Drawing Near to the Lord

Do You Know the Holy Spirit?

2008-09-10T09:06:00.000-04:00

www.ComeNeartoGod.com

Do you really know the Holy Spirit? As much as the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit, it is a wonder then why so little thought or consideration is given to Him. In our understanding of who God is, we must not forget about the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, many people do not think of the Holy Spirit as a Person and therefore their disrespect of Him shows. Many talk about the Holy Spirit as if He equaled a powerful emotion to be experienced. Many define Him as some kind of unexplainable, mysterious energy force of the cosmos. They will speak of Him as an influence or a power of God, but rarely if ever as a Person, one of the three persons that comprise Deity.

The apostle Paul by the Spirit said to his Corinthian brethren: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:14, NASB)We should know the Holy Spirit with whom we have fellowship! Taking the time to study the Scriptures will clear up any misunderstandings we have and enrich the relationship we are meant to have with the Holy Spirit as Christians.

The Holy Spirit is Holy!

The word spirit in the New Testament comes from the Greek word PNEUMA. There are several different uses of the word in Scripture (e.g., wind – Jn 3:8; breath – 2 Thes 2:8; unclean spirits – Mt 10:1). What sets the Holy Spirit apart is that He is holy! (Jn 14:26)

The Holy Spirit is holy (from HAGIOS). This means that He is worthy to be revered as an object of awe or veneration, He is set apart and sacred, and that He is pure and sinless (cf. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Holiness is one of the characteristics of God. To be designated as holy, identifies the Spirit with God Himself! “And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isa. 6:3; cf. Ps. 103:1; 111:9; Isa. 57:15; Mat. 6:9b; Rev. 4:8)

The Holy Spirit Has a Spiritual Nature.

Being a Spirit, He is spiritual, not physical. To rightly understand the Holy Spirit, we must view Him differently than a physical man, for He is a Spirit as God is (John 14:26; cf. 4:24). His existence is not verified by the physical or our emotions! Since the Holy Spirit is a spirit or spiritual, He cannot be perceived by our physical senses (i.e., sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste). The raised Jesus said to His apostles: “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:39). The Holy Spirit exists in an invisible realm, a non-physical world (cf. Eph. 6:12).

Beware of Human Reasoning in Religion That Defines the Holy Spirit in Physical, Fleshly, or Earthly Ways. Many mistakenly base the Holy Spirit’s presence on their emotions: “It feels so right, it must be the Spirit.” Sadly, many validate sinful behaviors this way! Similarly, others determine that the Holy Spirit is communicating to them by the physical sensations they experience (e.g., energetic, shaky, tingling, dizzy, calm, hot/ cold, restless, tense, burning, feeling light or heavy, pain, shiver, etc.). This is far too subjective – How is a person to know this is from the Spirit or from a meal they ate!?! Others claim to receive visions from the Spirit, yet once again such experiences stem from the physical such as drug or alcohol use, sleep depravation, or an intense emotion. Sadly, there are televangelists today that will preach about “supernatural success” defining the Spirit’s presence in your life by your success in a career or economic fortune. Finally, there are those who fraudulently make claims of miraculous healings that are unverifiable, lacking in supporting evidence.

Like Ancient Times, Many Religious Groups Today Attempt to Bring the Holy Spirit (a Spiritual Being) Down to the Level of Physical Man! For example, many today claim to have the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues. Yet, not a one of these speak from the Holy Spirit. These occurrences are nothing more than ecstatic utterances – unintelligible speech that is caused by overpowering emotions such as joy, fear, or anger, not by the Holy Spirit. Instead of speaking actual languages fluently without study (cf. Acts 2:4-11), the claim of speaking in tongues is eerily similar to the ancient practices of the pagans. Just like the pagans, people suppose that by making a lot of noise through their babblings they can get the attention of God!

Another example of this is the people’s request for a “Spirit-filled” worship service. Often, what they really want is not a worship that follows the Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures, but a worship that physically heightens the senses and makes them “feel good.” Thus, many religious groups are more than willing to accommodate if it will bring in the numbers. By majoring in the psychology of “sensation and perception,” modern day worship services aim to stimulate the emotions through physical means (e.g., music, chanting, incense, candles, drama plays, dancing, the powers of human persuasion, etc.).

All we know with certainty about the Holy Spirit comes from the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Rom. 10:17), not from our traditions, superstitions, feelings, or by physical measurements. If we truly want to know the Holy Spirit, we need to learn from His word.

The Holy Spirit is a Person with Whom We Can Have a Relationship.

The Holy Spirit Possess the Qualities and Attributes of a Person. Every person has life, thoughts, character, the ability to choose and take action, etc. and that is exactly what the Holy Spirit has! For example, the Holy Spirit has a mind (Rom. 8:27), knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11; 14:11), a will (1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 16:6-7; 21:11-14), goodness (Neh. 9:20; Ps. 143:10), and the power to love and comfort others (Rom. 15:30; 5:5; Phil. 2:1) (John 14:16-17; Acts 9:31).

The Holy Spirit Performed Good Works That Demonstrated That He is a Person. The Holy Spirit speaks (e.g., Acts 8:29; 10:19-20; 13:2; 1 Tim. 4:1). He testifies or bears witness (John 15:26; Acts 20:23; Rom. 8:16). He also teaches, guides, and leads or directs (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 16:6-7; Rom. 8:14).

The Holy Spirit has emotions as a person would and can be offended. The Holy Spirit can be grieved or saddened (Eph. 4:30; Isa. 63:10). The Holy Spirit can be resisted or opposed (Acts 7:51). He can also be insulted (Heb. 10:29), even blasphemed (Mat. 12:31).

How then should we speak of the Holy Spirit? Clearly, He is not an “it,” a feeling, thing, impersonal force, or a mere divine influence. Nor is the Holy Spirit just a manifestation of God the Father or the word of God. The Holy Spirit is a Person and thus we should always speak of Him as a person. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26; cf. John 15:26; 16:13-14; cf. Rom. 8:16).

The Holy Spirit: One of Three of the Divine Nature (Deity).

The Holy Spirit is God! “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.’” (Acts 5:3-4) He is Eternal (Heb. 9:14), all-knowing (1 Cor. 2:11), all-powerful (Job 33:4), and present in all places at the same time (Ps. 139:7ff).

