the Lord, Abram became Abraham – the father of many nations. When you meet Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior, He changes you. You become “born again” (John 3:3; 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23). This isn’t something you do, but something God does to you.

Have you met Jesus?

Saul became Paul on meeting Jesus. Abram became Abraham on meeting Jesus. When you come to believe in Jesus, He changes your life.

Romans 1:1 Paul, a SERVANT of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God

Whereas Saul was a persecutor of the Disciples of the Lord, now he becomes a “a SERVANT of Jesus Christ”. Those who are saved serve the Lord. We do not live to serve ourselves, but to glorify Him.

Psalm 100:2 (ESV) Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Later on in this Book the Apostle will command us who love Jesus:

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The believer in Christ is saved to serve the Lord, to glorify Him with our lives.

Romans 12:10-11 (NKJV) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord

Like Paul (who was Saul), if we are saved it is to serve the Lord. God told the Church at Thessalonikki,

1 Thessalonians 1:9 … you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

Pastor John Piper notes:

“Over and over again, Paul calls himself and he calls Christians “servants” — literally, “slaves” — of Christ and of God (Romans 1:1; Ephesians 6:6). Peter does the same in 1 Peter 2:16 and 2 Peter 1:1. It is unmistakable. One biblical way of speaking rightly about the relationship to God that we have is to call ourselves servants or slaves of God and of Christ.”

We do not serve God because our service helps us retain our salvation, or our service makes us more saved. We serve God in Christ because we love Him.

He is our Savior, our Lord, our Shepherd. We serve Him because this is the way to true peace and contentment. The world serves itself, chasing after misplaced sexuality, mishandled money, misaligned fame, and misappropriated power. As much as people serve themselves, they are not happy nor content. Why? Because we were not created to serve ourselves or to be our own gods and goddesses. We were created to serve and glorify the Lord Who loves us.

When Saul served the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and himself, he was not happy nor even content. But when Paul served and glorified the Lord, he began to live the life God designed him for. Jesus said:

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The “THIEF”, the devil and his demonic worldly system, tells us that we have life by making much of ourselves, putting ourselves in the center of the universe. As Dr. Phil McGraw often asks those he counsels,

“How’s that workin’ out for ya?”

Every time we choose ourselves and selfishness, step back, look at yourself, and ask yourself “How’s that workin’ out for ya?”. God sets before us life and death, light and darkness, good and evil, water and fire. When we serve the Lord Who saved us, we will always walk in the light, in the life, and our lives will be blessed for it. Once Saul surrendered to Jesus, the Lord made him Paul.

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul didn’t serve himself, but the Lord. Paul stopped working for the Sanhedrin, and as an Apostle worked for the Savior. Saul was separated unto self righteousness. Paul is now “separated unto the gospel of God”. He is not a dead man walking – which is what he was – but is now a Child of God by faith in Christ. He is a Temple of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The name “Paul” means “Little, Small”. Saul was big, filled with self. Paul is little, but serves an immense God!

Romans 1:2-3 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord …

Saul used the Scriptures, twisting them to build up himself and the Pharisees whom he associated with. But Paul realized the Scriptures were all about Jesus. He stopped twisting the Scripture, and began to read the Scripture. Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 5:37-39 (NKJV) … the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these {scriptures} are they which testify of Me.

You can know the Bible, but not know the Lord.

Do You Know The Lord Jesus?
Does He Know You?

What did God do to save us? Let’s break it down.

Romans 1:3 Concerning HIS Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was MADE of the seed of David ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

Word Study: Jesus Christ is HIS Son, the Son of God. God MADE His Son flesh. Eternal God became temporal but perfect Man. Jesus was “MADE”, the Greek ginomai (pronounced ghin’-om-ahee) which means to move from one state to another state, to come into being or come onto the stage”. Jesus is the One of Whom the Scripture says, “the Word was WITH GOD, and the Word WAS GOD, the Same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-3). Eternal God the Son lowered Himself to walk among us.

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with POWER, according to the Spirit of holiness …

Jesus walked on this earth, casting out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead, doing that which only God could do. Jesus did this through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28). Jesus lived a perfect life on this earth. Then He laid down His life for your sins and mine.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) … you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

The Lamb of God, Jesus, went to Calvary for you. He died for your sins and mine. Buried, He paid our penalty in full.

Romans 1:4 … by the resurrection from the dead:

But Jesus rose from the grave, and offers His Grace to whosoever will believe on Him. He calls to all, and bids us come, surrendered, to follow Him both now and forever.

Romans 1:5-6 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ gives us salvation by Grace. We are saved by His hand, not ours. But once saved, we are called to “obedience to the faith”. That is the life He calls us to. Do you know Him? Does He know you? If not, I beg you, turn to Him in faith today. As Saul did, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. And once you see Him as He is – both Savior and Lord – ask Him, “Lord, what would You have me to do?”

Through His Spirit His Gospel calls. Amen and Amen.

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Be Careful What Carries You

Posted on August 4, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Sarmad Mughal: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-car-305070/

Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Illustrate: I love to watch horror movies. Not the bloody type – that’s disgusting. But the scary type. I watched a movie the other day about a serial killer who drove an Uber. Uber is a company that hires private citizens to pick people up in their cars, kind of like a taxi. The problem is, Uber drivers aren’t checked out like a commercial taxi driver is. You don’t whose car you are getting into. And yes, you could get into the back seat of a serial killer’s car. Or worse! Be careful what you choose to carry you through life, or it may carry you to death.

That’s what our Scripture is about today.

Be Careful What Truths Carry You Through Life

God’s command to the New Covenant Christian – to all of us – is quite clear:

Be not carried about with divers (diverse, many types of) and strange doctrines

If you are a Christian, you need to be careful what ‘truths’ carry you through this life. No, let me modify this last statement. If you are human, saved or unsaved, you need to be careful what ‘truths’ carry you through this life. Listen Beloved,

If the devil cannot DAMN you, he will DECEIVE you.

