Nature Of The Christian

Posted on December 6, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Cindy Gustafson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/macro-photography-of-butterflies-perched-on-lavender-flower-675313/

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ

Why Is There A 2nd Peter?

Peter wrote 1st Peter, but God compelled him to write a 2nd Peter. Why?

To understand this, go back to the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples, as they fished on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21). Peter and the other ten Apostles are out fishing (Judas Iscariot has hung himself, see Matthew 27:1-10) when Jesus calls to them from the shore, inquiring as to whether or not they had caught any fish. They tell Jesus “No”, and He tells them to “cast the net on the RIGHT side of the boat” (John 21:6). Doing so, they gather so many fish that the net nearly breaks. The Bible says:

John 21:11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

I have often wondered why there were “one hundred and fifty-three” fish in the net. Why did God make this observation? When Jesus initially met Simon Peter, his brother Andrew and James and John Zebedee, they were fishing at the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:5-8), and just like at the Sea of Tiberius had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus told them then to “let down your nets” and, on doing so, caught so many fish that their nets nearly broke. Jesus told these men,

Luke 5:10 (NKJV) Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men…

Jesus said “Follow Me, and I will make YOU fishers of men”. 153 fish represent the diverse types of people that the Gospel will net. Jesus came for ALL people. Those who have been saved toss the Gospel net for all!

After the Apostles draw the 153 fish from the Sea of Tiberius at Christ’s Word this symbolized the effectiveness of the Lord Jesus. When we do as He says, we will always produce spiritual fruit. Following this miraculous catch, Jesus three times asks Peter:

John 21:15 (NKJV) … “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

Are you SAVED Simon? Am I your life? Three times Jesus asks this – and three times “Simon, The son of Jonah” replies, “Yes Lord, You know that I love you”. Simon is affirming his salvation in his love for Jesus. Loving Jesus, our Lord tells Simon:

John 21:15 “Feed My lambs.”
John 21:16 “Tend My sheep.”
John 21:17 “Feed My sheep.”

If you’re saved by the Gospel net, YOU BELONG TO JESUS! 2 Peter examines the NATURE and the NURTURE of the Christian.

The Christian is Christ’s possession.

You belong to no man but the Son of Man. You were purchased by the Blood of Him Who saved you. “Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12, NKJV). Jesus died on a “t” shaped gallows to purchase you from Satan. Jesus “ loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5, NKJV). The Scripture says that “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV). It is the Blood of Christ that saved you. It is the Blood of Christ that redeemed you from sin and Satan.

Someone let down the Gospel net at Christ’s Word – and you were caught! You are part of the 153. You no longer belong to the world.

In 1st Peter the Apostle addresses “Satan as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This is the enemy from WITHOUT, the lost world that continually attacks the Church, watches the Church, seeks to destroy the Church. The roaring lion watches from the outside, seeking to destroy the weak and the stragglers that are pitiful in their faith. Just as the roaring lion attacks and kills the slow, the sheep that drift from the watchful eye of the shepherd, that wander away from the flock, Satan will kill the faith and the life of those who wander from Christ’s Church. He attacks by the world and the fallen flesh. He attacks from without.

In 2nd Peter the Apostle addresses “Satan as a serpent in the Garden of Eden, the enemy from WITHIN” (Genesis 3:1; 1 Corinthians 10:9; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9). The greatest danger to the Church is not Satan the Lion from without, but Satan the Serpent from within.

Illustrate: Satan from without can be defeated much in the same way that the three little pigs defeated the big bad wolf. When the little pigs built their houses of straw and sticks, they were easily destroyed. But when they built their homes out of ROCK, the big bad wolf had no effect. He could huff and puff, but could not come in. Isn’t this what Jesus said in:

Matthew 7:25 (NKJV) … and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

The net let down at Christ’s Word will bring in 153 varieties of people. The Church focused on the Word of Christ cannot fall, for it is built upon the Rock that is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The big bad wolf or the Roaring Lion cannot get through the door where God’s people are.

Christians, To Defeat The Lion & The Serpent,
We Rely On The Savior And The Spirit

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…..

Let’s start with these ten words. C.H. Spurgeon noted that one of the signs of spiritual maturity is to realize how weak you are, but how great Christ is. He said:

“Get to Christ somehow, anyhow, for if you get to Him you shall live. It is not the greatness nor the perfection of your faith, it is His greatness and His perfection which is to be depended on.”

As Peter begins this letter, let’s note how he begins it:

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter

When Peter opened his first letter, he wrote:

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ

But now in this second letter he starts with “Simon Peter” – but this is not actually correct. In the Greek manuscripts it is actually “SIMEON Peter”.

Word Study: We’re used to calling him “Simon”, the Greek form of his name Símōn which we transliterate into “Simon”. But Simon was not born a Greek, but a Jew, a Hebrew. His Hebrew name is (in the Greek Text) Symeṓn, the Hebrew Shimʻôwn. This was his fleshly name, the name his father gave him. In John 1:42 Jesus addressed the Apostle, saying…

John 1:42 … when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon (Greek Símōn) the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Word Study: Jesus gave Simeon a second name, Kēphas which is transliterated “Cephas”, the Aramaic form of Petros or “Peter”. Peter or Cephas is the spiritual name Jesus gave Simeon/Simon. As Peter begins this 2nd letter, he begins with “SIMEON PETER” – his birth name and his born again name. When Jesus looked at Simeon and called him, he called him from where he was to where the Christ is.

Every Christian has a birth name, a fleshly past that you came from. You were named a human name like “SIMEON” by your parents. You were born of the flesh, and have a past history where you did not know Christ. But every Christian not only has a “SIMEON”, but when Jesus calls us, He calls us from “SIMEON” to “PETROS” or “PETER”. Jesus changes us from what we were to what we will be.

Jesus meets SIMEON, and says “Follow Me”. SIMEON becomes PETER, just as SAUL became PAUL. Christians are changed creatures.

The Scripture says in Romans 11:30 (AP) … in times past you did NOT BELIEVE GOD …

Not believing God, the Scripture says in Ephesians 2:2-3 (ESV) … you once walked, following the {ways} of this world, following the prince of the power of the air {that’s the devil}, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Every Christian was once a lost creature, made by God, but at war with God. We wanted to be our own god. But when we met Jesus we, like Peter, said “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful person” (Luke 5:8). We realized – through the power of God’s Holy Spirit – that we were not where we needed to be.

Every Christian is a “new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”. (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). We are a work in progress, the people of God. We are called to follow Christ. The Scripture says in Romans 6:4 (ESV) … “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”.

It is God Who makes the godly …. godly.
It is God Who makes the Christian.
It is God Who says “Follow Me” – then leads us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by Grace are ye saved through FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES – it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast ….. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ORDERED we walk in them!

Christians grow by intentionally partnering with God, seeking out His Word, feeding upon it, and following Christ. We realize we are not perfect – the Christian walk is not a cake walk, but a surrendered walk. The Apostle Paul said:

Romans 7:22-25 (ESV) For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

We are delivered from sin by the Blood of Christ – but we war with sin in these fallen bodies. Yet we battle that sin. How? In our own strength? No! But as both Peter and Paul learned, The Gospel that saves us is the Gospel that keeps us. We follow Jesus to be saved. We keep on following Jesus, surrendered, to have an overcoming faith. Powerful faith is not accidental, but incremental. Overcoming faith is not stumbled upon, but sought out by prayer and following. We as Christians serve our Savior.

The Christian Is First And Foremost
A SERVANT Of God

In 1st Peter the Apostle started with “Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ”. But in 2nd Peter we read:

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…..

As Simon Peter addresses the Christian, he does not first list himself as “an apostle”. The Apostles were hand picked by Jesus, and given special powers to do what Jesus wanted them to do.

Matthew 10:1-2 (ESV) … And {Jesus} called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these …

Word Study: These twelve “apostles”, the Greek apóstolos, were delegates or ambassadors of the Kingdom of Christ. These ambassadors were sent out to represent Jesus. They had authority from Jesus to not only cast out unclean spirits (fallen angels), but they had the power to heal EVERY disease or affliction in Jesus’ name. They were second only in authority to Jesus Christ Himself. Apostles helped establish the early Church, to organize its business, and to keep the Church spreading the Gospel.

As Peter applies the term “Apostle” to himself, it is a term of POWER. You would think Peter would call himself an APOSTLE first. But He didn’t. Though an “APOSTLE”, empowered of Christ to do magnificent things, He is first a “SERVANT”. Again, this is not the best translation of the word.

Word Study: The word “SERVANT” is the Greek “doûlos”, which is derived from the Greek δέω which means “to tie, bind, ensnare, capture”. A Doûlos was a slave, as opposed to a Paîs which was a hired servant. The hired servant could quit his employer, and seek a better salary elsewhere. The Doûlos or slave could not quit his job at will. In the ancient world a person could sell themselves into slavery, giving themselves to a master in order to receive sustenance, shelter, and protection. Under the Jewish law in Deuteronomy 15:12-18 God told His people that “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.” But if this man decided he did not want to leave the master, then “if he says to {the master}, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever.”

This is the state of the Doûlos of Christ. When the Christian comes to Christ, Jesus says “Come, follow Me”. We do not rent ourselves out to Jesus. We become His possession. Jesus said:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

The Christian has placed his or her ear on the doorpost of the Cross. We love Him because Jesus His all for us.

We are sons and daughters of God because of what the Son of God did for us. We are adopted into the family of God because God’s only begotten Son entered into the human race. Saving faith is not just a mental exercise where one says, “I believe”. To believe in Jesus is to put everything aside, and to follow Him. To trust or commit your life to Jesus.

Saving Faith Is A PRECIOUS Gift From God

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Word Study: The word translated “OBTAINED” is the Greek lanchánō, which means “to receive by divine allotment”. Every person who has ever been saved have been called to salvation by Christ. Jesus called you. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose again, and called to you. Just as Peter, James, John, and every Apostle was called to salvation by Christ, the saved are called to salvation. We “Receive by divine allotment a LIKE PRECIOUS faith”, the same faith that saved Peter. Our salvation is “through THE righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ”. Jesus Christ is God and our Savior. He has provided precious faith to us.

Word Study: “like precious” is the Greek isótimos, which means “equally precious, of equal value or honor”. As Peter speaks of faith, we are tempted to say “Well, that’s easy for YOU to say, Peter. You walked with Jesus. You sat at His feet. You touched Him. Jesus called you as an Apostle, the highest power and gift in the early Church. But look at me. Compared to YOU, I have little from God!” Peter says, “No! Your faith as a gift from God is of equal value and of equal honor”.

Peter loved to use the word PRECIOUS. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is PRECIOUS. He is PRECIOUS because He alone is chosen of God to redeem mankind:

1 Peter 2:4, 6 To {Jesus} coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious … 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

If you believe on Jesus, you will not be “confounded” or “ashamed”. To believe on Jesus is to give your life to Him, to rest in Him and His words. Jesus is PRECIOUS because He gives us confidence before God – for He is the Chief Corner Stone of the Kingdom of God. When you believe on Jesus then to you He is PRECIOUS (1 Peter 2:7). Because Jesus is PRECIOUS, His Blood which was shed for us is PRECIOUS:

1 Peter 1:18-19 You were not redeemed with corruptible things, things like silver or gold, from your empty way of life received by tradition from your forefathers. You were redeemed with the PRECIOUS blood of Christ, like a lamb without spot or blemish.