The Holy Spirit is not God by Himself, but One of Three Persons That Comprise the One True God (the Godhead or Divine Nature - Acts 17:29; Rom 1:20; Col 2:9). God has a unified or compound oneness to His nature. The Hebrew word ECHAD is often translated “one” to denote a unified oneness (Deut 6:4; cf. Gen. 2:24). We also find plural nouns and verbs to refer to God; the most common one is the Hebrew word ELOHIYM (Gen. 1:1; cf. Josh. 24:16). God at times spoke in the first person plural (Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7). While all three Persons comprise who God is, each is distinguishable from the other, coexisting simultaneously. “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’”(Mat 3:16-17; cf. Mat. 28:19; Rom. 15:30). Each person is equally God, yet each is of a different rank by the Divine order. The Father has first rank, then the Son, and then the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15), yet each are equally God (Jn 6:27; Col. 2:9; Acts 5:3-4).

There Are Many Names of the Holy Spirit

There are many names of the Holy Spirit found in the Scriptures such as: The Spirit of God (This emphasizes His divine nature) (Rom. 8:9, 14; Phil. 3:3) or the Spirit of Christ (He comes from the Father through the Son) (Rom. 8:9). Therefore, a complete study of the Holy Spirit will require our consideration of every passage where the Spirit is found: There are over seventeen different names of the Holy Spirit! (e.g., Isa 11:2; 61:1; Mat 3:16; 10:20; Jn 3:5; 14:17, 26; 16:13; Rom 8:2, 15; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 3:3; Eph 1:13; 4:30; Heb 10:29; 1 Jn 4:13; Rev 1:4; etc.).

Clearly, Knowing Who the Holy Spirit is, is Essential to Living Life as a Christian!
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14). Do you know the Holy Spirit?

How Good is "Good Enough"?

2008-09-10T09:02:00.000-04:00

www.ComeNeartoGod.com

Do we understand what it means to be saved by grace? Though many claim to depend on the grace of God for their salvation, many continue to live life as if they must earn their way to Heaven. “Am I good enough?” “Have I done enough?” “Have I pleased God enough that I may enter Heaven?” Out of concern for your eternal salvation, have you ever asked yourself these kinds of questions? If so, you may not understand salvation which is by grace - a favor bestowed freely by God, a gift we did not deserve.

“The Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24)

The gospel teaches that salvation is by grace (Eph. 2:5). Therefore, to leave grace out of the gospel is to teach a perverted or contrary gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). Yet, that is exactly what we do when we ask the question: “Am I good enough to be saved?” Such a question does not put trust in God’s grace, but “confidence in the flesh” or our own good works for our salvation (Phil. 3:2-3). Just as “salvation by grace only” or “salvation by faith only” are falsehoods, so is “salvation by works only” a false doctrine which can cause us to be lost.
Our understanding of the gospel of grace is absolutely essential. For the attitude we bring in our service to God has the power to justify or condemn us eternally (Luke 18:9-13).

Must Our Good Deeds Outweigh Our Bad Deeds?

There are many New Testament passages that teach that we will be judged according to our deeds (Mat. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:6-10; Col. 3:23-25; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12; etc.). Does it therefore follow that our good deeds must outweigh our bad deeds on Judgment Day? Muhammad thought so as taught in the Koran: “Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light will have his home in a (bottomless) pit.” (SURAH 101:6-9, The Holy Quran). Is this what the New Testament also teaches? If so, by what standard or measurement do we use to determine if our good deeds are “heavy” enough to merit our eternal reward?

The Gospel is Not a Meritorious Law System.

According to Romans 2:5-11, our obedience is of great importance to God, yet God will in no way “strike a balance” by rewarding Christians whose goods deeds outweigh their bad deeds on Judgment Day. Further in the text, the apostle explains how a person could be right with God (justified) if it was only through our keeping the law (any law; Rom. 2:12-16): “For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified (v. 13). How good is “good enough” to be right with God? Only perfect law-keeping would be “enough”! Yet, no one has been able to do this (Rom. 3:10, 23).

God’s Justice is satisfied only by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) how can God’s justice be satisfied? Only through the blood of Jesus! “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith…” (Rom. 3:24-25ff.). “The law of faith” declares that we are “justified by faith apart from works of [the] law” (v. 28) – any law-keeping in attempt to merit our salvation. No one can achieve righteousness (a right standing w/ God) by their own efforts of good works (Phil. 3:9). All need the blood of Jesus to be right with God.

Justification by Faith vs. Justification by Meritorious Works

“Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Unable to boast by his “works” (i.e., unable to meet the “full quota” of good works), Abraham was justified by faith! (Rom. 4:1-5). Abraham’s faith in God was not faith alone, but an obedient faith which trusted in God for salvation (James 2:20-24).

“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Rom. 4:4).
The person who “works,” who does not put his faith in the Lord for salvation, is one who labors to earn his reward (i.e., righteousness before God). His reward is not a favor, but a debt owed to him based on personal merit. The serious problem in this approach is that a person would have to obey the law flawlessly to gain his reward! There can be no other kind of worker that God owes a reward! Yet, there is no such worker among men (3:23).

The Blood of Jesus is the Source of Our Righteousness.

Since we sin or fail to perform good works perfectly, we cannot be right with God unless we are forgiven of our sins. And forgiveness is found only through the blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7). Our sins will be charged to our account unless we go to Christ in faith for the forgiveness of our sins. Only then will we be righteous: “Just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." (Rom. 4:6-8). To whom does the Lord credit righteousness to his account? To the person whose sins are forgiven! When a person responds in obedient faith to the gospel of Christ, their sins are covered the debt of sin is cancelled! (Acts 2:38). Only in Christ can we be righteous before God (2 Cor. 5:21). Christ, not our works, is the source of our salvation (Heb. 5:9).

In What Sense will we be judged According to our Works?

God does the saving, not us (Tit. 3:5), but we must come to Christ to be saved. Sins we committed in life and did not repent of and receive forgiveness for will remain in the “record books” and be held against us at the Judgment (Rev. 20:12), unless we obey the gospel to have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16; cf. 2 Thes. 1:8). Once in Christ, we must demonstrate our faith by our works of obedience (Jas. 2:14-26). Our deeds in life demonstrate our faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God (2 Cor. 5:6-10). God is faithful to forgive Christians, but we must confess our sins with a penitent heart to be forgiven (1 Jn 1:9; Acts 8:22). This is a requirement of continued fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:5-10).