Word Study: We are warned not to be “CARRIED ABOUT” (Greek peripherō [pronounced per-ee-fer’-o]) by many types of “STRANGE” (Greek xenos [pronounced xen’-os], meaning “alien or novel, concepts that are new but not part of the plan”) “DOCTRINES” (didachē, [pronounced did-akh-ay’], meaning “teachings, directives, instruction by which you live your life). Let’s break this down further. When people heard that Jesus was nearby, the Scripture says:

Mark 6:55 … {they} began to CARRY ABOUT [peripherō] in beds those that were sick, where they heard {where Jesus} was.

There are false doctrines in the world, false teachings that have nothing to do with the Biblical New Covenant nor scripture. Avoid them.
False truths will RUN AND RUIN your life.

What Do You Believe About DOCTRINE?
BIBLE DOCTRINE is so important.

One of the greatest LIES the devil ever spread through the Church is that you can be saved, but do NOT have to follow Christ and the Bible. Those who are saved MUST follow Christ and His Word. Period.

Repentance: Jesus came preaching REPENTANCE as the door to salvation. REPENTANCE means to turn from following your golden calves, and turn to following Jesus and His Word. Jesus said, “I am not come to call the righteous, but SINNERS TO REPENTANCE” (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32; 24:47). Jesus taught His disciples to “preach that men should REPENT” (Mark 6:2), and declared:

Luke 13:3, 5 I tell you, Nay: but, EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish.

The first sermon preached in the Church Age was:

Acts 2:38 … REPENT, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

You cannot be saved and retain your false doctrines. When you come to Christ, you come committing yourself to Him and His Word. You are committing yourself to His Kingdom, both now, and into eternity. Salvation is a complete commitment of the disciple’s life to the Lord of Glory. Salvation is NOT a buffet!

The Lie Of Solo Christianity

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love CONTUNUE (Greek MENO, remain).

Some people have said, “I can be a Christian by myself. I need no “church”. I am a “church” unto myself”. This is a lie from Satan. Jesus Christ established the Church. The Church is built upon the rock of truth that Jesus is THE Christ, THE Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16, 18). Jesus said “I will build MY CHURCH, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. The Bible says “the LORD added to the Church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, NKJV). God gave command to the Pastors at Ephesus:

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The Church belongs to Jesus. The reason that Christ has given us the Church and its spirit filled leadership is to keep us from being carried about by false doctrine. The Apostle writes of this in:

Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV) And {Christ} gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

God has given us His Word and His Spirit, along with His called Bible teachers, to feed the believer, to teach the truths of the Scripture. The Church itself is built on the premise of LOVE:

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love CONTUNUE (Greek MENO, remain).

The mark of a healthy Church is that LOVE is what holds it together. Not selfishness, but love. Not pride, but love. The Apostle wrote in:

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

You OWE it to your brother or sister in Christ to LOVE them. When Christ made His Church, He filled it not with perfect, always good natured people. Christ filled His Church with broken creatures saved by the Grace of God. We are given two great Commandments in Scripture by Jesus:

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

We love God with our ALL. We love those in proximity to us, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not just an emotional thing, but a physical thing. We are to DO GOOD to those we love. We are told:

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain STRANGERS: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

We are to avoid STRANGE doctrines, but not STRANGERS in our midst. We are to LOVE VISITORS to the Church. You might have an angel beside you!

Jesus defined LOVE as DOING the right thing. He said:

Matthew 5:44-45 … Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you … that you may be the CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN …

Be kind to the unkind. If your brother of sister treats you badly, DO GOOD to them anyway. You say, “But Brother David, I don’t FEEL like it!” It’s not based on FEELING, but on OBEDIENCE. Do it because Jesus said do. There are CONSEQUENCES for NOT LOVING as Jesus said. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) … if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Christ put His Church together as a team, a group to do battle TOGETHER. We read:

Hebrews 12:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

The unity of the Church is to be so close that, as the Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (ESV) … God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Those who say “I can be a Christian without the Church” are either very confused, or are lying to themselves. If you can walk away from Christ’s Church, dear friend, you may be DAMNED and not know it! The Bible tells us that:

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) … Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

If you are a Christian, you need the company of other Christians. You need the Church.

The Lie Of Lawlessness

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (krinō, pronounced kree’-no)

Some have taught the twisted doctrine that “since I am saved by Grace, I can live any way I want to live”. This is not a new concept. In the early Church this false doctrine was called

Antinomianism, which teaches that Grace rejects any laws of God, and supplants the law with freedom to behave any way you feel is best.

Antinomianism is found in the local Church flying the “rainbow flag”. It is sad that a segment of our society has taken the Biblical Rainbow – which is a reminder of God’s judgment of the Noahic flood, and of His graciousness (the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh, Genesis 9:15) – and have turned it into licentiousness. God still judges sin. We are told:

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled

God is not against human sexuality. God is against human sexuality being used in the wrong way. God approves of sexuality in MARRIAGE as God has defined marriage. How did Jesus define “marriage”? When asked about it, Jesus referred to Genesis:

Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV) … Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

It is God Who created marriage in the Garden of Eden. Biblical marriage is one man and one woman bound together for life. God directed that in the marriage that they “be FRUITFUL and MULTIPLY and FILL THE EARTH and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). Two men cannot “be fruitful”. Two women cannot “multiply”. Jesus recognized this. Heterosexual as well as homosexual sin is Biblically forbidden. We are told in:

1 Corinthians 6:9 (ESV) … the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality …

We are told that God’s Law condemns …

1 Timothy 1:10 … the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine …

God is not against sex. He is against misuse of sex. Misuse of sex has introduced a plague of abortion – the murder of an innocent baby’s life – in this country. We are told:

whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (krinō, pronounced kree’-no)