The Blood of Christ is PRECIOUS, because it is the only ticket into the Kingdom of God. The Blood of Christ not only guarantees us a place in Heaven, but secures for every Christian a PRECIOUS faith that cannot be defeated. Purchased of God, the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. And every trial that comes our way are but tests that prove the genuiness of our faith.

1 Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Heaven is yours, dear Christian, because of Christ. But much greater than Heaven – because Christ is Precious, because His Blood is Precious, because your salvation is Precious, God gives us PRECIOUS PROMISES:

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Christian is destined to be a “partaker of the divine nature”. The world says “Follow YOUR heart”. Jesus says, “Follow Me”. The world says “Be true to YOURSELF”. Jesus says, “I am the Truth. Follow Me”. The world says, “Believe in YOURSELF”. Jesus says, “Believe in ME. Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The world says, “You deserve to be happy. Do what makes you happy.” Jesus says, “What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul? Deny yourself, and follow Me.”

If you follow the world, you will only find sadness and insecurity, sin and death. If you follow Jesus, you will find life, eternal life in Him. Will you not follow Him, one day at a time, one step at a time?

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The “S” Word

Posted on November 20, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
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1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I remember very vividly the day I got off the bus at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The drill instructor got onto the bus, and looked us over. As he did, he said “I see you all are in different clothing, and with different lengths of hair. We want to make your stay here as peaceful as possible. I’m your drill instructor, but I want you to regard me as your friend and momma. For the next 8 weeks I’m going to do my best not to hurt your feelings. If you’ll get off the bus, I’ll show you where the accomodations are. And if at any time you feel uncomfortable, let me know – and we’ll do everything we can to accommodate you.”

Did you believe anything I just said? If you did, you are warped!

When the drill instructor got on the bus, he started yelling. He didn’t care if he hurt our feelings. We were told to get off the bus. We were told we were so stupid, that over the next 8 weeks he’d teach us how to stand, how to walk, how and when to talk, how to run, and how and when to sleep. We were told when we could eat, and how long we were allowed to eat. We learned how to fold our clothes – not how we wanted to do so, but how we would do so. And never, never, never did the instructor care about our feelings. You see, he had a mission to accomplish.

He was trying to save our lives.

If you could not learn to work with other people in one accord, as directed by the leader, then you and others would die on the battlefield. Your life depended on your ability to submit to lawful authority, and to work as a cohesive part of a larger group.

Or you and others would die.

The Basis Of Life Is Submission

In America today, on college campuses students are told to shout down speakers that may not conform to their ideaology. They are taught that their feelings are more important than any truth whatsoever. These kids on college campuses are not taught submission, but that they are the center of the universe. As a result, these kids graduate college, apply for jobs, and are rejected by employers because they have not learned to work within a group. Crying over their large college loans that they themselves chose to create, they demand that the government pay off their student loans. Why? So the blue collar worker who paid taxes and did not go to college can pay for their mistake.

These same kids grew up in families where they were told they were the center of the universe, and that the world revolved around them. They were given to “chores” and no discipline for failing to submit to authority in the family. They grew up believing what they feel is more important that anyone or anything else.

Submission. It is not a dirty word, but the basis of
an orderly and a good life.

1 Peter 5:5 … LIKEWISE …

Word Study LIKEWISE: Last week we saw that the ELDER (presbyteros) was to SUBMIT himself to the Word of God. Now we see the word LIKEWISE, the Greek homoiōs, which means “in the same way”. As the Elder or the Pastor of the Church submits not to feelings or opinions but to the Word of God,

1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

“In the same way the younger is to submit to the Elder’s leadership”. As the Elder follows the Word of God, so the younger follows the Elder. The flock is fed the Word of God as the Will of God. Why can’t we all just do what we want to do?

We all can’t have our own way, because this is anarchy!

The devil is always looking around, seeking to destroy the creation of God. We are told that in today’s text:

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Everytime God does something good, the devil comes along to try and disrupt it. When God created the angels and mankind, He created us all with free will. We were given the ability to choose. The Bible says that when God made the devil, he was initially called “Lucifer”, which means “the bright and shining one”. Lucifer was an ArchAngel, along with Michael and Gabriel one of the three Chief Angels the Bible speaks of. The Prophet Isaiah saw that Lucifer misused his free will, and decided to try and take over the Throne of God. The Scripture says …

Angelic Background

Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

Rather than submit and follow his Creator, Lucifer led “a third of the Stars of Heaven {the Angels} and threw them to the earth” (Revelation 12:4). When God put Adam in the Garden of Eden, Lucifer listened. When God directed Adam, we read:

Adam’s Directive

Genesis 2:15-17 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And 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.”

Lucifer revolted against God and was cast out of Heaven. Watching God create Adam and put Adam in a perfect earthly Paradise, he heard what God told Adam. Adam was to SUBMIT to God, and tend to the Garden. He could eat of ANY tree’s fruit, BUT “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”. Let me point out that ,,,

Eve was not yet created when the command was given to Adam. Adam was created FIRST, and was to lead in the family. When God said “YOU shall not eat of it”, the direct meaning was “YOU ADAM shall not eat of it”. No such command was ever given to the woman, but to the man. Why?

Because God made MEN and WOMEN different. Eve could have made a fruit salad of that forbidden tree, and it wouldn’t have mattered. The command was given to Adam.

What happened? Lucifer came to the WOMAN (not to man) and tempted her to eat of the forbidden. The WOMAN WAS CREATED OUT OF MAN, and was supposed to follow his leadership. But he must lead. Lucifer told Eve “If you eat of that forbidden fruit …

You Will Be Like God

Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV) … “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Lucifer was thrown out of Heaven for trying to take God’s Throne. Now Lucifer encourages the WOMAN to eat of that which is forbidden so that “you will be like God”. The Bible says that …

Eve Gave To Adam

Genesis 3:6-7 (NKJV) … she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened …

Nothing happened when Eve ate of the forbidden. It was only when Adam ate that “the eyes of both of them were opened”. Why? Because the command to submit was given to Adam. Adam was to submit to God, and trust God, not eating of that which was forbidden. The Scripture says:

Repercussions Of Adam’s Sin

Romans 5:15 (NKJV) … by ONE MAN’S OFFENSE many died …

Romans 5:17 (NKJV) … by ONE MAN’S OFFENSE death reigned …

Romans 5:19 (NKJV) … by ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE many were made sinners…

Adam was to submit to God, not Eve. Eve was to submit to her husband, not Lucifer. The Bible says that “the serpent {Satan} DECEIVED EVE by his craftiness” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The Apostle Paul would later write:

1 Timothy 2:13-14 (NKJV) … Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Adam was not deceived. He knew full well that his actions were clearly against the directive of God. Jesus looked him in the eyes and told him “do not eat the forbidden fruit”. But Adam made a choice, a conscious choice, to refuse to submit himself to God – while submitting himself to Eve and Lucifer.

His free will actions cost us all Paradise!

Submission Makes An Orderly & Healthy Families

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The basis of a healthy family is submission. The Christian family is a picture of submission:

Ephesians 5:21-23 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body.

The husband is to lead the wife, and the wife to submit to the godly leadership of the husband. But the husband ALSO submits:

Ephesians 5:25-28 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, … 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

The husband, like Christ for His Church, is to be willing to DIE for his wife. We are to “love their wives as their own bodies”. Had Adam loved Eve, he would not have eraten that which was forbidden. Had Adam loved Eve, he would not have put Eve above what Christ had said. We are first and foremost to submit all that we have and hope to be to our Lord. The “Great Commandment” is:

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.”

What does “with all” mean? It means that we are to love God so much, and submit to Him so much, that our love for others might even be misinterpreted as hatred. Jesus said:

Luke 14:26 (NKJV) … If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

In submission, we give our all to Jesus first. And in submitting to Christ, we love others all the better!

Beloved, you cannot even be saved from damnation without humility and submission.

1 Peter 5:5-6 …. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God

Word Study: Humility is to be the clothing of the saint. Why? Because we are told “God resisteth the proud”. This is the Greek antitassō, which means “to oppose or stand in battle against”. God stands up AGAINST those who are proud, who will not bend the knee to Him. Though the Bible tells us that salvation is a free gift from God:

Romans 5:18 … as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Adam through his pride and arrogance brought sin on the whole world. But Jesus Christ, humbling Himself on Calvary, offers the FREE GIFT of salvation to whosoever receives Him. But this FREE GIFT MUST BE RECEIVED.

You must REPENT!
You must BEND THE KNEE to Christ!

Jesus preached,

Matthew 4:17 … REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand …

Mark 1:15 … REPENT, and believe the Gospel …

Luke 13:3 … unless you REPENT, you will all likewise perish!

The early Church preached:

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

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

And Jesus even told the early Church:

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto YOU quickly, and will remove YOUR candlestick out of it’s place, except thou repent.

You cannot enter the Family of God without repentance. You cannot remain an operational Church of Christ without repentance. God ACTIVELY STANDS AGAINST those who are proud, but God GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. There is no grace without humility. There is no blessing without humility.

Jesus told us:

Matthew 20:25-28 (ESV) “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Within the Trinity of God, each Member of the Trinity – though God – practices submission. The Father sent the Son to save us:

1 John 4:14 (ESV) And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Son sends the Spirit to sanctify us:

John 14:25-26 (TNIV) … the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things

Luke 24:49 (NRSV) … I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high

and yet, the Father humbles Himself in that He has placed all judgment into Christ’s hands:

John 5:22 (NLT) … the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge,

If the Godhead practices humility and submission, then you are most like God when you are humble and submissive to the plan of God. Let us follow the Lord in humility, loving one another, lifting one another up.

In closing, I heard this story.

Many years ago Spain would put convicts on Spanish Galleys, in chains, and under the whip they were made to toil until they died or their sentence was commuted. Such a punishment was hard, very harsh, a veritable hell on earth. Those who died at the oar were tossed overboard to feed the fish. The King of Spain was onboard one of these Galleys when he decided to visit below deck and see these convicts. As he walked past these convicts, he asked one after the other how they came to be in such a horrible place.

One man said “a false witness lied, and said I stole that money”. Another said, “the judge was wrong – I never did any evil that deserves this”. On and on as the King walked the aisle, each man plead innocent. As he neared the end of the line of human misery, he saw one man hunched over the oars. “Why are you here?” The man replied, “I am ashamed, your Majesty, to even be seen by you. I deserve this. I robbed and hurt someone. As I have sat here this past year, I realize I deserve what is happening. In fact, it is a gift that I was not executed outright! If it were not for the magistrate’s mercy, I would have been hung long ago!” The King stopped as he listened to this man, then called for the Master of the ship. “Release this man! I will not have such an awful creature sitting in the midst of these other fine, upstanding citizens! Let him go!”