How good is “good enough”? No one is good enough without the grace of the Savior!

Heroes Wanted

2008-09-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

www.ComeNeartoGod.com

There is a short supply of heroes these days. It’s no wonder then why so many young people are uninspired and unmotivated to become Christians. There are few good role models for them to look to for the encouragement they need. As a result, they look to super-hero characters produced by Hollywood and rock star idols who will fill the void.

If you are thinking that you cannot be a hero, think again! To be a hero, one does not have to achieve extraordinary works or perform amazing acts that will impress and dazzle. If you have a big heart, if you truly care about others, then you can be a hero by committing yourself to do what is right no matter what the cost may be. As Christians, we should be able to point to our own lives as examples worthy of imitation (1 Cor. 11:1).

Every Christian is meant to be a hero! Christians must rise to the challenge to do God’s will each day. There will be trials, temptations, and tribulations involved in living the Christian life (1 Pet. 1:7; Eph. 6:13; Acts 14:22). Therefore, to be Christians we need faith and courage and the resolve to never give up. We are all called to be heroes!

Heroes Are Brave

Heroism is not limited to great feats or incredible acts of courage, contrary to popular belief. Heroism goes far beyond that occasional act of bravery, like saving someone from a burning building or rescuing a child from drowning. Heroism is seen also in everyday life. Children love to listen to the Bible stories of the heroic acts of people such as David who slew Goliath or Daniel who faced the lion’s den. Yet, do they remember what kind of lives these people lived? Do they remember that David was a man after God’s own heart? Do they remember the devotion of Daniel to pray to God three times a day?

Heroes are those who gather the courage to serve the Lord everyday, no matter how challenging it may be. True heroes are not heroes occasionally, but are constantly doing their best to be brave when enduring the trials of life (e.g., 2 Cor. 4:7-10). Instead of turning your back on your troubles, you bravely face them by your faith in God. You, for example, commit yourself to resolve your marital conflicts, dedicate yourself to helping your troubled teenage son or daughter, and determine to work extra hard to provide for your family in times of financial hardship. When confronted with temptations at every corner, you muster the courage, in God, to stand for what is right in a world of sin. Like heroes, all Christians are to be brave without exception (1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 1:27-28).

Heroes Seek Justice.

How many times have you seen a movie advertised that portrays the action hero as an avenger seeking “payback” for all the injustices committed against him? Far too often, those who exact revenge upon the guilty are elevated as “heroes” for us to admire. Yet, true heroes seek justice, not revenge (Rom. 12:17-19; 13:4).

Heroes are those who pursue justice in a proactive way. A hero works hard for the rights of others, especially for those who are weak, destitute, and afflicted (Jas. 1:27; cf. Isa. 1:17; Prov. 31:9). There is nothing noble about well wishing: “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled” which is unaccompanied by action (Jas. 2:14-17). To be a hero, one must be willing to put himself “on the line” for the rights of others. When a brother is unfairly accused, when the blabbermouth attempts to spread his gossip, or when a bully is preying upon the weak at school, you may have an opportunity to be a hero! Compassion for others will motivate you to be a hero, to pursue justice for those in need (Mat. 23:23).

Heroes Are Persistent.

Many people are quitters and pessimists, who give up easily at the first sign of conflict or challenge, much like the people of Israel who lacked faith when before an obstacle (Ex. 14:10-12; Num. 13:31-33). Many make lofty goals, like to “build a tower,” only to quit when the going gets tough (Lk. 14:28-30). Indeed, one amazing act of courage does not make a person a true hero when he does not follow through with what he started.

A hero refuses to quit until “mission accomplished.” The apostles of Christ were true heroes for their persistence to teach the gospel in a world that persecuted them greatly (Acts 5:40-42). Parents are heroes too when they refuse to give up on their children, doing their best to train them in the way of the Lord. Every Christian can be a hero by his persistence in the battle against sin, by refusing to surrender to the devil and his ways (1 Pet. 5:8-9). We can be heroes everyday by continuing to do good unto others no matter what response they give or result may come from it (Lk. 6:27-31; Gal. 6:7-10).

Heroes Have Integrity.

Many people will compromise their own beliefs in order “to survive,” to get by or get ahead in life. Many will do foolish things like King Saul, who violated the command of God in hope to “gain the victory” (1 Sam. 13:8-13). People lie, cheat, and steal, or set aside their moral values and convictions so they may “succeed” in life and gain the approval of men. The world is constantly enticing us to give in to sensual pleasures at the cost of what is most important and valuable (1 Jn. 2:16; cf. Mt. 16:26).

In contrast, heroes are committed to what they believe in no matter what. “For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Cor. 13:8). Those that have real integrity not only believe in the truth, but live by the truth (3 Jn. 2-4). By putting our trust in God, we will have the courage and strength we need to maintain our integrity for the Lord (1 Pet. 4:19): To go against friends or family, if necessary, in order to do what is right (Mat 10:37); To refuse to give in to the pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:24-26); To not yield to pressures of the world to conform to its standard (Rom 12:2); To never trade what we believe in for the approval of others! (Jn. 12:42-43; cf. Gal. 1:10).

Heroes Selflessly Serve Others.

Many refuse to help without first asking the question: “What’s in it for me?” Unfortunately, “heroism” these days are often motivated by less than noble purposes: Fortune, fame, recognition, praises of men, politics, and other selfish causes (Mt. 6:2).

True heroes will selflessly make personal sacrifices. A hero does not ask if it is convenient or what he can personally gain by helping others. A sacrificial love compels him to act (Jn. 15:13). All Christians will have to give up something in order to do what is right to help others in need (1 Jn. 3:16-18). It may be your time, money, a career, maybe even the dreams you had for your life. Most of all, it will demand that you give up your sins that stand in the way of fulfilling your duty to act on behalf of others.

If being a hero sounds too costly then consider Jesus who selflessly gave far more than we will ever have to give. Jesus denied Himself to become a man and allowed Himself to be put to death on the cross for our sins. There is no greater hero that will inspire us more to be heroes than Jesus Christ! “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:3-8, NKJV).

Heroes are most desperately wanted. Will you step up to be the “hero” that the Lord has called you to be?

Humble Yourself and Be Taught of God.