Word Study: Those who misuse their sexuality will be JUDGED of God (krinō, pronounced kree’-no), What does that mean? It means that those engaged in such behavior – a behavior that is NOT love but self satisfying LUST – will be condemned of God. They do not have to be. Those engaged in sexual sin can repent and turn to Christ. The Bible says:

John 3:17-18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn (krinō, pronounced kree’-no) the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: (krinō) but he that believeth not is condemned (krinō) already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Those who come to Christ by faith, believing in His Grace, repenting of their former lives are “WASHED, you are SANCTIFIED, you are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Those who come to Christ by faith are changed, brought under and into the Kingdom of God. But to those who insist that they can remain in sexual sin and yet be saved, I refer you to the last two books of Scripture. It is here that God tell us who will NOT be in Heaven, but cast into the lake of fire forever and ever:

Revelation 21:8 … But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 22:15 … For without {Heaven} are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Beloved, those who are in sexual relationships without marriage – Biblical marriage – are headed toward the judgment of God and eternal damnation. The grace of God does not free us from the command of God. The Grace of God frees us from religious ceremonies, feasts, animal sacrifices, dietary laws and sanitation ordinances. Grace frees us from the Old Covenant shadows – but nonetheless brings us into God’s Kingdom and the rule of His Word.

The Lie Of The Prosperity Gospel

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation {Greek tropos, literally “way of life”} be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

One of the more insidious lies that has crept into the Church is the lie of the Prosperity Gospel. They take Bible verses like

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

“You see, God wants to PROSPER you. He wants Christians to be RICH, to have LOTS OF MONEY”. Those who teach these things are doing their best to get your money. The three richest Pastors in the world:

Kenneth Copeland (Eagle Mountain Church, $760 million)
David Oyedepo (Living Faith Church, $150 million)
Joel Osteen (Lakewood Church, $100 million)

have gotten rich preaching a Prosperity Gospel. Others like Benny Hinn ($70 million) and Steven Furtick ($55 million) have found riches by telling their listeners to give generously to God so that He can make you rich. But is this what God is talking about when He speaks of “Prosperity”? When God said “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2), was God saying we who are Christians are supposed to be rich in money and lands?

No! Our Lord Jesus was not rich. Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, kept the purse of the disciples. It is not a sin to be rich. It is a sin to love money. The Bible says,

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Love of money has drawn many away from salvation in Christ. There are rich believers. Abraham was a rich believer. Job was a rich believer. Both had money and materials far beyond those around them. Solomon was not only the wisest person in the world, but he was the richest. But God also has poor believers. Jesus said, “The POOR have the Gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22). Though God allows believers to have wealth, He wants us to love Him and live for Him whether we are rich or poor. God does not want us to “covet” or desire what someone else has. He says,

be content with such things as ye have

What do you have? You have genuine riches. You have a God Who gave His life for you. You have an inheritance stored up for you in Heaven. You have eternal life. You have Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Who will never leave you nor forsake you.

And Jesus never changes. We read:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus never changes. He has said,

John 10:9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Jesus is the Door to Heaven, the Door to salvation. You have a Savior, a Shepherd, who “GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP” (John 10:11). Jesus has said to those who receive Him as Lord and Savior:

John 10:28-30 … I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

Jesus has said to those who believe in Him, “I have you IN MY HAND. My Father has you IN HIS HAND. You are His possession. You are My possession. You are bought with a price. You belong to Me, and the Father – and we are ONE and in ONE ACCORD that no one will take you out of our hand”. Oh Beloved, you may not be rich in the material possessions of this world, but if you are in Christ you are spiritually rich. You are God’s, and God is yours. God watches over you daily, for you are His child.

Heed The Word Spoken

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation {way of life}.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

I am sure there are some who are thinking, “Who are YOU to tell me anything?”. Truthfully, I am no one. I have “spoken unto you the word of God”. I “watch for your souls”, and must one day stand before God and give an account of this stewardship He has given me. I want to see you prosper and grow. I pray you will prosper and grow. But it will not happen if you do not heed the Word of God.

There are no shortcuts to salvation. You must REPENT, and confess yourself a sinner. You must turn to Jesus Christ, and trust Him as your Lord and Savior. From the moment of salvation, you become HIS sheep, HIS possession. You are to walk with Him, heed His Word, obey His commandments till the end.

Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

You are not under an Old Covenant of animal sacrifice and dietary restriction. You are under a New Covenant, secured by the Blood of Christ, and insured by His resurrected glory. He makes intercession for us continually. Let us serve and love Him with all our hearts.

May God the Holy Spirit draw you to His side today. Amen and Amen.

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Saved vs Lost People

Posted on August 3, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Finding Dan | Dan Grinwis on Unsplash

Proverbs 10:24 The FEAR of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the DESIRE of the righteous shall be granted.

I have heard it said that …

The Righteous person, saved by faith in Christ, fears God so he doesn’t fear the future. However the Wicked person who rejects salvation in Christ has no fear of God, but fears the future.

The Christian need not fear what tomorrow may bring, because we live our lives for the God Who holds tomorrow in the palm of His hand. It’s like that old hymn I rarely hear sung in Church anymore:

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

The Bible says:

Psalm 145:19 (ESV) He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

God loves His Children, and do not want them living in fear over the things of this world. “Greater is He Who is in you, than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). This comes upon us who believe because God called us to salvation, and we answered. But to those who chase after darkness and mock God, the Lord says:

Isaiah 66:4 (ESV) I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.

God will not beg a man to the Cross of Christ. He showed His great love for us by sending Jesus to die on the Cross for our sins. But if you choose wickedness and reject righteousness, if you choose darkness over light, God will BRING YOUR FEARS TO YOU. Because you have rejected salvation, “in prosperity the destroyer will come upon you” (Job 15:21). Or as we previously studied in the Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:26-31 (ESV) … if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Proverbs 10:25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

The Whirlwind A Blessing To God’s People,
A Curse To The Lost

Word Study: The Bible uses the “whirlwind” (Hebrew sûp̄â, pronounced soo-faw’) to describe the storms of life (Job 21:18), the night terrors (Job 27:20), and the various trials that afflict every living creature. The WHIRLWIND is destructive, frightening, and PASSETH or lasts but a little while. Trials come to every person, whether righteous or unrighteous, holy or wicked.