Such is Grace. God resists those who are lifted up and arrogant, but God blesses those who, in repentance, cast themselves upon His mercy. Have you cast yourself upon Him?

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.

If not, today is the day of salvation. May God lead you to surrender to Him Who gave His all for you on Calvary. Follow Him. Follow Jesus. Here is the way of glory! Amen and Amen.

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Christ’s Golden Prayer

Posted on November 17, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Rodolfo Clix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-image-of-person-praying-1615776/

John 12:26-30 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor. 27 Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify Thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Israel Is Faithless, But God Is Faithful

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the word spread that the Messiah had come. The people of Israel celebrated! As Jesus rode into Jerusalem during the Feast of the Passover the people cried out:

John 12:13 … Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The word “Hosanna” is a contraction of three Hebrew words in …

Psalm 118:25 SAVE NOW, I BEG YOU, O Lord which is the Hebrew yāšaʿ nā’ ‘ānnā’ (pronounced yaw-shah’ naw awn-naw’)

The crowd was crying out to God to save them, and believed that the salvation would come through Jesus Christ, the King of Israel!

Jesus could have easily provoked the crowd into rising up, and help Him throw Rome out of Israel. Jesus could have saved Israel from Rome. But Rome wasn’t Israel’s enemy. Israel’s enemy was SIN. God had promised Israel many years before:

1. Prominence above all other nations. God told His people.

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth ..

2. God promised prosperity, both urban and rural.

Deuteronomy 28:3 … You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country

Deuteronomy 28:8 … The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you

3. God promised healthy families.

Deuteronomy 28:4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks

4. God promised the destruction of all enemies.

Deuteronomy 28:7 … The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven

Deuteronomy 28:10 … Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you ..

5. God promised Israel would be a world leader.

Deuteronomy 28:13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom

Israel was not fallen to Roman rule because God is faithless or because God has forgotten His people. Israel is in bondage to Rome because Israel CHOSE to be in bondage to Rome. Israel turned away from faith in God, and began to intermingle with the world. As Israel became more secular and worldly, God withdrew His hand of blessing. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the population wanted relief from Rome. They needed a solution for sin.

Jesus Christ Kept His Focus On His Purpose

Jesus is the solution for sin. Jesus will have to go to the Cross and make payment for your sins and mine – yes, for the sins of the whole world. This is why Jesus says:

John 12:27 (KJV) Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Word Study: The word translated “troubled” is the Greek tarassō, which means “to be agitated, to have inward commotion, to be struck with fear and dread, to be anxious or distressed”. This was not the first time that Jesus was tarassō, so stirred up emotionally. The word was used of our Lord as He stood at the grave of Lazarus:

John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled {tarassō} …

Later when Jesus would contemplate Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Himself, we read:

John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled {tarassō} in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Jesus told us in John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled {tarassō} ye believe in God, believe also in me.

We are not to be troubled – disturbed – discouraged – or filled with dread or fear, because Jesus would take our burdens upon Himself. Our escape is Jesus. But Jesus has no escape. There is NO …

Acts 4:12 … salvation in any other: for there is NONE other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

As God, our Lord Jesus knows what He must do. But as Perfect Man, Jesus dreads what is coming. The Scripture says:

Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV) IN {Jesus} we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

Because of what Jesus was going to do during this Passover Feast, we would be REDEEMED from sin, REDEEMED from Satan, and RETURNED to Sonship with God if we receive Him. What Jesus was going to do would be unimaginable. As we could not pay for our sins, Jesus would pay for them. The Psalmist foresaw what Jesus would do on the Cross:

Psalm 22:1-8 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving Me, from the words of My groaning? 2 O My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried and were rescued; in You they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see Me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, for He delights in Him!”

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew that the Father would turn His back on Him, as our sins were poured out on Him on Calvary. Jesus will groan from the Cross, but the Father will not answer! Though others like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have cried out to God, and God has answered them, God will not answer Jesus’ prayers. Why? Is it because the Son is not loved? Is it because the Son does not please the Father? No, for God has said:

Matthew 3:17 … This is My BELOVED Son, with whom I am well pleased.

The Father calls Jesus “BELOVED”. The Father says of Jesus that “with whom I am well pleased”. There is nothing Jesus did in His earthly life that would have displeased the Father. Jesus said,

Luke 2:49 … I MUST be about MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

John 6:38 (NLT) For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

John 14:9 (NKJV) … He who has seen Me has seen the Father;

Jesus was always about the Father’s business. He is the “faithful and true witness” (Revelation 1:5; 19:11). He has never let the Father down, and will not do so now. This is why Jesus says:

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Though He knew the horror before Him, Jesus kept His focus on Hs mission. Let’s do a bit of application.

When we as believers suffer, do we keep our eyes on our PURPOSE in being here, or on OURSELVES? I must admit that many times when suffering, I beg God to remove the suffering. Yet we should, as believers, be more focused on our continued purpose in being here until the Lord calls us home. Though Jesus prayed, and even sought relief (Father, let this cup pass from me – NEVERTHELESS not my will but THINE) – He never gave up. The Bible says:

Hebrews 5:7-9 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Father, Glorify Your Name

There are many great prayers in the Bible. The greatest prayers are those which the Father answers. Jesus’ prayer was not long – just four words:

John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name …

Though a short prayer, God the Father IMMEDIATELY responded with:

John 12:28 … I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Jesus prayed but 4 words, and the Father answered with but 11. Jesus prayed that the Father would GLORIFY HIS NAME through the Son’s sacrifice. The Father immediately replied, “I have BOTH glorified it, and WILL GLORIFY IT again”. Jesus entered this world to bring glory to the Name of God. God will always glorify His Name. And we, no matter what we are going through in life, should seek to glorify God’s Name. When Jesus taugvht us the Lord’s Prayer, He taught us the need to make the Glory of God the center of our prayer. Jesus taught us

Matthew 6:8-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer begins with glory to God, and ends with glory to God. Any prayer is golden that seeks to bring glory to God’s name!

People Have Absolutely NO ACCESS
To God Without Christ

John 12:29-30 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to Him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes.

The reason that the Father spoke was NOT so that Jesus could hear Him, but so that we could see how desperately we need Jesus. There were three sets of ears listening when Jesus prayed this day. One set of ears, the sons of God, heard what the Father said. The sons of God heard:

John 12:28 … I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

They heard the Father and what He said. Those who are saved by faith in Christ have access to the Father, because of the Son and the Spirit. The Son has paid for our sins, so that the Holy Spirit can “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). A son of God by faith in Christ has access to the Father. God can speak, and we can hear.

But the lost only heard “thunder”, whereas others thought “an angel spoke to Him”. The lost cannot hear the message, for they have turned away from the Gospel. Jesus had to go to that Cross to make other sons of God. Mankind without Christ are utterly without God! Jesus is going to the Cross to make a way for us to become sons of God, so that we might serve God in this life.

Sons of God glorify God in their lives. We live for Him, not for ourselves. We previously read Jesus’ statement:

John 12:26 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.

I’ll close with these words from C.H. Spurgeon, from a sermon entitled “The Rule and Reward Of Serving Christ”:

Learn hence, then, all of you who would have Christ as your Savior, that you must be willing to serve Him. We are not saved BY service, but we are saved TO service. When we are once saved, thenceforward we live in the service of our Lord. If we refuse to be his servants, we are not saved, for we still remain evidently the servants of self, and the servants of Satan. Holiness is another name for salvation; to be delivered from the power of self-will, and the domination of evil lusts, and the tyranny of Satan,— this is salvation. Those who would be saved must know that they will have to serve Christ, and those who are saved rejoice that they are serving him, and that thus they are giving evidence of a change of heart and renewal of mind.

May God bless us as we learn to glorify Him and do service to Christ while we walk this earth. Amen and Amen!

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To The Elders

Posted on November 15, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bible-blur-christ-christianity-372326/

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

When I came across this the other day, I thought of Jerry Bridenbaugh, our Worship Leader and resident Lawyer. The man who told it to me started out with, “This is a true story, and there are court records that prove it”. This is from the British Newspaper, The Guardian:

“A lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina, bought a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire. A month later, after smoking all the cigars, he filed a claim against the insurance company, claiming that the cigars had been destroyed “in a series of small fires”. Naturally, the insurance company refused to pay, arguing that he had consumed the cigars in the normal way. The lawyer sued and won. The judge concluded that, on the wording of the policy, the insurance company was liable – it had failed to limit its liability by defining what would amount to an “unacceptable fire”. .. The company, rather than incur the costs of appeal, paid up $15,000, whereupon it reported the lawyer to the police. He was arrested and subsequently convicted on 24 counts of arson – intentionally burning insured property – and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine. “This is a true story,” the report goes on, ‘and was the first-place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest’.”

When I first heard this it made me smile. The story first came out in 1996, and in 2003 Country Music singer and songwriter Brad Paisley wrote a song about it called “The Cigar Song”, which released on his 2x Platinum album “Mud On The Tires”. The cigar story is actually fake. Insurance policies are written so that deliberate actions of destruction by the policy holder cannot trigger payouts. For instance, if I get a life insurance policy then take my own life, the policy would be null and void. But I did think it was interesting that in the cigar story the lawyer ended up suffering from his poor decisions. Isn’t that what the Bible says?

The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Here is a story I had hoped was an urban legend. In an article entitled “SBC Pastor Found Dead After Apparent Suicide Days After Secret Life Exposed” I read:

“On November 3rd 2023 at approximately 4:14 PM , the Lee County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office received information that a welfare check was needed for Mayor Fred ‘Bubba” Copeland from Smiths Station. Deputies located Mayor Copeland in the Beulah community of Lee County and a slow pursuit was initiated. Mayor Copeland turned off of Lee road 279 on to Lee road 275 just north of Yarbroughs Crossroads and pulled over. He exited the vehicle, produced a handgun and took his own life. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by Investigators at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. … Copeland was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Phenix City, a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church in Alabama; the mayor of Smiths Station, a town of less than 6,000 in Lee County, Alabama; and a convenience store owner.”

What caused this dear man – a Pastor, the Mayor of his town, a business owner, a married man with three children – to kill himself? He had a secret life as a transvestite. He had an online presence as Brittini Blaire Summerlin, posting sexually explicit content, images, and other forms of erotica. When his activities came to light Mr Copeland said that what he did was a “hobby to relieve stress”. If it were no more than a hobby or play, then why would he kill himself?

As I thought about these two things today – the Internet Legend of the false Lawyer, and the news story of the sad end of a man’s life – both have one thing in common.

When we depart from the Word of God and God’s Standard of what is right and wrong, we begin to walk a self destructive path. This was true with Adam and Eve, true in Noah’s day, and true even in the 21st century!