2008-02-01T06:25:00.001-05:00

By Mark E. Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isa. 57:15, NASB). Do you have a lowly spirit? Are you humble before God? For a right relationship with God, every person must humble themselves before the Lord.

Do you wholeheartedly believe that “God is”? (Heb. 11:6). No one can truly humble themselves before God unless they believe that God is a real actual Person. Though God is invisible (1 Tim. 1:17), you must in faith imagine the existence of God, His presence, His character, and majesty. Full recognition of God’s greatness will humble you and cause you to see how “small” you really are in comparison to the Lord (e.g., Isa 6:5).

Will you allow God to teach you His will? Your attempt to draw near to God will be in vain unless you humble yourself and allow yourself to be taught by God and His word. “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me” (John 6:44-45).

To Draw Near to God, You Must Be Teachable

Are you teachable? Most, if not all people would answer: “Well, of course I am!” But are you really? Too often, people allow pride, preconceived notions, prejudices, and personal opinions to get in the way of learning God’s will. To be taught by God we have to be teachable and this means we must be humble in our attitude toward Him. “He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.” (Ps. 25:9).

To put it another way, are you as teachable as a child? As degrading or demeaning as that may sound to you, the truth is God only wants people who are as humble as children in His kingdom. Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 18:3-4). This means that in order for God to teach you, you have to lay down your selfish ambitions and pride and take on the lowly and humble position of a child.

Children are, to a great extent, teachable and humble. It is no wonder then why Jesus chose a child as a fitting example of humility to make His point. To be great in God’s eyes, you must like a child, with simple faith and trust, follow the Father’s instructions. Instead of hard-headedness or stubbornness, allow God to teach you, mold you, and shape you into what He wants you to be as one of His own children. Then you can truly be great in God’s kingdom! “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Pet. 5:6).

God has made His word understandable (Eph. 3:3-5). God desires “all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). Therefore, it is up to each person to open his heart to the Scriptures. Do you have a “good and honest heart”? (Luke 8:15). Stubbornness and pride keeps truth out, yet a humble heart holds fast to the truth and spiritual blessings come as a result. To be taught by God, honesty and humility is a must: “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21).

Humble Yourself to the Wisdom of God.

You cannot be taught by God if your heart is proud and you presume to know beforehand the will of God (Isa. 5:20-21; Prov 3:7; 12:15). Many people believe they are wise enough to know what is right and wrong on their own without the study of God’s word. As a result, they end up telling God what they think is good and evil. In so doing, many make the mistake in believing that God thinks the same way as we do! “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

Yet, if you go to the word of God with a humble heart, it is likely that you will be “cut to the heart.” You will see your sins, shortcomings, and the things you need to change about your life. You will be cross-examined and judged which may produce unwanted feelings of guilt (Heb. 4:12). It is for this reason that many treat Bible study as a mere academic exercise instead of a time for self-examination, reflection, and a means to draw nearer to God. Don’t let that be you. Recognize that the Scriptures are designed in such a way that if we listen with a humble heart we will be challenged (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Let God challenge you with His teachings, humbly accept what He says, and then obey the Lord.

What Does Humbling Ourselves Before God Require?

Unload the “Baggage” so You Can Really Listen to What God Says. Set aside your personal opinions or feelings and the philosophies, traditions, and popular opinions of men (Prov. 14:12; Col. 2:8; Mat. 15:9; 7:13). Family wishes or religious traditions must not be put above the Lord’s will (Mat. 10:37). Feelings of prejudice against the one who delivered the truth to you must be repented of (e.g., John 9:34; Gal 4:16).

Sometimes it requires Starting over and Rebuilding Your Faith. Saving faith in Christ is based upon the teaching of God’s word. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). This is the only way to build your faith the way it is supposed to be built. Sometimes as a result of Bible study we discover we have believed and practiced that which is contrary to the Scriptures. As embarrassing or humiliating as it may be for you to make corrections in your life, don’t let your pride stand in the way of having a right relationship with God. For fellowship with the Lord depends on your willingness to humble yourself and be taught of God.

"Better Felt Than Told" Religion

2007-09-18T10:12:00.000-04:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

The belief that religion is based on the feelings that a person may experience is a major obstacle in getting people to obey the gospel. Those who adhere to such a belief cling to their feelings as the basis of their salvation. Even when the Bible plainly contradicts their beliefs and practices and teaches them what they must do to be saved, they still insist on following their feelings instead of the word of God. “I know how I feel and I wouldn't trade my feelings for a stack of Bibles” is a common response, rather than obedience to the truth. Feelings, not God’s word, are the guides they rely on in life to determine what is right and wrong in morality and religion.

Conversion Begins not by a Feeling nor by a Sensation a Person Feels in the Body, but by Hearing God’s Word.

Today, many people, because of an intense feeling they experienced (e.g., fear, happiness) or a sensation they felt throughout their body (e.g., “I felt like I was floating and could fly”), make the claim to be saved. Convinced that the feeling came from God Himself, they will readily give their “testimony” of how they were “converted” to the Lord. However, there is no record in the Scriptures of anyone ever being converted in this manner.

Instead, each person who was converted to the Lord first heard the word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17, NKJV). A saving faith begins by hearing God’s word. The apostle Peter understood this principle by what he said when addressing the apostles and elders at Jerusalem: "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7, NASB). The only way anyone can become a believer in Christ and be saved is by first hearing the word of the gospel.

If God converts people by sending them some “better felt than told” experience of salvation, then why did the Lord send the disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15)? If all people had to do was wait for God to save them through some divine emotional experience, then why send a preacher to preach the gospel so the lost may hear God’s word? (Rom. 10:14-15).

The Holy Spirit Converts Through the Word, not Through Our Feelings.

It is often the case, that the people who base their conversions to Christ on a feeling, also believe it was the Holy Spirit who gave it (e.g., “I felt the Spirit come upon me and I just knew, at that moment, that I was saved”). The belief is that the Holy Spirit works to save people by a direct action upon the heart of each individual after a person prays for salvation or “prays Jesus into their heart.” This belief about the Holy Spirit comes from a serious misunderstanding as to how the Holy Spirit works in the saving of souls.