Illustrate: Not too long ago a “whirlwind” came to Maury County, destroying homes and land. The Bear Creek area was particularly hit hard. The Office of Emergency Management will be using our facilities August 23-25, 2025 as they bring volunteers in to help clean up debris and restore homes to a livable condition. The whirlwind that hit us hit both Christian as well as non-Christian. To those who are Christians, the whirlwind is an opportunity to grow in our faith, and to share our faith with others. Though tough, the whirlwind is a blessing to the child of God by grace in Jesus. To those who are lost, maybe it will be a blessing to them as well – particularly if they heed Jesus in the aftermath of the wreckage.

God uses the WHIRLWIND to punish, as in:

Isaiah 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a WHIRLWIND, (sûp̄â) to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

The WHIRLWIND can refer to the “wages of sin, which is death” (Romans 6:23), as in:

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the WHIRLWIND …

God controls the WHIRLWIND. “The Lord has His Way in the WHIRLWIND” (Nahum 1:3). A WHIRLWIND for the believer in Christ is a blessing. It strengthens our faith, draws us closer to God, and removes the dross from our lives. When Elijah was at the end of his ministry, and he had obediently called Elisha to take his place, the Bible says:

2 Kings 2:11 (AP) As Elijah and Elisha went on, and talked to one another, there appeared a CHARIOT OF FIRE that carried Elijah away from Elisha, and ELIJAH WENT UP TO GOD BY A WHIRLWIND (saʿar, pronounced sah’-ar)

When Job, at the end of his time of suffering, cried out to God for relief, the Bible says:

Job 38:1 … the LORD answered Job out of the WHIRLWIND (saʿar, pronounced sah’-ar)

God is in the WHIRLWIND. God is there in the trials.

Our God is always in the midst of every trial we may suffer, and the trials have the purpose of growing us. Just as Jesus calmed the storm of the Sea of Galilee, saying “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39), our God is the God of the storms. “He maketh the storm (WHIRLWIND, saʿar) a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” We are told in the New Testament writings of …

James 1:2-4 KJV – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers TEMPTATIONS (peirasmos, trials … like a WHIRLWIND); [3] Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The trials, the whirlwinds that confuse us are times for us to look to our God, our True North. To focus on His power, and trust Him.

The whirlwind will destroy the wicked, but it will not destroy the righteous, the ones who keep their eyes on Jesus.

Jesus brought this great truth out in:

Matthew 7:24-27 KJV – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The winds come to everyone. The floods come to Christian and non-Christian. The trials of life beat on us all. But to those who not only HEAR but DO the Word of Christ, their lives will be built on a solid foundation. The whirlwind will not destroy the believer focused on the precious Savior! But the flippant, the wicked, the apathetic and lazy, those who ride the fence of faith and unbelief, those will find the whirlwind removes all their gods.

God Wants Us To Have A Vibrant Faith

Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

The “SLUGGARD” is mentioned several times in Proverbs.

Proverbs 6:6 (ESV) Go to the ant, O SLUGGARD; consider her ways, and be wise.

Proverbs 6:9 (ESV) How long will you lie there, O SLUGGARD? When will you arise from your sleep?

Proverbs 20:4 (ESV) The SLUGGARD does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

I am often struck by the young and otherwise healthy person who stands on street corners begging for food or money. There are so many jobs available now. It can’t be easy to stand out in the rain and heat, on a corner of a busy road, begging. Though I do give food packets to these people, I will never give money. They are, for the most parts, sluggards.

As bad as physical SLUGGARDS are,
the SPIRITUAL SLUGGARD is worse.

There are also spiritual sluggards. If you have never noticed, life is not all a mountain or all a valley. Life goes in cycles. Sometimes you are on the mountaintop, and your life is at peace. When this is the case, like the ant in the proper season you should gather sustenance for the coming winter. Beloved, winter or the valley is always just around the bend. Those who are spiritual sluggards sleep when their bellies are full. In fact, many are, as the Apostle said, those who …

Philippians 3:18-20 (ESV) … walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven…

Your life is a stewardship from God – spend it wisely! Those who are true citizens of Heaven understand that this life and this time is a stewardship. Use it wisely. Draw near to God while you can. Get in a Bible study. Be faithful to your Church meetings, and bring a Bible with you. The sluggard counts on someone else to bring the shovel, because the sluggard does not want to dig. But we are encouraged to remember that …

Proverbs 13:4 (ESV) The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

God blesses those who walk with Him, and treasure His commandments. But God will not reward the spiritual sluggard. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a welfare office, and Jesus is not the Social Security Administration. The spiritual sluggard irritates God.

Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

God has given to us, His Church, a Great Commission. We are SENT. We are to share Christ and the Gospel with others. In ancient times wine was made by natural processes, and was very low in alcoholic content. Those who drank wine often found themselves drinking vinegar, which is what spoiled wine is. Vinegar wine is sour and acidic, and attacks the teeth of the drinker. Smoke in the eyes is also an irritant. Ptahhotep an ancient Egyptian author and right hand of the Pharaoh wrote:

“if you are a man of trust sent from one great man to another, adhere to the nature of him who sent you, give his message as he said it…”

We are not to be spiritual sluggards, but are to deliver God’s Word as He has given it to us. “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Contrasts Between The Righteous And The Lawless

As one commentary notes:

“Though each is a distinct proverb, these four proverbs contrast the righteous and the lawless regarding both their present and their future condition. In this world the fear of the Lord prolongs life; whereas the indiscretions and iniquities of the lawless break their physical strength and shorten their days. In eternity, gladness will be the fulfilled hope of the righteous; while the expectation of the wicked will perish and his reward will be endless judgment.”