God’s Leaders Must Adhere To The Word Of God

1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you

Word Study: As the Apostle Peter enters this final chapter, he “exhorts” the “elders” which are among the Church. Let’s start with the word “exhort”, which is the Greek parakaleō. This is an interesting word, because it is a compound: para which means “alongside” and kaleō which means “to call”. Peter is not talking down to the Elders, as if in a position of authority. He is calling them alongside. He is saying to every Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, Teacher “Come here, let me put my arm around you and tell you something very important that I have been taught by Jesus”. Parakaleō. The word encourages (Luke 3:18). Parakaleō. The word comforts (Matthew 5:4). Parakaleō. The word pleads (Matthew 14:36; Mark 1:40).

Word Study: As Peter speaks to the “ELDERS” he says, “I am also an elder”. That word “ELDER” is the Greek presbýteros, which can mean “someone advanced in years”. But in this application presbýteros is a reference to a rank of office. The Jews had

Matthew 21:23 … Chief Priests and ELDERS {presbýteros}

Matthew 26:3 … Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the ELDERS {presbýteros}

When the Church was formed, the Apostles …

Acts 14:23 … ordained them ELDERS {presbýteros} in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Elders are those who have believed on the Lord, who have sat at the feet of Jesus, and who are ordained of God to speak the truths of Scripture. The offices of Apostle and Elder (Acts 15:2) ruled on what was Biblical, taught of Christ (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4). When the Apostle Paul went to Ephesus and called together the Pastors/ Elders of that Church (Acts 20:17), the Bible says that he encouraged those preachers, saying:

Acts 20:27-30 (NKJV) For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Paul as an Elder did not “shun to declare to you the whole counsel of God”. He spoke the truth of God’s Word in love. Now Paul encourages these Elders, these Pastors to take heed or watch over the Church, that “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”. The Pastor is to OVERSEE the Church, to ensure that it operates according to the rule of God’s Word. The Pastor is to “shepherd the church of God” for Christ, for it is Christ’s Blood bought possession. The Church does not belong to the Pastor, but to the Lord Who died for you. The Pastor is to stay on the lookout for “savage wolves {that} will come in among you”, those who “speak perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves”.

The Pastor, every Pastor of every Church that belongs to Jesus has one overwhelming commission. As Elders the Pastor is to FEED THE FLOCK the WORD OF GOD.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you

The Pastor is to FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD. He is to FEED THE FLOCK “which is among you”. The Pastor is not called to entertain goats, but to feed sheep, to feed the children of God so that they might grow up to be like Christ.

When Peter encourages the elders, again, he is not speaking from a position of perfection. Peter has learned from his own life experiences that the Word of God is ALWAYS RIGHT. Let me say that again.

The Word of God is ALWAYS RIGHT!

Peter, like us all, had to learn the hard way. The Bible tells us that Jesus began to share with His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to die for us all. The Scripture says:

Matthew 16:21 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

As Jesus is teaching this, Peter interrupts. “Not so, Jesus! This will NOT happen to You!” How did Jesus reply? He told Peter in His stinging rebuke:

Matthew 16:23 (NKJV) “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Simon the son of Jonah that Jesus had given the name Peter (the Rock – John 1:42), now Jesus calls him another name. He is “SATAN”, for Peter is acting like the devil. The devil doesn’t MIND THE THINGS OF GOD, but is more satisfied with THE THINGS OF MEN.

Just as Adam was following the serpent Satan in the Garden of Eden, Peter is following Satan in Caesarea Philippi.

Peter was not an Elder then. He was learning to rest at the feet of Jesus. I don’t care what Seminary you went to. I don’t care how many doctorates you have in Theology or Ministry. I don’t care if you were on staff with Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, or Billy Graham. If you have not learned to rest at the feet of Jesus, to hear Him speak, to follow His commandments loving Jesus, then you are not an Elder.

The Elder heeds the Word of God. Not opinion, not that which satisfies the world, but the Word of God.

On another day Jesus was preaching the Word of God, and told the Disciples what the Bible prophesied of the Messiah in …

Zechariah 13:7 (NKJV) Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Jesus – the Living Word of God – was preaching this Written Word of God in:

Matthew 26:31-32 … “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

It was prophesied in Zechariah, and “scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Jesus told His disciples that this hard Scripture was about to be fulfilled. The Shepherd, Jesus of Nazareth, will be captured, and tried before both religious as well as secular courts. Though no fault would be found in Him, He would nonetheless be killed. But Jesus will rise after three days. As Jesus says this, Peter speaks:

Matthew 26:33 … “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

Here Peter reminds me of many believers in this present age. “I know what the Bible says – but not ME, it doesn’t apply to ME!” Jesus looks at Peter, and says:

Matthew 26:34 (NKJV) … “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter denied Bible prophecy. Peter denied the Living Word of God. Now Peter declares:

Matthew 26:35 … “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

But what happened? Peter went to Gethsemane with Jesus and the other Disciples. Jesus asked that they pray with Him – but they all fell asleep. Even Peter. Peter denied Jesus in the Garden in prayer (Matthew 26:44). Then when Judas Iscariot leads the Temple Guard to capture Jesus, Peter draws his sword, and cuts off the ear of one of the servants of the High Priest (Matthew 26:51). Jesus rebukes him, then “all the disciples run away” (Matthew 26:56). Peter follows from a distance, and outside of the trial of our Lord Peter denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:70, 72, 74). When the rooster crows, the Bible says that “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

The Word of God is always true.
The Word of God never leaves fashion.
“God’s Word is Truth” (John 17:17)

God’s Leaders Must Share the Word Of God

1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Those who are Elders are to adhere to the Word of God, not to opinion nor political persuasion. It SICKENS me and I’m sure SICKENS Jesus when Pastors allow their Churches to become platforms for some political party. The Pulpit is for preaching the Word of God, for Feeding the Sheep.

After Peter denied Jesus three times – just as the Word of God said he would do – Peter took the disciples out on a fishing trip on the Sea of Tiberius. As they were fishing, Someone from the shore called out and asked “Have you caught anything?” They shouted back, “No”, so the One on the shore said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you’ll do better” (John 21:6). When they did so, the nets filled to overflowing! It was Jesus!

After they ate breakfast (John 21:12) our Lord Jesus spoke to Peter. He didn’t call him “Peter”, which means “The Rock”, but asked:

John 21:15 “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

Do you love Me more than these other disciples? Do you love Me more than this great catch of fish – worth quite a bit of money? Do you love Me more? Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus said,

“Feed My lambs”

These are the young Christians, those who will come to believe on Jesus. Jesus isn’t talking about feeding them FISH, but feeding them the WORD OF GOD. Feed My lambs. Jesus asks a second time:

John 21:16 … “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus told Simon,

“Tend My sheep”

Look after My people. Make sure that they hear the Word of God. Keep the wolf at bay. Care for them. Then Jesus asked the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”. Peter was grieved, and said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” To which Jesus once more said,

“Feed My Sheep”

The Elder, the Pastor, the Overseer of the Church is to care for his charges. He is to do so “not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”. The Pastor should not have to be coerced into sharing the Word, but to do it willingly. The Elder should not be sharing the Word for “filthy lucre”, the Greek aischrokerdōs which means “from eagerness for base gain”. These deceivers have been around from the beginning of the Church Age, who creep into Churches to draw members away for their own gain. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Elders/ Pastors saying:

Titus 1:9-11 (NKJV) {The Elder/ Pastor must be} holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

There are many in the “Love Me” cults of today who subvert Churches, and draw God’s people away from God’s Word. The Elders are encouraged to stay strong in the Word of God, upholding what the Scripture has said regardless of popularity or polarity. Pastors are not to be “lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock”.

As the Pastor follows Jesus, the flock is to follow the Pastor. I’ll end with these words – though we’ll be back here next week:

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The Pastor leads, following the Word of God. The Church follows, following the Word of God. God will not bless the Church that is not following His Word. Let us follow, loving Jesus. Amen and Amen.

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The Golden Petition

Posted on November 10, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Subin: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-human-eye-946727/

John 12:20-25 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

We start out with these wonderful words:

John 12:20-21 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Several things are happening in this text. Our Lord Jesus came to this earth to be “The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

A Jew would think the Lamb of God was to take away the sin of ISRAEL. This is, after all, what the Law provided in the sacrifices and Temple.

It was established in the Law of God – the Law written through Moses to Israel – that sin would be covered or atoned for by the sacrifice of a lamb without spot or blemish (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 4:32; 9:3; 23:12; Numbers 6:14; Ezekiel 46:13). It was during the Feast of the Passover that all who were able went to Jerusalem to the Temple to sacrifice and make atonement for their sins.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem this last time, He rode into Jerusalem on:

John 12:14-15 … Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

As Jesus came into Jerusalem this last time, crowds formed around Him. They believed that Jesus was the Miracle Worker Who would help overthrow Rome and Roman rule, and return Israel to its rightful place in the world. As these people cheered Jesus, our Lord knew their hearts, and knew that before the week was out they would be demanding His crucifixion before Pilate (Mark 15:12-13). They wanted a Jesus, a Messiah Who would conquer the enemy, which they believed was Rome.

Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.
Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He rode in on a donkey, not on a stallion horse. This was a fulfillment of the Prophecy of

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Conquers came into a city on stallions. Jesus did not come to overthrow human government, but to overthrow our sins. The Bible says:

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us (ALL of US) to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit

Jesus was not entering Jerusalem as a Conquering King, though all Israel turned out to shout “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). Even the Pharisees thought that Jesus might pull off a coup based on this massive crowd cheering Him on. The Pharisees said:

John 12:19 … Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

This was not true. Though it appeared that the “world had gone after Him”, the world was actually chasing Jesus for the wrong reasons. This same world would turn against Him in just a few days. Jesus knew this, and I know His heart was breaking. But then we read:

John 12:20-21 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

We Would See Jesus Is A Fulfillment Of PROPHECY

The Bible tells us that Jesus “Came unto His own, but His own WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIM. But as many as received HIM, to THEM He gave POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to THEM which BELIEVE on His name …” (John 1:11-13). Though all His disciples will abandon Him, and though it will seem as if the whole world, Roman and Jew would despise Him, God has always had a believing remnant who believe on Him.

So often in our world today, I feel like Elijah after his encounter with Jezebel and the false prophets of Mount Carmel. Though God did great things through Elijah, the people’s hearts were still hardened by sin and narcissim. Elijah went out into the wilderness and prayed, “Lord, take away my life – I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4). Yet God would later remind Elijah:

1 Kings 19:18 … I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Though it appeared to our Lord Jesus as He looked at the hardened hearts of all those cheering souls around Him that there were none who believed, yet here are these “Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast”. These are not JEWS, not PHARISEES or SADDUCEES nor even SCRIBES. These are not ROMAN citizens. These are “GREEKS”. The Grecians loved learning and philosophies. The Grecians had vast libraries, and placed a strong emphasis on philosophy, mathematics, science, and literature. The Grecians had well developed Navies, and travelled the world learning.