When a person is saved, that person is “born again” or born of the Spirit (John 3:3, 5; Titus 3:5). The word of God also causes us to be “born again” spiritually when we obey it: “Of his own will begat he us (God caused us to born - ML) with the word of truth . . .” (James 1:18, KJV; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23). The “word of truth” is not literally a person that happens to do the same work as the Holy Spirit. Rather, the word of God must be the instrument the Holy Spirit uses in the work of saving souls (2 Thes. 2:13). Jesus, when addressing His apostles, spoke of the role the Holy Spirit would fulfill in our salvation: “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8, NASB). The Holy Spirit convicts the world by the word of God, which He gave to the apostles (Acts 2:4; Eph. 3:5) who in turn, gave it to us. In the Bible, we have the revealed will of God that we can read and understand (Eph. 3:3-4). The promise that “the Comforter” (i.e., the Holy Spirit) would come was specifically given to the apostles alone who were given the complete revelation of God’s word by the Spirit (John 14:16-20, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:13).

Feelings Are not Reliable Indicators of Our Salvation.

The feelings we experience from day to day may range from a whole host of different emotions such as happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, embarrassment, disgust, anxiousness, annoyance, frustration, anger, fear, guilt, sadness, depression, etc. The emotions or feelings that we experience will vary depending on a number of factors such as our attitude, diet, health, sleep habits, pleasure, pain, and other circumstances of our lives.

Since feelings may differ from day to day, it is impossible to depend on them for truth and accuracy on whether or not we are the children of God. The person who relies on his or her feelings as the basis of a right relationship with God may feel “close” to God one day (due to feelings of happiness) and then may feel “distant” from God the next day (due to feelings of sadness or anger). The person who puts too much stock in his or her emotions does not enjoy confidence, but instead doubt and fear about their relationship with God (e.g., “Am I a child of God?”).

How We Can Know That We Are Children of God.

It is not enough to feel that you are a child of God. You must have the facts to verify the claim and those facts are established by at least two credible witnesses. Those two witnesses are the Holy Spirit and your spirit: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:16-17).

First, the Holy Spirit “bears witness” or speaks to us through the written Word (1 Tim. 4:1a). The word of God or the gospel reveals to us how to become children of God. For example, the Holy Spirit did not personally reveal to the eunuch how to be saved, but instead the Spirit sent Philip to the eunuch to preach the gospel to him so he could learn how to become a Christian (Acts 8:26-40).

Secondly, “our spirit” may bear witness of the fact that we believed and obeyed what the Spirit said to do in the Bible on how to be saved. Hearing God’s word produces genuine faith that saves (Rom. 10:17). While faith is important to salvation (Heb. 11:6; John 3:16), we are not saved by faith only (James 2:24). There are other conditions in God’s word that we must meet in order to become children of God and have the hope of salvation. A person must also confess his faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Once baptized, a person must maintain an obedient faith to the end to be saved eternally (Heb. 3:12-14; James 2:14-26).

When we obey God’s word, our spirit knows that we have followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit on how to be saved and therefore may “bear witness” that we are children of God. In addition, the Holy Spirit may also “bear witness” that we are children of God because He knows we have obeyed God’s word. Both our spirit and the Holy Spirit may bear witness together of our salvation when they are in agreement with one another. Only when a person has obeyed the gospel can a person truly be confident that he or she is a child of God!

Walk by Faith, not by Feeling As a Christian.

Emotions must not be the basis for the decisions we make nor the rule of our conduct (e.g., “It just felt like the right thing to do. I knew at that moment the Spirit led me to do it”). To “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) or “walk by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7), the Christian must make decisions that are based upon the word of God (Ps. 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 5:12-14).

Decisions must not be made on sheer impulse or merely by what seems right (Prov. 14:12). The Christian must not “direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23) merely by what feels right. Instead, the Christian must “not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17) and do his or her best to obey it. Our ability to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4) and rejoice in our salvation (Ps. 51:12) is not based on our feelings, but on God and His promises and our faithfulness to Him (Rom. 15:13; 3 John 4).

May a Christian Drink Alcohol?

2007-09-12T14:37:00.000-04:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thes. 5:21-22, NASB). To some people, alcohol is readily perceived as an evil to be avoided at all costs. If you are like me, you carry with you some “emotional baggage” on this issue because of the trouble it has caused your loved ones. Yet, strong feelings are not sufficient to be our guide in religion (Prov. 14:12). Just because something seems to be evil, doesn’t mean it is.

The answer to our question may seem to some people to be easily answered. Yet, when one begins to look at the many passages of Scripture that deal with this issue, the question quickly can become both perplexing and challenging. It is for this reason that many prefer to “straddle the fence” and take both sides of the issue in order to get along with everyone and not stir up controversy. Yet, avoiding your stand on this issue is not an option. Considering how often the Bible addresses the subject, we have no choice but to study the Scriptures and then take our stand for the Lord. We must try to “learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10).

If we, as the children of God, are truly dedicated to do “all in the name of the Lord” by His authority (Col. 3:17), then no area of our life will be exempt from the careful scrutiny of God’s word. Instead of uncertainty in life (Rom. 14:23), we must “walk by faith” (Rom. 10:17) and have no doubts about whether or not a certain behavior or activity is acceptable to God, and drinking alcohol should be no exception to our commitment.

Is Wine Approved or Condemned by God?

In many cases, wine was approved by God. The Lord accepted it as an offering upon the altar (Num. 18:12), Jacob blessed his son Isaac to receive it (Gen. 27:28), and wine is even used as a symbol for salvation (Isa. 55:1ff.). Hardly an indication that wine is evil!

On the other hand, in many other instances, wine was also condemned by God. Wine is described as “the wine of violence” (Prov. 4:17), a mocker and brawler that intoxicates making a person unwise (Prov. 20:1; cf. Prov. 23:20-21). Wine brings woe, sorrow, contentions, poverty and complaining, it bites like a viper, it confuses, causes visions, poor judgments, violence, bitterness, and destruction (Prov 23:20-35; 31:4-7; Isa. 28:7). Aaron and his sons did not drink wine when entering the tent of meeting in order to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean (Lev.10:8-10). Daniel refused to defile himself with the king’s wine (Dan 1:8). These passages and more ought to raise more than a “red flag” of the dangers of drinking wine.

Understandably, at least initially, we may be tempted to think that the Bible is contradicting itself! Why is it approved in one instance and condemned in another? To answer this question, we must consider what type of wine that they were drinking in these instances. The reason why wine was approved in some cases and condemned in others was because the former spoke of non-alcoholic wine and the latter alcoholic wine.

The Ancients Had a Choice between Alcoholic or Nonalcoholic Wine.