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

There are some people who fear the Lord, but who die young. Some Christians die young for their faith. An early Christian woman named Perpetua died when she was 22 years old. Roman Emperor Severus offered to spare her if she would renounce Jesus, but she refused. Though still breastfeeding her child, she died in the stadium by a gladiator’s sword.

Lady Jane Grey died when she was 16 years old. Executed by Catholic Queen Mary Tudor for the sin of being Protestant, just before she died she told the watching crowd “I look to be saved by no other means but the mercy of God in the blood of his only Son, Jesus Christ”.

The writer of many hymns. Augustus Toplady died of tuberculosis at just 38 years old. He wrote the hymn we often sing:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.”

There are many Christians who died young, others who died in their elder years. The Evangelist Billy Graham went to see Jesus at 99 years old. But whether young or old, the Christian has the promise of eternal life. Jesus said:

John 3:36 (ESV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

And again,

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Proverbs 10:28 The HOPE of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

The Bible often speaks of the believer’s HOPE. For the world, HOPE means “to be lucky, a WISH to get the best outcome somehow, someway”. But for the Christian, the word HOPE means:

“A confidence in and expectation of what God has promised, but we have yet to receive. Our confidence is based on the veracity and faithfulness of God our Savior.”

The world’s HOPE is anchored in NOTHING. Our HOPE is anchored in CHRIST. The Prophet said:

Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

Since our HOPE is based in the Lord, we have assurance that what He has said, He will do. Jesus is our “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:13), Who was resurrected from the dead. Our hope is not dead, but is LIVELY (1 Peter 1:3). The world’s hope is a wish based on nothing – our hope a certainty based on His empty tomb.

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

The way of the godless is to walk through this life in their own power, their own abilities. The way of the Christian is to walk through this life reliant upon God our Savior. The Apostle Paul, confronted by “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan who beat him” (2 Corinthians 12:7), sought the Lord three times to have this thorn removed from his life. Three times the Lord told Paul, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for MY STRENGTH is made perfect in YOUR WEAKNESS” (vvs 9). Paul responded by saying,

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV) … Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

It is in our weakness and in our surrender that we find the limitless power of God. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Proverbs 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

One day we who are Christ’s by faith shall inherit a new Heaven and a new Earth. The wicked may temporarily own much, but in the end:

Psalm 37:11 … the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Our Lord Jesus repeated this truth in His sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:5 … Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

It is not the prideful that will inherit God’s Kingdom, but those who adhere to and honor God’s Word. The prideful or perverse – those who speak not God’s Word but evil and human tradition – they shall lose their voice. In the last two verses:

Proverbs 10:31-32 (KJV) The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the FROWARD tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh FROWARDNESS.

Word Study: The word FROWARD is the Hebrew tahpuḵôṯ (pronounced tah-poo-kaw’), which means “that which is perverse or fraudulent”. Those who speak God’s Word will continue to speak in eternity, but the perverse who reject God’s Word are CUT OUT. We were given tongues to speak God’s Word, to glorify Him. The Righteous know what is acceptable to say. The wicked are inclined to speak crooked or twisted “truths”. Misusing their tongues, there will be a time when they lose their voice and their platform.

But God’s people will be blessed forever. As Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes:

“The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die and leave all their idols behind. … A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

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Faith Not Feelings

Posted on July 30, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tomáš Malík: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blahylur-lake-on-iceland-27244378/

We come to a very interesting place in our study of the Book of Hebrews. We read:

Hebrews 12:15-22 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22 BUT …

We stop reading at the word “BUT”. We’ll come to that in a few moments, if God so allow. What causes a person to be forever lost? What causes a person to lose the blessings of God? We are told:

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God

Word Study: We are told to be “Looking diligently” lest we “FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD”. The word translated “FAIL” is the Greek hystereō (hoos-ter-eh’-o), which means “to fall short of, to fail to reach the goal, to suffer for lack of”. The same word is used in:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and COME SHORT OF (hystereō) the glory of God.

Because we all have sinned and hystereō the glory of God, we all deserve eternal separation from God. None of us deserve entrance into God’s wonderful Heaven. None of us deserve to be born again, nor to be adopted into the family of God. All of us deserve eternal damnation.

But God offers us GRACE!

Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. To receive grace, we must have faith in God. To receive grace, we must TRUST God to be honorable, truthful, and faithful. Grace turns from my ability to God’s ability. Grace looks to the Cross of Christ and the empty tomb. We are told …

Word Study: We are told to be “Looking diligently” lest we “FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD”. The words translated “Looking diligently” are very interesting. It is the Greek episkopeō (pronounced ep-ee-skop-eh’-o), which means “to look upon your life, to carefully inspect it, to OVERSEE yourselves”. This word is often used in the Scripture for the Office of the Pastor, as in:

1 Peter 5:2 (KJV) Feed the flock of God which is among you, TAKING THE OVERSIGHT (episkopeō) thereof …

The Pastor is to feed the Church, and to carefully watch over its members to insure that they stay on the path of God’s Word. But in our text today God is tell YOU to PASTOR YOURSELVES. To carefully examine your lives. Because Beloved, if you miss the boat of Grace, YOU WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

The blessings of God are fully dependent upon His Grace and our reception of it!

Faith Leads To Grace, Feelings To The Flesh

What can cause us to fall short of the Grace of God? The Bible gives us a perfect illustration.

Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator (pornos), or PROFANE (bebēlos, pronounced beb’-ay-los, the wicked) person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Word Study: What is it that keeps us from the Grace of God? It is FEELINGS. The text speaks first of the FORNICATOR, the pornos or sexually driven person. People today chase after sex in all forms because of the good fleshly feeling that it brings. They do not heed what God says, but their flesh is their god – or as the Apostle encouraged and warned us:

Philippians 3:17-20 (CSB) Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Word Study: Those who are Christ’s are not focused on sexual satisfaction, but on Grace. Our focus is on Jesus, and on the glory of God. Those who are into PORNOS or PORN are devoted to the flesh, not to God. Then we see the text refer to the bebēlos, or the wicked or unholy person. What is interesting about this word is that the Hebrew word bāḇel (don’t they sound about the same? Yes, I know they are two different words, but I don’t think its a coincidence!) takes us back to the descendants of Noah, in particular the man named NIMROD:

Genesis 10:8-10 (ESV) Cush (the grandson of Noah through Ham) fathered NIMROD; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. … 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel …

God gave Nimrod the ability to be a mighty hunter and a man’s man. But Nimrod was not focused on God’s Grace. He created eight cities in his glory, the first of which was Babel. It would be at Babel that the people would get together with a horrid plan:

Genesis 11:4 (ESV) … Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.

God had told mankind to “be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28; 9:1). But man followed FEELINGS RATHER THAN FAITH. Humanity did not say “Let’s glorify God and do as He says”, but instead we said “Let’s MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES. Let’s do what makes US FEEL GOOD, regardless of God”. It was at Babel that God confused the language of mankind, causing us in our discomfort to scatter. Later in the Bible Babylon would become the place where wicked, man made religion was developed. Babylon is the place of sexual immorality (Revelation 14:8), the place where the wrath of God would one day destroy (Revelation 16:19), a place of DEMONS AND UNCLEAN SPIRITS (Revelation 18:2).

A place where FEELINGS are placed above faith.

In chapter 11 God gave us a look at the heroes of the faith. But in chapter 12, God gives us a look at the heroes of FEELINGS. We are re-introduced to Esau.

Hebrews 12:16 … as ESAU, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

ESAU is a PROFANE PERSON, a child of Babel.

He was his daddy’s favorite child. Just as Nimrod was a mighty hunter, Esau was a mighty hunter. And Esau as the firstborn, was the next child who would inherit the blessings of Grace from his father Isaac. But Esau was a greedy, self centered, self absorbed man. His brother Jacob was not much better, and if there was a picture of “dysfunctional family” in the dictionary, it would have shown these twin boys. One day when Esau had been unsuccessfully hunting, he came in from the field and found his brother Jacob cooking a red (lentil) stew. Jacob told his brother:

Genesis 25:31-34 (ESV) … “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Esau relied on FEELING rather than FAITH. He was not going to die of hunger. The birthright that was his, was his by GRACE. He should have trusted in God. But Esau instead trusted in his FEELINGS, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when {Esau} would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Esau despised the Grace of God, and chose SELF over the SAVIOR. Later when he sought out his birthright, Esau NEVER REPENTED and turned to God, but begged his father Isaac to bless him (Genesis 27:30-41). Why did this happen to Esau? He caused it by choosing self over the Savior. And God knew that this was going to happen. God told Esau’s mother Rebekah “The older will serve the younger” (Romans 9:12). God would tell Rebekah while the children were still in her womb, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). Why did God love the younger Jacob, but hate the older Esau. Because God, Who knows “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10).

God knew that, though Jacob was initially as bad and self centered as his brother Esau was, that Jacob would eventually receive the Grace of God and become Israel, the Prince of God, a Child of God. But Esau and his descendants would become enemies of the faith, Edomites who would loot the Temple.

It is FAITH, not FEELINGS that bring us into the love and Grace of God. As the great Evangelist D.L. Moody once said,

“Satan can change your feelings, and make you feel almost any way; but he cannot change the Word of God.”

What Is Your Faith In? Yes, It Matters.

Hebrews 12:18-21 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

What is this mount that burned with fire … blackness, and darkness, and tempest? This terrible place where God told Israel:

Exodus 19:12-13 (ESV) … ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, {only then} they shall come up to the mountain.

Where is this place? A place of condemnation, a place of fear. Not only did all the “people of Israel tremble with fear” (Exodus 19:16), but Moses himself, a mighty man of God, said “I was afraid of the anger and the hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you” (Deuteronomy 9:19).

This was Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai was a horrible place, the very mountain of God. Why did God lead Israel to Mount Sinai? Because Israel rejected the grace of God, and trusted in their feelings rather than faith. God saved Israel from Egypt by GRACE. Israel followed God, and left their slavery behind. Israel went through the Red Sea by GRACE. They followed the Lord. Israel was given manna and meat in the wilderness by GRACE. Israel was given water by GRACE. And yet, at every instance where there was the slightest lack, the leanest of suffering, Israel reverted to FEELING rather than FAITH.

So God brought Israel to Sinai, a terrible place. A fierce place. Why? Because Israel would not follow God by faith. They kept defaulting to FEELINGS. So God gave Israel the Law, a harsh, unkeepable Law. The Law illustrated the absolute holiness of God. The Law convicted of sin. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 3:19-20 (ESV) Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Though the Law offered a “sacrament” of animal sacrifice, it did not actually save. As we learned through Hebrews,

Hebrews 10:1-2, 4 (AP) … the Law was a SHADOW of good things to come … with animal sacrifices offered year by year that could not make you perfect. If they could, they would have been ceased … it is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of animals take away sins …

God gave the Law – a harsh Law of circumcision, and ceremony, and sacrifice – to teach Israel and us that we cannot by our own efforts make ourselves right before God. If we want to be saved, we must follow God in faith. God sent his Son Jesus into this world to teach us that we are all sinners in need of the Savior.

Jesus came calling us to repent and follow.

Jesus explained the difference between the Law and Feeling and faith in:

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) {Jesus} also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Don’t miss the introduction to the parable. Jesus specifically spoke to “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt”. They “TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES”. They were centered on THEIR feelings, what THEY thought, what THEY did. But they never secured the Grace of God. Who did? The hated tax collector who, contrary to most people, abhorred himself, humbled himself, and called upon God’s Grace as a sinner devoid of hope.