The most spoken language of the day was Koine or Common Greek. The Greek Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, “sent seventy-two Hebrew translators—six from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel—from Jerusalem to Alexandria to translate the Tanakh from Biblical Hebrew into Koine Greek, for inclusion in his library”. This was about 250 years BEFORE our Lord walked this earth. Called the Septuagint or The Translation Of the Seventy, the Bible made its way into Greek society. As a result there were many Greeks who worshiped the God of Scripture.

This is actually a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Bible said that the Messiah, Jesus Christ would be:

Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called Thee {the Messiah} in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people {Israel}, for a light of the Gentiles …

Luke 2:30-32 {Simeon on seeing the baby Jesus praised God, saying} For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Though Jesus had often gone to and blessed the Gentiles by healing them (see Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 17:12-19; John 4:5-42; Matthew 15:24, 28; Matthew 8:8, 11-12),

this was the first time the Gentiles sought out Jesus for Jesus’ sake. They did not seek healing, but Jesus!

As they sought out Christ, we are told:

John 12:22-23 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

The Greeks come to “PHILIP” first looking for Jesus. Why Philip? Because Philip is a Greek name, and Philip will later preach in Greece, Syria, and Asia Minor. Philip and Andrew were good friends, so Philip goes to Andrew, and they both go to Jesus. When Jesus sees these Greeks, He declares “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified”. Jesus was encouraged by these Greeks, and knew that the Cross was soon to come. “the Son of man” is a reference to the Messiah (see the prophecy of Daniel 7:13). Jesus said that “the SON OF MAN” …

“has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6)
“is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8)
“will be betrayed” (Matthew 17:22; 20:18)
“will be crucified” (Matthew 26:2)
“will be three days and nights in the earth” (Matthew 12:40)
“will rise from the dead” (Matthew 17:9)
“will sit on God’s right hand, and will come again” (Matthew 26:64)

This is the glory of the Son of Man, that He and He alone is the one and only Messiah, our Savior and Lord!

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PROGRAM
Of The Church

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

As God is serious about saving whosoever will through Jesus Christ the Messiah, He calls on His Church to make “we would see Jesus” our priority. The world desperately needs Jesus. In order that others “see Jesus”, sacrifices must be made. Jesus said:

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone”

Let’s make this a little clearer by looking at a more modern version of Scripture like the Holman Christian Standard:

“I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop”.

Faith requires the surrender of and death of self. If Jesus had decided to preserve His own life, rather than surrender to the will of the Father and go to Calvary, then we would have never been the Children of God. Jesus Christ is THE Son of God. By willfully and willingly laying down His life (for He said, in John 10:18, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of My own will”), Jesus made it possible for God to bring others into the Family of God. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren …

Jesus Christ laid His life down to bring us into His Kingdom. Had Jesus not done so – had He held on to His life – there would be NO FAMILY OF GOD. But because He did so there are many sons of God brought to glory. Likewise, we as God’s Church must be willing to lay our own lives down – to surrender ourselves to God’s Plan – so that others might hear the Gospel and be saved. We are to “walk by FAITH, and not by SIGHT” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Let me put it bluntly:

If we as Christ’s Church will not step out in faith and follow Jesus, as a Church we will ABIDE ALONE until the last member dies.

Is that clear enough? Jesus went to the Cross in faith, committing Himself unto the Father. Jesus surrendered His life, allowing Himself to drop off of the stalk of life, to be buried for three days and nights. But in so doing He created the House of Christ, the Family of God. Jesus is the Master over His House:

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Jesus is a little more clear when He repeats verse 24 but in a different way in verse 25:

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

If you love your life the way it is – without Jesus leading you – you will LOSE it. The Church that will not lay its life down for Jesus will lose its place. We exist so that others might “See Jesus” in us.

That requires surrender.
Surrender of what “I” want.
Surrender of my desires.

It is the heartfelt desire of every true preacher of righteousness that we ALL be like Christ. The Apostle Paul described it thios way:

Galatians 4:19 (ESV) … my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PRESCRIPTION
For The Lost World

People desperately need to see Jesus. A recent Breakpoint Article called “The Epidemic of Despair” quotes a New York Times article that said:

“Nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021 … and one in three girls seriously considered attempting suicide.”

People today are saying that they feel totally empty inside. They are looking inward for meaning and, finding none, feel adrift and hopeless. These feelings of inadequacy are not satisfied by “wokeness” or the other forms of insanity that are pushed on the internet today.

People need to see Jesus.

I recently visited my Doctor – an excellent Doctor – and shared with her how much I appreciated all she did to help me and help resolve my annoying and destructive cough. As I talked with her, she share with me how there are times she feels overwhelmed, and this in turn might make her harsher sounding to her patients. I asked permission to share with her, and I shared Jesus and love. She was willing to listen, and even allow me to pray with her and for her. People need to see Jesus. They need Him, His presence, in their lives. Let us reach out together and do all we can to share the love of Christ with others. May God the Holy Spirit guide us to do so. Amen and Amen.

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The Righteous Scarcely Saved

Posted on November 8, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

1 Peter 4:16-19 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Should We Judge?

People are fond of mis-quoting Jesus, saying

“Judge not, lest ye be judged”

This mis-quote is from Matthew 7:1, and it goes on to say:

Matthew 7:2-3 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Jesus was not telling us to NOT judge, but to JUDGE RIGHTLY. We are to look at our lives BEFORE we look at the lives of others. The Pharisees were always judging others, but not themselves. They were fault finders. Jesus went on to say:

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We are to be careful to judge ourselves first, then others. Our judgments are based on what God has said, not on what we feel. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 89:14 (NKJV) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.

It is God Who establishes right and wrong, good and evil. As we as Christians follow Jesus, we often quote Him by saying “It is written”. We are to make righteous judgments based upon what God has said. The Scripture commands us to judge ourselves. We judge our walk with God before partaking of the Lord’s Table. The Apostle told the Church:

1 Corinthians 11:28-32 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Salvation is not just a FREE GIFT, it is a STEWARDSHIP from God. We act as good stewards by FOLLOWING JESUS, by doing the Scripture as He did the Scripture.

We who are saved are members of God’s Family.
We who are saved are members of Christ’s Kingdom.
We walk according to His rule.

Judgement Must Begin At The House Of God

1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:

Word Study: IF you are suffering because you are a Christian, THEN the Bible tells us to “not be ashamed”. This is the Greek mē aischýnomai, which means “do not be disfigured or dishonored, flooded with shame”. Christians should not be ashamed of being different. We are not of the world, though our Lord has left us in the world. The world and the devil will do all it can to shame us, to try and make us blend with it.

We should not be ashamed of the Gospel.

The Apostle said in 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.

“NOT ASHAMED” here is the same Greek word aischýnomai, but strengthened with the addition of the prefix epaischýnomai, which means “to feel shame or be mortified”. The world mocks Christianity because we say that faith in Christ Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation. The world believes there are many ways to God, in fact, that there are many gods and goddesses. Yet there is only One Way, and that way is faith in Jesus! And as Christians we live by our faith. Those who are JUSTIFIED, made right before God, LIVE BY THEIR FAITH.

Those who are made right by God because of their faith in Christ will follow Christ unashamedly!

We should not be ashamed of following Jesus. Christianity is like a life long “follow the Leader”, with Jesus as your Leader. When the demons met Jesus, they cried out:

Mark 3:11 … UNCLEAN SPIRITS on seeing Jesus FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM and cried out, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD …

Luke 4:41 … and DEVILS that came out of many cried out on seeing Jesus, THOU ART CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD…

There are many who profess Christ as Savior and Lord, and yet show less evidence of salvation than the demons did. The Bible says:

James 2:17-20 (NKJV) faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Those who are saved are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit guides us into following Jesus daily. He guides us into all truth (John 14:26), reminding us of that which Jesus has said. The Christian, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, loves God more than we love ourselves. The Bible says:

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

We should not be ashamed of being different. When I was growing up, it was expected that we go along with the crowd. Yet Jesus calls us out of the world, out of the crowd.

The World Follows Flesh And Feeling.
The Christian Follows Faith. We Follow Christ.

1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If you are suffering as a Christian, glorify God for it. Jesus said:

John 15:18-20 (NKJV) If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

As Christians, we are to be like Christ, not like the world. We are to be friendly and loving to others, but NOT TO SIN. We are not to blend with the world, but to bind to Jesus. If we are saved, the Holy Spirit will guide us and encourage us to find ourselves in the Word of God. When we sin, the Spirit will convict us to turn from our sin, and to return to Jesus where there is safety and joy.

If we refuse to repent and return to Jesus, then one of two things is true. Either, you were not saved in the first place. Or, you will experience the discipline of God. Peter asks two questions here that are very telling.

1 Peter 4:17 … if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Word Study: Peter asks, “If judgment BEGINS in the House of God, the Church – then what is the END or FINAL DESTINATION of those who refuse to OBEY the GOSPEL?” The day that a person hears the Gospel and OBEYS it, that person is saved by Grace. The words “OBEY NOT” is the Greek “apeithéō”, which means “to refuse to believe in, to be disobedient to”. To be saved you must OBEY the Gospel.

A person is SAVED by OBEYING the Gospel.
A person is NOT SAVED by NOT OBEYING the Gospel.

This is the mark of an unbeliever, a lost person, that they OBEY NOT the Gospel. We are told in another place:

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints …

God will punish all those who harm us one day. God will “take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord”. Those who refuse to OBEY the Gospel will be punished in flaming fire, and will be cast forever from the “presence of the Lord”.

What does it mean “obey the Gospel”? It means to REPENT, and stop being your own god. It means to TURN TO Jesus, and entrust your life to Him. Then you FOLLOW Jesus. You obey Him. Jesus said,

Luke 6:46 (NCV) Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord”, but do not do what I say? …

and again,

John 14:15-18 (NKJV) If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Obeying the Gospel is following Jesus. Obeying the Gospel is repenting, turning to Him, and doing what Jesus says. When Peter went to the Centurion’s home to share the Gospel and he Cornelius was saved, Peter said:

Acts 10:34-36 … In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all

If someone comes to me vand says, “Preacher, I want to be saved. But I want to remain in my sin. I want my salvatiuon to have no impact or change on my life”. To that person I am obligated to say that they cannot be saved unless they REPENT, and TURN from their sin and to Jesus. Jesus is Lord of all. You must realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, and that Jesus is that Savior. You must put down your sin, and turn to Jesus, embracing His salvation. You must follow Jesus.

The Righteous Are Saved With Hard Work

1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Word Study: The righteous are “SCARCELY” saved. What does that mean? The word translated “SCARCELY” is the Greek mólis, which means “with much difficulty, with much work, hard work”. God put a lot of effort in the salvation of this world. Though it was MAN who brought sin into the world, GOD decided that He would intervene and offer salvation to whosoever will. But God could not “wink at” sin.

God in His nature is HOLY and without sin. God is PURE and RIGHTEOUS. The Bible says of God, “You ALONE are Holy” (Revelation 15:4). When Moses sang about God, he said,

Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you– majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

The Angels of Heaven continually sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). When the prophet looked into Heaven, he saw the Angels singing “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3).