Very illuminating to our study on wine in the Bible is recognition of the fact that the ancients had a choice on what type of wine they drank. Many have assumed that whenever wine is mentioned in the Bible that it was alcoholic wine. Yet, there is no basis to make such an assumption. Instead, to be fair in our examination of the word wine in the Scriptures, we need to also acknowledge the alternative that wine in some cases referred to non-alcoholic wine.

What Makes Wine Alcoholic? Wine which is alcoholic contains alcohol because the grape juice is fermented. Fermentation is that process in which yeast cells act on the sugar content of fruit juice and convert the sugar to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Thus, wine which is non-alcoholic has not gone through the fermentation process.

For the people in ancient times, making wine alcoholic (fermented) was not an easy process. Fermentation was a chance process that required temperatures of the wine to be carefully regulated. People take for granted the fact that distillation, the process used to make beverages have higher alcohol content (40 to 50% alcohol) such as whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum, was not discovered until 1100!

An Ancient Preference for Non-Alcoholic Wine: It may surprise some people to learn that there were those in ancient times that actually preferred nonalcoholic (unfermented) wine! For example: "The most useful wine has all its force or strength broken by the filter." (Pliny, A.D. 61-113); "Wine is rendered old or feeble in strength when it is frequently filtered. The strength or spirit being thus excluded, the wine neither inflames the brain nor infests the mind and the passions, and is much more pleasant to drink."(Plutarch A.D. 46-120; cf. Isaiah 5:11).It is for this reason, that the ancients developed ways to prevent wine from fermenting or becoming alcoholic such as the burial method, the boiling method (cf. pasteurization), and the filtering method.

Jesus and His Disciples had a Choice and So Do We! Having this knowledge about wine, we can more clearly understand why the Bible speaks of wine with approval in some cases (non-alcoholic) and disapproval in other cases (alcoholic). We can also easily determine what type of wine Jesus and His disciples drank! When Jesus miraculously turned water into wine (John 2:1-11) for example, we can know with certainty that Jesus made not the wine that “bites like a serpent” (Prov. 23:32) (alcoholic), but instead “wine which makes man's heart glad” (Ps. 104:15) (non-alcoholic). When Jesus established the Lord’s Supper, we can read of His emphasis on the “fruit of the vine” and can rightly conclude that this was unfermented wine or grape juice (Mat. 26:27-29), not alcoholic wine. Therefore, since Jesus and His disciples had a choice between the two, we do too! The choice we should make is very obvious as we examine the many biblical reasons why Christians should abstain from drinking alcohol.

Reasons from the Bible Why Christians Should Abstain from Alcohol

Abstain for Appearance Sake: Some Christians abstain from alcohol merely for the fact that it has an “appearance of evil” (1 Thes. 5:22, KJV). To be sure, the drinking of alcohol does put us at risk of setting a bad example for Christ, for many evils in society are associated with alcohol (e.g., immorality, lawlessness, violence, negligence, etc.). However, the above reasoning alone presupposes that if there was no social stigma attached to drinking, that it would be acceptable to God to drink alcohol! Our conviction on this issue needs to go much deeper than that!

The Modern Drink is a “Strong Drink” to be Avoided: Some Christians make the argument that drinking alcohol beverages in moderation is acceptable. Yet, how can it be that we can moderately drink the alcoholic beverages that are served today? The truth is, people cannot consistently know when they have had enough to drink. Kessel & Walton, authors of Alcoholism inform us that "from the first drink, our judgment, discrimination, and restraint are reduced and impaired.” This is because all modern day alcoholic beverages are “strong drinks” condemned by the Scriptures: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” (Prov. 20:1). Ancient alcoholic wines do not even begin to compare to modern day wines in alcohol content! To compare the fermented wine drunk today (which is greatly fortified with extra alcohol) from what was drunk in the first century, we discover that the modern wine contains over hundred times the amount of alcohol in a single glass of wine!

Alcohol Hinders Our Alertness Against Evil and Our Ability to Watch for the Lord’s Return: The Lord instructs us that we must be sober and alert in our fight against the devil (1 Pet 5:8-9). Studies have proven that alcohol lowers our ability to stay alert and discern between right and wrong. It is no wonder, for example, that the consumption of alcohol often leads to fornication among young people, parents neglecting their children, and an increase of aggression and violence. Rather than give the devil a foothold, we should eliminate altogether the drinking of alcoholic beverages in life.

Christians Are Commanded to be Sober-minded or Morally Alert So to Ready for the Lord’s Return (1 Thes. 5:4-7; cf. 1 Pet. 1:13; Luke 21:34): In the New Testament, a daily readiness for the coming of Christ is required. We want to be found by Jesus morally alert which demands that we abstain from anything that would hinder our faithfulness, including alcohol. How horrible it would be for the Lord to return and find us drunk and unprepared to meet Him! Let us take heed to these instructions: “For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night” (1 Thes. 5:5-7).

Alcohol Can Cause us to Forget God’s Law: “Studies have shown that even moderate alcohol use can interfere with the ability to remember” (Aging & Technology Research). What good does it do us to have great knowledge of the Scriptures, only to allow alcohol to interfere with our ability to remember it!?! In time of temptation, when making important decisions, when teaching the lost, when it really counts, our memory may fail us when under the influence of alcohol and cause us to “forget what is decreed” by God (Prov. 31:4-7).

Alcohol Can Lead to Moral Recklessness: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Dissipation refers to wasteful, reckless living, shameless indifference to moral restraints. Studies have proven this to be true, that the drinking of alcohol lowers our inhibitions and increases our tendency to say and do things we normally would not. Indeed, the drinking of alcohol leads to a lack of self-control, a number of sinful behaviors (e.g., sexual immorality, reckless spending, utter selfishness, and indulgence), and a very destructive lifestyle.