It is not my ability that will get me to Heaven. It is not your ability that will get you to Heaven. It is the Grace of God that saves us, and keeps on saving us.

We Procure Grace By Faith (TRUST)

Hebrews 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect …

If you are recipients of the Grace of God, then you are not where Esau was. Further, you are not standing at the base of Mount Sinai. The Bible says “ye are come unto mount Zion”. What is Mount Zion? Mount Zion is the highest point in Jerusalem, a holy place that overlooks the city of David.

Abraham offered his son up to God on this mountain. (Genesis 22:1-24)
Here Jacob had his dream of a ladder to Heaven. (Genesis 28:11)
And Solomon built the Temple here (2 Chronicles 3:1)

Mount Zion speaks of the Presence of God. You enter the Presence of God not through FEELINGS like Esau, or SELF ASSURANCE like the Law would test. You enter the Presence of God through His Door, through Grace. You come unto “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”, that place we call Heaven by Grace, by faith in God’s goodness. We will one day look at the home of the “angels” of God. We will one day stand with “THE CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN”, those whose names are “WRITTEN IN HEAVEN” in God’s Book of Life. How do you get your name in that Book? By having faith in God, by believing on Him Whom God has sent. One day we will see “God the Judge of all, and … the spirits of just men made perfect”. We will stand before God cleansed on all sin. How will we get into His Book?

By faith in Christ.

Hebrews 12:24-25 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.

How is a person saved? It is by FAITH in Jesus. It is not by FEELING, but by FAITH. What does it mean to have FAITH.

Faith means to TRUST GOD.

God entrusts salvation to those who trust HIM. The Apostle said:

2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV) … I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Trust means I believe that GOD IS ABLE. Not me, but God. I do not trust people, but I trust God. As the Psalmist said, “It is better to TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD, than to TRUST IN MAN” (Psalm 118:8). In the New Testament the word FAITH is frequently used. But throughout the Old Testament God used another word.

TRUST!

Jeremiah 17:5, 7 (ESV) Cursed is the man who trust in man, and makes FLESH HIS STRENGTH, whose heart TURNS AWAY FROM THE LORD … 7 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD, WHOSE TRUST IS THE LORD ..

I have heard people say, “There is a member of such and such a Church, and that person cheated me out of some money. I won’t have anything to do with Churches or Christians again”. Your very words convict you. Your trust is not in God, but in man, in people. Those who are God’s children put their trust in Him.

Psalm 9:10 … Those who know Your Name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You …

Isaiah 12:2 .. Behold, God is my Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my Strength and Song, and HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION …

Salvation is all of God. Salvation is placing your trust, your hopes, your very life into the hands of Jesus.

When our Lord Jesus was in Bethsaida the Bible tells us in:

Mark 8:22-23 (ESV) … some people brought to {Jesus} a blind man and begged Him to touch him. 23 And {Jesus} took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village…

Before Jesus can save us, He has to get us to the place where our trust, our faith, is totally in Him. Jesus “LED THE BLIND MAN OUT OF THE VILLAGE” before He ministered to him and gave him his sight. When you are saved, you follow Jesus.

I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

The Christian puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ, in His finished work of Calvary, in the empty tomb. We believe the Word of God because Jesus believed the Word of God. And we follow Him, albeit imperfectly. But it is in Him we trust!

A group of explorers wanted to get a few eggs from a nest on the side of a steep precipice. They asked the local villagers if there was anyone able to reach the area, and there was a young boy who said “Yes, I can”. The explorers said, “We’ll lower you down by a rope, and pay you well for your time”. The boy refused. He didn’t trust them. But he told the explorers, “I’ll go, but only if my Father holds the rope. I know He won’t let go.”

Beloved, that is where faith should be. Not in man, not in our strength, but in the power and majesty of God. Our faith must rest full in Jesus, the One sent to mediate the New Covenant. Do you know Him? Oh, that God would draw you to Jesus this very day! Amen and Amen.

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Working For Christ’s Kingdom

Posted on July 25, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
on the Kingdom with Jesus
Photo by Craig Adderley: https://www.pexels.com/photo/concrete-road-between-trees-1563356/

As we continue through Proverbs 10, we will continue to see the contrast between the child of God and the lost person. There is a reason for this contrast, as we shall shortly see.

Proverbs 10:14-16 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Believers In Christ STORE UP The Right Thing

These three proverbs actually work together. They speak of “storing up”. The proverbs are introduced with:

vs 14 Wise men lay up knowledge

Word Study: The word men is not in the original text. It states that the WISE (ḥāḵām), the person who makes it a practice to follow God and His Word, these believers ṣāp̄an (pronounced tsaw-fan’) “gather as a treasure, protect as something valuable” knowledge (Biblical knowledge). The wise person treasures knowledge of God and Christ, seeking it out. Jesus described the Kingdom of Heaven – the rule of God though His Word and His Spirit – as a PEARL OF GREAT PRICE:

Matthew 13:45-46 KJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

People put God’s Word on the back burner, and treasure all else. Yet the Word of God and the rule of His Spirit through that Word is a hidden treasure for it brings both eternal as well as a better life:

vs 16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life…

That which you KNOW is that which you DO. Treasuring the Word of God, the wise person DOES what the Lord says. The actions of the wise lead to LIFE, not death. In many churches today, the godless get the reigns of the flock. Recently the Presbyterian Church USA has directed that they will no longer ordain anyone who does not affirm the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. The evil have become elders in that Church, and are demanding that others – in order to become elders – affirm the same evil. Their actions will not lead to life, but to death. “The labor of the righteous tendeth to life”. Jesus put it this way:

Matthew 13:52 Then said {Jesus} unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

In Jesus’ day the SCRIBES were those who wrote and re-wrote the Scripture so that others could read and enjoy it. Through repetition the Scribes had memorized vast portions of Scripture. They knew what the Bible said – but did not understand its intent. The Lord gave us the Bible to foster and grow the Kingdom of God – the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth. The intent of the Word of God properly applied is to bring us closer to God now, and into God’s Heaven in eternity.