Man brought sin into the world.
Sin brings separation from God.
Man is born in sin.
Man is born separated from God.

Adam put us all into a hopeless and helpless situation. Yet our God is faithful. Though we be faithless, He is faithful (Isaiah 25:1). So God got to work.

First, God had to show us that WE could not mend the breech our sin brought between us and Him. God gave mankind ANIMAL sacrifices. These sacrifices were TEACHING TOOLS to show us the horror of sin, that sin MUST be paid for. So God allowed us to kill animals, shedding it’s blood to give us a yearly, momentary covering for sin. Yet the Scripture says:

Hebrews 10:4 … It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. So HE CAME INTO THE WORLD.

The sacrifice of animals in a Temple showed us that we could not make sin right. There had to be more. There had to be a Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). God Himself had to come into the world. The “Seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) had to come. God must lower Himself into our story. He must re-create Himself. God must become Man. This is no light thing. This is difficulty. This is an exteme hardness!

God gave man a means to cover sin temporarily.
He gave animal sacrifices.
God gave man a mark to show he belonged.
He gave circumcision.
These things were just temporary.
Until God did the hard work.

When the Angel came to Mary and told her she would bear “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35), Mary asked “How can this be, as I am a virgin?”. The Angel said, “It will be a work of God … for WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE” (Luke 1:37).

So God became Man. The Impossible became Possible. Jesus Christ is “Emmanuel, God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Heaven gasped, amazed at this thing!

But the hard work wasn’t over. Becoming perfect and sinless Man, Christ walked on this earth for over three years. No sin was found in Him. And the Bible says,

Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) … when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus came, born under the Law of circumcision and animal sacrifice. And Jesus, God’s most precious and only Son, went to the Cross of Calvary to make payment for our sins. God did the hardest thing that any Parent can do. He allowed – no, He ordered His Son to the Cross. Jesus Christ shed His Blood on Calvary, making payment for our sins.

If the righteous are saved through such an impossible and difficult act, the act of Calvary – then what hope do the “ungodly and the sinner” have? None whatsoever. Where shall the “ungodly and the sinner appear”? They shall appear once in eternity before the God Who hates sin. They shall appear in eternity before a Great White Throne, as God in fury looks upon them. Then shall the Scripture be fulfilled:

Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

If you suffer for your faith, dear Christian, realize that your suffering is but temporary. He tells us:

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

As we suffer for Christ, let us keep DOING WELL, living in love toward God and others. No matter what you are suffering, it is nothing compared to what the lost will one day endure FOREVER. When you suffer, comfort yourselves that Jesus suffered on this earth so that you might be saved. You need to suffer IN your faith, for one day you will be IN Heaven – and your suffering will be gone.

That will not be the case for the unbeliever, for the person who refuses to obey the Gospel. Oh, that all would obey the Gospel today! For Christ’s sake. Amen and Amen.

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Anointing Jesus

Posted on November 3, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Dawid Zawiła on Unsplash

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

The Apostle John gives us a time marker in this text. This is “six days before the passover”, the last week before Jesus will die on Calvary for our sins. Almost one half of John’s Gospel focuses on the events of this week. Matthew spends a third of his Gospel, Mark about 40%, and Luke about a quarter of their Gospels focusing on this very important week. Jesus has raised Lazarus from the Grave just prior to this. If you remember from last week

John 11:53-54 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

As the Passover was at hand, Jesus moved from Ephraim to Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18). Our Lord Jesus is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, must die for our sins on Calvary. His sacrifice will make payment once for our sins:

Hebrews 9:26-28 For then must {Jesus} often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Paying for our sins, Jesus will fulfill the Law of sacrifice and circumcision (Matthew 5:17-18).

Because Jesus died FOR our sins, we do not have to die IN our sins.

Lazarus sat at the Table with Jesus as a trophy of Grace. Lazarus’ death and resurrection proved once and for all that Jesus is THE Messiah, for only God has the power to impart life to the certifiably dead. Martha as the older sister to Lazarus is waiting on Jesus, feeding Him and the other men at the table. The reason for the feast is the resurrection of Lazarus. As they are meeting, we find out from the other Gospels that Jesus is NOT at Martha’s home, but at the home of Simon the Leper. Simon was not currently a leper, or they would not have been sitting with him.

Matthew 26:6-7 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. (also Mark 14:3)

It is very possible that Jesus was with both Lazarus and Simon the leper because He had healed both men from death. Lazarus was actually dead for 4 days, but the leper was considered dead – the walking dead – by all who knew him. According to Dr. Bob Peterson of the Legacy Imperative,

“Even breathing the same air as a leper was thought to be dangerous. These walking dead were forced to live outside towns in wilderness colonies, caves, tents, or garbage dumps. Lepers were required to wear distinctive clothes … to warn others that they were near. The laws demanded that they keep at least twelve steps distance, put a cloth across their mouths, and loudly repeat, “Unclean! Unclean!”

Simon had suffered a fate worst than death, a living death, before he met Jesus. So both Lazarus and Simon had been raised from the dead by Jesus. As Jesus prepares Himself to go to Calvary, I am sure what is about to occur is on His mind. If you knew you were going to die a peaceful death you would worry about it. But Jesus knew that the death that was coming for Him would be horrific.

John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Then Mary comes in. Mary has always been at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. She has been paying attention to what Jesus has said. Jesus had repeatedly told His listeners that He was going to die for the sins of the world. John the Baptist had also repeatedly told those who followed him that Jesus was going to die for the sins of the world.

Jesus saved Lazarus from death, and Simon the Leper from a fate worst than death. But Jesus can’t save Himself from death.

Mary uses a pound of ointment – the Roman pound was about 12 ounces – of “spikenard”. This is an oil extracted from the roots and trunk of the NARD plant, also called MYRRH, the aromatic resin of the thorny Commiphora tree. One commentary notes:

“ The name ‘myrrh’ has roots in ancient Aramaic and Arabic languages. In which the words ‘murr’ and ‘mur’, respectively, denote bitterness. These terms were appropriated by many of the great languages of the ancient and modern world. Entering English from the Hebrew Bible and even inspiring the root for the Greek general term of perfume, ‘mýron’.”

The Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) to the young toddler Jesus while He was in Bethlehem. Myrrh was used in perfumes, as a sedative to calm the nerves when imbibed, and was mixed with Aloe when embalming a dead body.

The next time Myrrh will touch Jesus after Mary’s anointing will be when a Roman guard tried to get Jesus to drink it. The Roman soldiers used Myrrh to extend the time of the crucifixion. It is like drinking sea water when you are stranded on the ocean. It will give you a moment of relief, but then your suffering will intensify just as quickly. The Bible tells us that when they offered Jesus Myrrh (the mixture of Myrrh and Wine were called GALL)

Mark 15:23 (ESV) … they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. (also Matthew 27:34)

Jesus said (John 10:18) “No one takes My life, but I lay it down of my Own will”. Jesus would not be a plaything for the Roman soldiers cruelty. He refused the Myrrh that they put on His lips. But Jesus did not refuse Mary’s offering. This is, by the way, not Mary Magdalene, but Mary of Bethany, Lazarus’ other sister. As she anoints Jesus’ feet, it costs her something.

The ointment was “very costly”. Judas Iscariot said:

John 12:4-5 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Spices and ointments were used in the ancient world like richer people would use gold or silver. This amount of Myrrh was valued by Judas Iscariot at “three hundred pence”, about one years wages for a blue collar worker. To put that in perspective, the average wage of a blue collar worker in Tennessee is around $50,000 per year. Mary would have had to save wages for an entire year to buy this bottle of Myrrh.

But Mary’s gift was costly in another way. In the ancient world, only mothers and servants washed people’s feet. Usually the feet were washed, and the ointment – very expensive – was dabbed on the head. Mary put this costly ointment on Jesus’ feet, saying by her actions that her gift, even though very costly, was unworthy to be placed on the Master’s head. By lowering herself down to wash the Lord’s feet, she humbled herself, saying she was in fact no better than a servant. Finally we note:

John 12:3 … {She} wiped His feet with her hair …

Jewish unmarried women did not let their hair down in public as their hair was considered “the glory of the woman” (1 Corinthians 11:15). The Bible says (NLT) “isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? It has been given to her as a covering.” Mary used that which God gave her as a gift – her beautiful hair – to wipe our Lord’s feet. Morris notes in his commentary:

“The act is all the more striking in that a Jewish lady never unbound her hair in public. That apparently was a mark of loose morals. But Mary did not stop to calculate public reaction. Her heart went out to her Lord and she gave expression to something of her feelings in this beautiful and touching act.”

The Eerdman Commentary notes:

“The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus.”

Luke 10:39: Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and learned.
John 11:32: Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and surrendered.
John 12:3: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet and honored Him.”

C.H. Spurgeon noted, “You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them; He must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him.”

Contrast Mary’s Actions To Judas Iscariot’s, The Disciple’s, And
Simon The Leper’s

As Mary humbles herself before Jesus, tending to Him, Judas Iscariot criticizes, and the other disciples will join in. When you live your life for Jesus, you may, at times, stand alone. You may be misunderstood. Yet Jesus understands. I am sure that Jesus saw inside the heart of Judas as he said,

John 12:5-6 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Judas did not care for Jesus. But as we study the parallel texts, we find out that Judas’ murmuring spread throughout the other disciples. We are told in:

Matthew 26:7-9 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

This is the problem with murmuring among God’s people. When one murmurs, it’s like a forest fire. James, the stepbrother of Christ saw this and wrote:

James 3:5 (NIV) … the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

While accusing Mary of Bethany in order to fill his own pockets, it is interesting that much of the money that was given to Jesus and His ministry came from women.

Luke 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

It is better to MINISTER to Jesus than to MURMUR and MUTTER. To minister to Jesus aids His work. To murmur hinders His work!

We are told that

John 12:6 {Judas} was a thief, and had the bag, and BARE what was put therein.

Word Study: The word translated “BARE” is the Greek bastazo, which means “to habitually carry and carry OFF”. Though John did not know it till later, Judas had been robbing Jesus the entire time he was with the Lord. When Jesus corrected the disciples – along with Judas – it was the very next day that:

Matthew 26:14-16 (NKJV) … Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

When God corrected Cain (Genesis 4:6-7) for the wrong sacrifice, rather than repent Cain murdered his brother. When Jesus corrected Judas for his lack of love toward Himself, Judas plotted to murder Jesus. Those who are saved by faith in Christ will, when corrected, repent of their sin. But those who are lost, pretenders to salvation, will not only wallow in their sin, but will seek to murder their Savior in their hearts. Oh, how horrible the unconverted heart is! “The heart is DESPERATELY WICKED, who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Unless sin is repented of, and that right quickly, it will lead to a deeper and darker sin!

Jesus Defends True Worship

John 12:7-8 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

As Jesus said these words, we are told “the fragrance of the ointment filled the house” (verse 3). Jesus does not expect us to be FLAWLESS. Jesus expects us to be FAITHFUL.