Alcohol is an Addictive, Habit-forming Drug: Medical studies have proven that alcohol is addictive, leading many people to a psychological and physical dependence on the drug (Davis VE, Walsh MJ. Alcohol, Amines, and Alkaloids, Science 1970 Feb 13;167 (920):1005–1007; Alcohol Research and Health, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2000). Even the Scriptures teach that “wine” (alcohol / fermented wine) is addictive. A qualification of an elder (i.e., pastor / overseer) is that he is “not addicted to wine” - 1 Tim. 3:3; cf. Titus 1:7). Paul is not merely trying to say that an elder of a church cannot be a drunkard, for no Christian can be a drunkard (1 Cor 6:10). The phrase "given to wine" (KJV) or “addicted to wine” (NASB) from paroinos is defined by the Friberg Lexicon: “addicted to wine, drunken, of one who tends to be quarrelsome as he habitually drinks too much; substantially a drunkard.” Therefore, alcohol can dominate and control us and become our master! A life of alcoholic addiction is a miserable life (Prov. 23:29-35). May Jesus Christ be our only Master and Lord in life (Jude 4b; cf. Mat. 6:24; 1 Cor. 6:12b).

Christians Are to be Holy, Separate, and Distinct from the Rest of the World (2 Cor 6:17; 1 Pet. 1:16): We are not to be like the world that values the intoxication of alcohol (Rom. 12:2). Statistics show that 66% of the U.S. population consumes alcohol on a regular basis (www.alcoholics-info.com). To drink alcohol or practice “social drinking” is to be like the world which renders us without “spiritual flavor” and without fellowship with God (Mat. 5:13; 1 John 2:15-16). Christians must not give in the pressures to drink alcohol, not even for “social reasons” (e.g., drinking parties) (1 Pet. 4:3-5). Not even the medical use is the excuse for the social use of alcohol! (1 Tim. 5:23). Christians should be also be careful not to associate with drunkards (Prov. 23:20-21; 1 Cor. 5:11).

Drinking Alcohol May Cause Others to Stumble (Sin) Including Our Children! The choice we make concerning alcohol must not be selfish. Older Christians are to set a good example for the younger to follow (Titus 2:2-5). Woe to the one who is found guilty of causing another person to stumble or sin! (Mat. 18:5-7): “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt 18:6).

The Practice of Getting Drunk (Which is Rapidly Achieved by the Modern Drink) Will Cost Us Our Eternal Salvation! (Gal. 5:19-21; cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rom 13:13-14): Failure to take heed to the Scriptures of the warnings against alcohol will cost us dearly: “... those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21b). Christian, drinking alcohol is simply not worth it!

The Subtle Dangers of Creeds

2007-05-07T13:35:00.000-04:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

For centuries, people, claiming to be Christians, have seen the need to write creeds to serve as guides in religion. Thousands of creeds have been established by men all over the world. Creeds have been around for so long, in fact, that many are convinced that there is nothing wrong with having them. To call for the rejection of creeds in religion is viewed by many as unrealistic thinking and an insult to our “Christian heritage.”

Although not as popular as they used to be, the use of creeds and confessions of faith is still practiced by many religious groups today. Creeds such as the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, The Baptist Faith and Message, Statement of Fundamental Truths (Assemblies of God), The New Catholic Catechism, and The Westminster Confession of Faith (Presbyterian), to name just a few, are still important documents to churches today.

Despite the general acceptance in the religious world, creeds are in fact dangerous to follow in religion. Though creeds are often written by those with good intentions, the end result is in fact disastrous as we shall soon discover in our study.

What Is a Creed?

A creed, sometimes called a confession or rule of faith, is an authoritative statement in a precise written form, though sometimes verbal, that formally and publicly declares the beliefs and doctrines of a religious group or individual. We should keep in mind that people often regard certain writings or sayings of men as if they were creeds, even though they are not “officially” declared to be. This is demonstrated when they regard their teaching as having authority in religion and thus necessary to follow for their salvation.

Why Do Churches Establish Creeds?

More and more religious groups are rejecting the notion that there is an absolute standard of right and wrong (e.g., moral relativism, any interpretation of Scripture will do, unity in diversity, etc.). Doing “good” and sincerity of heart is all that matters instead of standing for the truth, for correct or sound doctrine. Such people frown on condemning others for some perceived error or false doctrine. To them, youth programs and entertaining music matters a whole lot more than what is taught! However, for many others having standards is important and to establish those standards, people have turned to creeds.

To Clearly Define Their Beliefs or “The Truth”: What exactly do we stand for? To answer this question, many religious groups see the need for creeds to help clarify their beliefs. Creeds, it is claimed, help prevent confusion and keep people loyal to “the truth.” Creeds are often used as a measurement or standard for “correct doctrine.” Thus, all people, whether “clergy” or “laity,” will be better able to recognize error or false doctrine. For example, the Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) was written, in part, to combat the errors of the deity of Christ (i.e., Arianism).

To Explain the Meaning of the Scriptures: Many today make no distinction between the expounding of Scripture in preaching and the establishment of creeds. The claim is that a creed is merely one of the ways the church can use to explain the meaning of the Bible to her members. Many assert that most of the Bible is hard to understand and therefore we need creeds, written by “qualified men,” to explain the meaning of the Scriptures to us. The Presbyterian denomination, for example, relies upon the Westminster Confession of Faith, a doctrine based on the teachings of John Calvin, to explain matters such as justification, sanctification, worship, predestination, God’s providence, free will, the role of Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc. The belief is that the Westminster Assembly consisted of “learned, godly and judicious Divines” who were “preeminently qualified” to explain the true meaning of the Scriptures for the people. What qualifications were those may we ask?

To Confess Their Faith: Creeds are used by churches as a means of declaring their beliefs not only to themselves, but to the world. To justify the use of creeds, it is claimed that creeds is just one of the ways to confess your faith and evangelize the world, similar to preaching or teaching. Those who are unwilling to write creeds are sometimes accused of being afraid, even ashamed of what they believe in! Sadly, some brethren have unwittingly taken this dare on and as a result, established a “Church of Christ” creed!

To Distinguish Themselves from Others: Creeds have been especially important to denominational churches. Creeds are used to maintain a sense of identity, to define what denomination they are that sets them apart from all others. To be a Lutheran, one would rely on Luther’s Catechism, including the Augsburg Confession. To be a Methodist, one would rely on the Book of Discipline, and so on. Creeds have indeed been very effective to separate one group from another, serving as a wedge that has prevented unity among all. Instead of helping people be God’s special people, man-made creeds have been used as divisive instruments, teaching people how others are wrong and how they are right!

To Establish an Official Consensus: Creeds are often written with the goal to establish a consensus or general agreement in what is believed by all the members of the religious group. Creeds are thought to be essential to maintaining strong unity and group solidarity as a congregation or a denomination. The Protestant Reformed Churches in America, for example, have what they call the “Three Forms of Unity” (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dordrecht) to summarize their beliefs, a means toward greater unity among all. “Ministerial alliances” drafting unity proposals for congregations to commit themselves to, is another case when a creed is used as the way to unite churches.