The Word of God supplants the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It directs us how to live the way GOD created us to live.

Those who do not heed the Word of God and His Spirit are not led to life, but to death.

Vs 14 the mouth of the foolish is near destruction

Word Study“NEAR DESTRUCTION” is the Hebrew qārôḇ mᵊḥitâ, “the neighbor of terror or ruin, the kin of dissolution”. What the Godless (the “fool”, Psalm 14:1; 53:1) have stored in their souls is more godlessness, more darkness. The focus of the believer in Christ is “it is written”. These are the words of life.

Matthew 6:21-23 KJV – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [22] The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. [23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!

What you are regularly focused on – what your mind’s eye is dwelling on – will effect your whole body. The fruit of your body will be death, if you mind’s eye is focused not on God’s Word but on cultural and human tradition.

Vs 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city

The rich person cares little for the treasures of God’s Word, but they LOVE MONEY. The Bible tells us that (1 Timothy 6:10) “the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. Money itself is not evil, but it is a tool. But when money is LOVED, those who do so have little care for others. This is why the rich are often guilty of “destruction of the poor”. They take advantage of those who have little, robbing them of their funds to fill their accounts with money. Yet the destruction they bring on the poor will one day be “THEIR POVERTY”. I am reminded of the story that our Lord Jesus told of a beggar named Lazarus, and an unnamed rich man (Luke 16:20-31). The rich man had little care for Lazarus, and never noticed him as he begged at his doorway. When Lazarus died, the Bible says:

Luke 16:22-23 KJV – … the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Though the beggar had nothing in this life but his faith, when he died he was transported to the riches of God’s Paradise. But the rich man who helped keep Lazarus in suffering, his money did not go with him after death. His riches became his poverty – his loss. The Bible tells us:

Numbers 32:23 … behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

There will be a payday, someday. The …

Vvs 16 labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin

The unbeliever, rejecting the Word of God, lives in the power and promise of sinful flesh. As a result the wicked seek excuses and reasons to ignore the Word of God.

Those Who Hear The Word, Speak The Word

Proverbs 10:17-21 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Those who love God and His Word appreciate the truths they are taught of His Word. “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction”. Those who not only hear but DO God’s Word is actually following the “WAY OF LIFE”. The righteous use their mouth to teach others “the WAY of salvation” (Acts 16:17), “the WAY of God” (Acts 18:26), “the WAY of peace” (Romans 3:17), “The WAY of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21). The Christian wants others to find Christ, to come from the Kingdom of Darkness and into the Kingdom of Christ. But ..

vs 18 hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool

Those who promote lies and spread untruths about others are godless, not Christlike. It is a tactic of the devil to slander. In the Book of Revelation John saw the eventual fall of Satan. We read:

Revelation 12:10 (KJV) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

It is the nature of Satan to slander, to accuse the children of God. This is why Jesus equated mis-judgment of a brother or sister with damnation. We are to lift one another upwards toward good citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom – not to tear one another down. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:21-24 KJV – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. [23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Believers in Christ are members of His Kingdom of Light, and we strive to invite others into that Kingdom. We do not tear down a brother or a sister, but realize that God wants us to –

Romans 12:18 … as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Our Lips Are Tools To Build His Kingdom

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

We have all been guilty of “motor mouth syndrome”. We let our tongues run away, speak too quickly, and speak without regard to what God’s Word has said. It is always wise to delay in responding to others. When challenged by others, Jesus did not rush to respond, but refrained speaking until He knew the right thing to say. The Bible tells us:

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few

James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God

Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

The righteous person controls their tongue, whereas what is in the heart of the wicked is vain, empty. “CHOICE silver” is silver with the DROSS, the impurities, removed. The righteous person’s words are worth listening to, whereas the heart of the wicked contains little of value. We are told in:

Ecclesiastes 5:2 … God is in heaven and you are on the earth, therefore let your words be few …

We are to speak God’s Word, but let OUR words be few. It is His Word that brings blessing. Believers are to lead others to Christ through God’s Scripture.

Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Those who are saved by Grace are stewards of Grace. The Apostle wrote:

1 Peter 4:7-11 KJV – But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. [8] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. [9] Use hospitality one to another without grudging. [10] As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [11] If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As we have been given Grace, we act as STEWARDS of that Grace. Grace is what God has entrusted us with. When we think of STEWARDSHIP, we think of money, or material things. But God’s STEWARDSHIP that He has given us is Grace. When He saves us, He leaves us on this earth to reach others.

The Apostle Paul understood this principle.

When Paul wrote the Church at Ephesus, he wrote:

Ephesians 3:1-2 (ESV) For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you

Paul said “The reason I was saved by Grace was FOR YOU EPHESIANS”. God always saves us – not for our sake – but for the sake of those around us. When God saved Israel it was not just to bless Israel – though He did – but to FULFILL THE PROMISE He made to Abraham, and to BLESS THE GENTILES through Israel.

We are saved for a greater purpose than just ourselves. We are saved so that we can lead others to the same Grace that saved us.

Paul went on to write:

Ephesians 3:7-11 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord

We are saved and brought into Christ’s Kingdom so that others might be saved and brought into Christ’s Kingdom. The LOST ARE DYING FOR LACK OF WISDOM. They need the Lord.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

God’s Grace makes a life rich, “AND HE ADDS NO SORROW WITH IT”. Though we have trials, we who are His never walk alone. God is with us. Though our bodies fail, our souls are eternal, and we now are possessors of everlasting life. When we leave this life, we go to eternity.

Let’s take others with us when we go.

May God the Holy Spirit touch us all by His Word!

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