If we are serving Jesus in love to the best of our ability, He will never criticize us. Within each one of us is the capability to be Mary or to be Judas. When Judas served the Lord, it cost him nothing. As a matter of fact, Judas gained more following Jesus than he lost – world wise. Judas is a picture of the person who “gained the whole world, but lost his own soul” (Mark 8:34-38). Sadly, there will be many who, beyond this life, will discover that Jesus “never knew you” (Matthew 25:41), and will hear Him say “depart from Me, into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels”. These sad people will have missed heaven because they either counted on works alone to save them, or counted on a dead, workless faith to save them. Neither faith will save. That which saves is the life surrendered to Jesus. The great Old Time Preacher Alexander Maclaren said:

“Mark 14:9 says, Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. The Evangelist who records that promise does not mention Mary’s name; John, who does mention the name {Mary of Bethany}, does not record the promise. It matters little whether our names are remembered, so long as Jesus bears them graven on His heart.”

Does Jesus know you? Oh, how I pray that He does. But only you and He can answer that question. I pray that you make your calling and election sure this very day, for we know not when our last day will come. May God help you to make the right decision! Amen and Amen.

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Above All Things

Posted on October 31, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

1 Peter 4:7-8 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.

As Peter looked at the madness of society around him, he declared “the end of all things is at hand”. Both Israel and Rome had become so decadent and divorced from the God of Scripture, that he knew it was not long before both nations would collapse. Israel would collapse in 70 AD, as Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Rome would fall a little over 400 years later, in 476 AD. Moral corruption, the political division of the empire, and invasions by what we would call “illegal aliens” who attacked the citizenship. The Bible tells us:

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

What kept the Roman Empire going for 400 years after Israel was scattered?

God’s Church, the people for whom Christ died.

Nations have come and gone since Christ walked this earth. These once great nations are now only found in history books:

Edom (Jeremiah 49:17–22)
Assyria (Zephaniah 2:13–15)
Sodom (Genesis 18:20)
Babylon (Jeremiah 51)

were all wiped out because they pursued evil and darkness. Today you will not find any:

Hittites (Exodus 23:23)
Moabites (Zephaniah 2:8–10)
Philistines (Zephaniah 2:5)

because these nations rebelled against God. These nations were all marked by homosexuality, fornication or unmarried lust, and idolatry prior to their collapse. As Peter sees the nation spinning down, he gives the Christian three things to do:

be sober
watch unto prayer
have fervent love among yourselves

Be Sober

Word Study: To “be sober” is the Greek sōphroneō means “be in the right mind”. What does it mean to “be in the right mind”? It means to have the “mind of Christ”. The world follows feelings and fads and foolishness. The world, in short, follows that which pleases the flesh. We who are saved do not follow after the world and the flesh, but we follow Christ.

We who are Christians follow Christ in this present world. The world has the mind of Satan. We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). To be sober means that when confronted by the world, we respond as Christ did. We do not resort to the flesh, but to the Spirit Who indwells us.

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Following Jesus means that we COMMIT NO SIN. We do not lower ourselves to the standard of the world. What God has said is sin, is sin, though all the world celebrate it. When Christ gave His life on Calvary to pay for our sins, He did not do so in order to allow us to sin freely. That’s nonsense. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Around 2014 the slogan,

“Love is Love”

began to spread across America, humanizing those involved in sexual sin. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24 … If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“Love is Love” sounds good, but it’s wrong. True love is defined by God. True love begins in God. The very greatest Commandment as defined by Jesus is:

Matthew 22:37 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.

We are to love God more than our fathers and mothers, more than our siblings, more than our children. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:37-39 (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Christianity is a forsaking of the world and an embracing of Jesus Christ. We embrace Him for salvation, and we embrace Him for life. If you embrace Jesus, you embrace God. The Bible says:

1 John 4:8 God is love

but the Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 13:6, “Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth”. If you love God with your all, you put away that which God has said is abominable and sinful. As Christians we:

Romans 13:12 … cast off the works of darkness, and … put on the armour of light.

There is a scene in one episode of “The Chosen” where a man is confessing his sins to Jesus. As he tells the Lord what he did, he repents with bitter tears, declaring himself unworthy. Jesus touches him, and tells him his sins are forgiven. Then Jesus tells him, (and here I paraphrase),

“Return to synagogue, and listen to the words of the Torah, letting them change you and bring you peace.”

You will not be in your right mind unless you are hearing the Word of God, and following the Son of God. You must heed His Word, and order your life by it. The moral law of God was never repealed in Christ – just the sacrificial and ceremonial laws. The Lamb of God shed His Blood once for all to secure your salvation.

But sin is still sin, as God has defined sin in His Bible!

One of my favorite Bible stories is that of the demon possessed man “in the country of the Gadarenes” (Mark 5:1). This man was possessed with many demons, so many that this crowd of demons called themselves “Legion”. Jesus cast Legion out of the man, and into a herd of swine, which in turn killed themselves. The Bible says that when those owners of the swine came and found Jesus:

Mark 5:15 … they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: (sōphroneō) and they were afraid.

That man was sitting and talking to Jesus, no longer possessed by the darkness. Those sellers of swine demanded that Jesus leave their place of business. Jesus is bad for business if your business is evil! Christians and sin and Satan should not mix. We are to be sober, in our right mind, in the mind of Christ. For that to happen you must read and study your Scripture, your Bible. You cannot know right from wrong unless, like Jesus, you know what “it is written”. If you love Jesus, the world will not love you. Peter tells us:

1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The Christian is not to violate the moral Law of God. Neither murder nor thievery is now fine because of the Cross of Christ. Jesus died for murderers. Jesus died for thieves. As Jesus died on the Hill of Calvary, the Bible says that there were “malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33). These were criminals who were probably murdering thieves. Christians do not follow after sin, nor are we evil doers. We are not to try to rule others lives, being busy bodies. We are to follow Christ in love.

Watch Unto Prayer

Word Study: “watch unto prayer” is the Greek nēphō eis proseuchē, which means

“guard or watch over your own life through interaction and communication with God”

The world itself is asleep in sin, but we walk with Christ. We imitate Him. We love Him. We lift Him up. As we let the Word of God flow over our lives, we like priests stay in contact with our Savior and Lord. We pray.

– Prayer will change our perspective. A great story I often go to is in 2 Kings chapter 6 in the life of Elisha. Elisha was Elijah’s successor, and he loved the Lord. And the Lord loved him. One of the prophets that followed after Elisha was cutting a tree down one day, and the ax head slipped off the handle and was lost in the water. That young man began to fret, because the ax was borrowed, and he was liable for it. Elisha cut off and threw a stick in the water, and the ax head floated to shore (2 Kings 6:6). This is a beautiful picture of the Cross of Christ. When you toss the Cross into the troubled waters of your life, God causes the iron to float, and the trouble to lighten! What a glorious picture! I could preach on just this, the Cross in the waters. Maybe I will one day.

The King of Syria was angry with Elisha, because Elisha always prophesied where that King wanted to attack Israel – and Israel, listening to the prophecy, was always ready. So the King of Syria decided to attack and capture Elisha.

The prophet who had seen the ax head float just the day before woke up the next morning, and saw “an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the {prophet} said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). Elisha answered,

2 Kings 6:16-17 (ESV) … “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Prayer opens our eyes to our God’s goodness. Saved by Grace, we need not fear – but to follow Christ. The Apostle told the young Pastor Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

If fear and hopelessness are taking you, you need to pray. Prayer will change your perspective, and your attitude. Fear God, but do not fear the world.

Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

– Prayer will NOT change the will of God. You can pray all you want, but if your prayers do not match the TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE, then you are praying in vain. God has said:

Isaiah 46:9-10 I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’

If God has called you into His family by faith in Christ Jesus, He has saved you by Grace. But you MUST fulfill His purpose. The Scripture says:

Be proactive with God the Holy Spirit in shaping your life to be like Christ’s!

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We cannot pray for God to endorse sin. We cannot pray for God to change Scripture. Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What God has determined is right will always be right. What God has determined is wrong will always be wrong.

John Piper wrote:

“Those who believe in Christ Jesus are already blood-bought new creatures in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But now we must become what we are. “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1 Corinthians 5:7).”

If you are saved, it is God’s will that you be a son of God, an imitator of THE Son of God. This will not change. Your business is to be like Jesus, to think like Jesus, to act like Jesus. This is a lifetime project. As we pray, and grow closer to God through our prayers, we become more like Christ.

Sometimes our suffering is the Divine Will of God. Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:39 My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

The Father loved the Son, and loves Him still. Yet even as much as He loves the Son, His Son had to suffer and die for the Plan of Salvation to go forward. God had predestined or pre-willed that Christ die for our sins (see Acts 4:27-28).

Isaiah 53:10 (ESV) … Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt …

When the Apostle Paul was afflicted by “a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7) he said:

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We can and should bring our infirmities to God for healing. But if the infirmity is there because it is God’s will that it be there, then no amount of prayer will remove it. Our God is in control of all things.

– Prayer restores us to a right relationship with God. When we sin, we bring a breech between us and our God. When King David had Uriah murdered and took his wife to be his own, confronted by Nathan the Prophet David repented. David did not “do penance”, but approached God in prayer, saying:

Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,

In his prayer David acknowledged his sin before the Lord. He cast himself upon the Grace of God. He cried out:

Psalm 51:9-12 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

David did not seek to be saved again, but asked that God “Restore to me the joy of your salvation”. He had lost the joy of his faith, but Christ had not left him.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the son that left the Father to go out into the world was still a son even at his lowest point. When he found himself in the worst of all jobs, he came back to the Father, and said:

Luke 15:21 … Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

How did the Father respond? He celebrated His son’s return, and took him back into the household with joy, saying “my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (vs 24). The son reached this state of Grace by repenting, returning to the Father, and by prayer.

Have Fervent Charity Among Yourselves

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Word Study: The words “fervent charity” is the Greek ektenēs agapē, which means “an unceasing love”. We are to love other believers unconditionally. Now, what does this look like? This is NOT love like the world defines love, but love as GOD defines love.

Jesus loved people regardless of race. The Church is intentionally for all people, since Christ died for the whole world. The Scripture says:

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

If Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, then we can expect – in Heaven – there to be people from ALL NATIONS. And there are. John the Revelator looked into Heaven and saw the saints singing:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Jesus died for all, and wants all in Heaven. We must unceasingly love every person, especially those of the household of God. BUT we must be careful to love people within the parameters of what the Bible defines as sin. The Bible forbids sexual sin of every type.

To love someone unceasingly is to love them enough to tell them what the Bible says. It is not love to justify that which God has forbidden. Sin must always be placed under the Blood of Christ.

Let’s end with these words:

1 Peter 4:9-10 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.

Illustrate: You are STEWARDS of Grace. A STEWARD is like a sharecropper on a field. The sharecropper does not own the field, but farms the field for the owner and master. Once the crop comes to harvest, the sharecropper is given a portion of the profit for his work.

You are STEWARDS of GRACE, if you have been saved. God has given you the free gift of eternal life, and has left you on this earth to be like Jesus to others, leading them to His Grace. You do not own Grace, God owns you. If you live as good stewards the Kingdom of God will grow in this area, and we will all benefit by it. But if you are a sloppy Steward, you hurt the cause of Christ and yourself.

You are to follow Jesus.
You are to be like Jesus.
You are to lead others to Jesus.

The strength of our nation relies on your obedience to Him. Amen and Amen.

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How To Recognize A Religious Person

Posted on October 28, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Chloe Amaya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-face-in-close-up-photo-4079215/

John 11:45-57 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Opening Illustration: Take three items, and put a label on them. In my case I’ll take a tube of toothpaste, and put the label “Apple” on it. I’ll take a Maracas, and put the label “Apple Phone” on it. And I’ll take a bottle of DayQuil Cough Syrup, and put the label “Coca Cola” on it. I’ll ask the children to identify the items, and each time tell them “No, look at the label!”

The point? It is not the LABEL or the OUTWARD CLOTHING that identifies the item, but what’s INSIDE. It’s not the LABEL that makes the Christian, but whether God the Holy Spirit is inside or not. And only Jesus Christ can give the Spirit. Only the Father can assign the Holy Spirit to a person’s life. Jesus said:

John 14:6, 16-17 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. … 16 And I will {erōtaō, pray to, beseech, ask} the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know Him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

When we REPENT and turn to Jesus, believing that He is the Messiah, the Only Way to the Father, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to us. We then are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You MUST BE BORN AGAIN” (John 3:6-7). The Holy Spirit lives inside the believer, correcting us, encouraging us to obey the Word of God.

We live in a day where there are many RELIGIOUS people, but few RIGHTEOUS people.

The two are not the same, as we’ll see today.

RELIGIOUS people are empowered by the FLESH.
RIGHTEOUS people are INDWELT of God.
RELIGIOUS people KNOW what the Bible says.
RIGHTEOUS people DO what the Bible says.
RELIGIOUS people SAY they love Jesus.
RIGHTEOUS people SHOW they love Jesus.
RELIGIOUS people love other RELIGIOUS people exclusively.
RIGHTEOUS people love ALL, just as Jesus did.
RELIGIOUS people ignore portions of the Bible that they do not like.
RIGHTEOUS people heed ALL SCRIPTURE, knowing it is of God.

Religious People Only Care About Themselves

John 11:45-48 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

The last time we gathered we saw Jesus stand before an open tomb, and cry out “Lazarus, Come Forth!” (vs 43). As soon as Jesus shouted this, Lazarus came out of the grave, bound hand and foot with grave wrappings. The Living Word of God, Jesus spoke,

“Loose him, and let him go!” (vs 44)

When a person becomes saved, they leave the tomb of their old life. The tomb of sin and death no longer has a hold on them. Leaving that tomb, others who follow Jesus actively help that young believer to understand that they are NOT to follow sin and death. Death has no hold on us – Jesus has conquered that. Sin is not to be a regular part of our lives. The Apostle tells us:

Romans 6:16-18 (ESV) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Called out of the Tomb by Jesus, other believers gather around us, and encourage us to follow Jesus. The Apostle says,

1 John 5:16 (ESV) If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

Imagine the joy that was at Lazarus’ home that night. The brother who was dead, has now been found. “For THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is ALIVE AGAIN; he was LOST, and is found. And THEY BEGAN TO BE MERRY” (Luke 15:24). Jesus Christ is clearly the Messiah. Only God can give LIFE. God told Israel in the TORAH, the Book of the Law:

Deuteronomy 32:39 (HCSB) See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from My hand.

The power of life and death is in God’s hand alone. The Hebrew Hymnbook sings:

Psalm 68:20 (ESV) Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

By raising Lazarus from the dead, He has proven that He is the Messiah sent from God. There is no Pharisee who studied the Scripture who could deny this. The Sadducees, who only received the first five Books of the Bible, the Books of the Law, could not deny the resurrection of Lazarus. The Scribes who copied and studied the scrolls of the Scripture could not deny it. Jesus is clearly the Messiah. Either God THROUGH Jesus brought Lazarus from the dead, or Jesus Himself as the Son of God did so with the Father’s blessing. The most ancient text of Scripture, the Book of Job, notes

Job 14:5 (NIV) A person’s days are determined; You {O God} have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

The Psalmist said “all the days YOU {O God} HAVE ORDAINED FOR ME are written in YOUR BOOK” (Psalm 139:16). He also wrote “MY TIMES are in YOUR HAND {O Lord}” (Psalm 31:15).

The enemies of Christ, the PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, and SCRIBES all studied the Torah and the Psalms. They KNEW Jesus raised Lazarus. They KNEW only God could do this. Nonetheless they sought to destroy Jesus. Why?

Religious people have little to no respect for the Word of God. They only cherish the portions that suit them.

John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

The “chief priests” and the “Pharisees” got together because of Lazarus resurrection. This is in itself amazing because the “chief priests” in Israel at this time were, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, SADDUCEES and not Pharisees. One source notes:

“The religious responsibilities of the Sadducees included the maintenance of the Temple in Jerusalem. Their high social status was reinforced by their priestly responsibilities, as mandated in the Torah”.

Word Study: Rather than repent and come to Jesus, these two religious groups chose to ignore the clear evidence that Christ is the Messiah. They noted “this man doeth many miracles”. The word translated “miracles” is the Greek sēmeion, which means “a miracle, a sign from God, a supernatural event”. The Pharisees had often asked Jesus, “Master, we would see a sēmeion from you” (Matthew 12:38; Mark 8:11). “The PHARISEES and SADDUCEES came and asked Jesus to show them a sēmeion”(Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16; John 2:18). Jesus told these people (John 4:48) “Unless you see sēmeion and wonders, you will not believe”. Now Jesus has shown them a clear sign from Heaven, a sēmeion, and they know it. Yet they will not believe. Why?

The only thing religious people care about is
themselves and what they think.

John 11:48 If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

These men did not doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, nor that He had done a miracle. What they were focused on was keeping their “place and nation”. The Christian is to be selfless, not selfish. Religious people are not Christians. God is selfless. Christ is selfless. Though we have offended God repeatedly, chasing after sin, the Scripture declares:

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Had God been selfish, when Adam sinned He would have destroyed the world and started over. But God promised a Redeemer, the Seed of the Woman. God loves the world so much that He comes to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus Christ came “that we MIGHT HAVE LIFE, and that we MIGHT HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY” (John 10:10). In order to have life, we must “BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, the Son of God, and that believing we will have LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME” (John 20:31).

The Pharisees and Sadducees saw that Jesus was the Christ, but chose instead to keep their PLACE of elevation above the people, and their POWER in the nation of Israel. They were comfortable where they were. They were satisfied where they were. They did not want Jesus as the Messiah to save Israel from either Her SIN nor from ROME. They did not want to bring GLORY TO GOD. They wanted to maintain the status quo.

God Can Use The Religious Lost,
Whether They Like It Or Not

John 11:49-52 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

“Caiaphas”, or his full name is Joseph Caiaphas, was the son-in-law of the former High Priest, Annas. Caiaphas was also a Sadducee, and the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, neither angels nor spirits (Acts 23:8). Though the Book of Daniel notes

Daniel 12:2 (NIV) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

The Sadducees rejected all but the Torah or the first five Books of Scripture (The Law). The fact that Lazarus rose from the grave clearly showed the Sadducees that what they believed was a lie, else Lazarus would still be in the tomb. Further, the Sadducees were

“often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. They held the majority seat in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, over which Caiaphas ruled for the 18 years he served as high priest.”.

When Caiaphas called for Jesus’ death, saying:

vs 50 it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not

his fear was that Jesus as Messiah would attempt to overthrow Rome, and in so doing cause Rome to rise up and destroy the Temple and Caiaphas’ job. Though Jesus often told those who would make Him King, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), most Jews believed He came to overturn Roman rule, just as a priestly family known as the Hasmoneans or Maccabees fought off the Syrian armies of Antiochus in 168 BC. Jesus came to this earth to conquer sin and its hold on us. The Prophet foretold that this would be the mission of the Messiah:

Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus came to close the door on the Temple for animal sacrifices. The purpose of the Law of the shedding of blood was to lead us to Christ. The “Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” (Galatians 3:24). We do not put the hope of our righteousness before God in our own works, such as circumcision and blood offerings and feast keeping. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:18).

We who are saved by faith in Christ fulfill the Law by walking in love as God has loved us in Christ (Romans 8:4; 13:8; 13:10; Galatians 5:14).

Those who are resting on their own efforts rather than on the finished Work of Christ (Hebrews 7:27; 9:26) is like the man mad with thirst who attempts to drink sand in the desert, or who lost on the ocean seeks to quench his thirst by drinking the ocean dry. Only Jesus can give living water.

And yet, Caiaphas – as lost is he is – can still be used of God. We read:

John 11:50-52 … it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he {God} should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Caiaphas “prophesied”. Prophesy is a spiritual gift, given only by God the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). King David declared that “the Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). Ezekiel said that “the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” (Ezekiel 2:2). God moved on Caiaphas, and Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus our Lord would indeed die for Israel, and for the Gentiles as well.

God used Caiaphas – the Sadducees, the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the Herodians in a wonderful way. We read:

John 11:53-54 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Those who were at odds with Jesus all joined forces, and made a pact to kill Him. This was necessary if Jesus was going to go to the Cross for our sins. In World War II, Hitler promoted the murder of innocent Jews, though he publicly expressed favorable opinions toward Christianity. One source notes:

“Hitler biographer John Toland offers the opinion that Hitler “carried within him its teaching that the Jew was the killer of God. The extermination, therefore, could be done without a twinge of conscience since he was merely acting as the avenging hand of God …”

Jesus was not stoned to death, which was the Jewish method of execution, but was crucified, a clearly Roman method of death. The Jews were not Christ killers. We all were Christ killers. Jesus died for us all, and every one of us held the hammer that drove the nails!

Jesus stopped ministering openly in Judah, but moved to Ephraim in an attempt to spread the Gospel among the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel. Ephraim is about 15 miles north of Jerusalem, so Jesus could still travel to the required feasts of Israel.

Religious people drove Jesus from the Temple. Religious people drive Jesus from the Church.

John 11:55-57 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

The religious do not live in love with God and with one another. They love ceremony. They love doctrine. They love to look superior to others. But they do not love Jesus. Jesus told us,

Matthew 5:20 (ESV) For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You are not RIGHTeous if you do not honor God RIGHT. You are not RIGHTeous if you mistreat others, treating them harshly. You are not RIGHTeous if you are not walking WITH and in obedience TO Jesus. This is not optional. This is Christianity. True Christianity …

“.. produces men, women, and children who, in union with Jesus and given new hearts, happily do the will of God with a new, childlike aim: to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9)”.

May God touch you with His Word! For His glory, through Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen and Amen.

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We All Shall Give An Account

Posted on October 24, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Nico Siegl: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wiener-justizpalast-15686925/

1 Peter 4:5-7 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

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