Why Do People Follow the Creeds?

They Fail to Study the Bible Themselves: Most people do not study the Scriptures for themselves and depend on others to do their studying for them. (e.g., “Let me check with my pastor.” “What does the preacher think?”). It is no wonder then why people readily follow creeds. Many rely on “educated” men from centuries ago (e.g., Eusebius, Augustine, Calvin) and “learned” men of today who have gotten their degrees at theological seminary or Bible college. Sadly, many believe that in depth Bible study is mainly for “the clergy” (theologians, pastors, preachers) and not required by “the laity.”

Most people in “Christendom” are simply not noble-minded (Acts 17:11), meaning they do not examine the Scriptures for themselves. Yet, Bible study is a requirement of God, a responsibility every Christian should take seriously (2 Tim. 2:15). God has promised us that we can understand the Scriptures and that’s a promise not just for the “scholarly elite”! (Eph. 3:4; 1 Tim. 2:3-4).

They Want Quick Answers to Tough Questions: The apostle Peter made reference to Paul’s writings, which he referred to as Scripture, and said “in which are some things hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16). Indeed, some things in Scripture are hard to understand (though not impossible). The book of Romans is harder to understand than the book of James, for example. Certain Bible subjects require more study and patience (e.g., Predestination, the Holy Spirit, “hard” sayings of Jesus, prophecy, etc.). Unfortunately, most people are unwilling to put forth the effort and search the Scriptures for the answers.

The convenient answers creeds provide can be especially attractive to the ignorant or nonstudious. Too often, creeds do not encourage individual Bible study, but undermine its importance. Sadly, creeds are frequently viewed as “the final word” or the official answer to be respected and followed by all.

They Put Their Trust in Men, not God: Consider the example mentioned earlier, how people (mainly Presbyterians) believe that the Westminster Assembly (who wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith) consisted of “learned, godly and judicious Divines” who were “preeminently qualified” to explain the meaning of the Scriptures. What qualifications were those we want to know? – That they were “ordained” by the Church? – That they went to the “right schools”? The truth is there is no authority from the Scriptures or God-given right for anyone to establish a creed for a congregation! While church leaders suppose they are helping to “assure a purity of confession,” they actually do an injustice and great harm to the people. Instead of building stronger faith in God, an unhealthy trust and dependency in men’s writings is created in the hearts of individuals. Rather than encourage people to be proactive students of the Bible, people become followers of men. When people put their faith in the sayings of men and do not hold them accountable to the Scriptures, their faith will, in time, be overthrown! (e.g., 2 Tim 2:16-18). In contrast, saving faith will come from putting our trusting in God and His word alone: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Ps. 118:8). “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Thy precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy word. I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, for Thou Thyself hast taught me” (Ps 119:99-102, NASB; cf. John 6:44-45; Rom. 10:17).

All people should beware of glorying in or trusting in the writings of men. From creeds, to commentaries, to “brotherhood” magazines, church web sites, and the sermons of “well-known” preachers, there is temptation to put our trust in the sayings of men and not do our own careful study of God’s word. When that happens, our loyalty to the Lord is substituted for loyalty to men and in effect, we follow “creeds” instead of God!

The Obvious Weaknesses of Creeds

Not Inspired: First of all, creeds are not inspired of God or “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Thus, they cannot represent God’s will perfectly. No matter how “scholarly” the formers of the creed are and how well intentioned they may be, the creed drafted will inevitably have flaws or inaccuracies. This leads to revision after revision after revision. In contrast, God’s word never needs to be updated, but is everlasting, universally applicable to every generation (1 Pet. 1:23-25).

Grossly Insufficient: Secondly, creeds will always lack the ability to meet our spiritual needs. Creeds cannot provide sufficient instruction for our faith and salvation. A creed will either provide too much (thus, adding to the word of God) or provide too little. Only the Scriptures can provide the wisdom we need “that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). There is a false confidence that creeds provide. Many mistakenly believe that by following creeds, they can be complete spiritually and have no worries. Yet, only by following the word of God can we have such assurance. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17, NKJV).

Creeds Do not Build Genuine Faith: Thirdly, without knowledge of the Scriptures, people will lack saving faith. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...” (Hosea 4:6). The goal of creeds is to establish genuine faith in people’s hearts, yet instead it leads to shallow faith and empty religion. Creeds diminish the individual’s personal responsibility to study and develop his own convictions of the truth based on his knowledge of God’s word. Creeds effectively take away the necessary struggle for truth. Why work to search the Scriptures yourself when a creed provides all “the answers”? A creed is a “short-cut” to faith that is not true faith at all!

An examination of the creeds of men reveals the shameless, utter failure of men to provide book, chapter, and verse from the Bible for the declarations or confessions that are made. Without the backing of Scripture, such creeds are as weak as water, lacking any spiritual value. Even when true, biblical principles can be found in a creed, it still cannot provide for us what the word of God ultimately can: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).

Creeds Promote Division: Finally, creeds cannot achieve the unity that Jesus prayed for.
“Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me” (John 17:17-21, NASB). True unity among Jesus’ disciples is based on the truth, the word of God. To eliminate division and be “in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10), God’s word must be the sole standard for what we believe and practice in religion. Could a religious debate be settled by confessional statements or creeds? Of course not! Creeds have no authority and do not prove anything. To effectively settle our differences and attain true unity, we must open our Bibles and put away the creeds, confessions, and writings of men.

The Bible Is the Authority, not Creeds

It is amazing how quickly the creeds of men can become a standard of authority in religion in the minds and hearts of the people. Creeds effectively add to God’s word which has grave or severe consequences (Rev. 22:18-19). Instead of looking to the Bible as the sole guide for what to believe and practice in religion, a creed written by men becomes “the mission statement” and source of inspiration for all. As a result, the word of God is made void in the hearts and lives of the people (e.g., Mat. 15:1-9).

Creeds of men do not have divine authority. Even “the classical orthodox creeds” written by the so called “church fathers” from centuries ago do not possess divine authority. Such are mere words of men. Only the writings of the apostles and prophets, the Scriptures, can reveal the actual will of God (Eph. 3:3-5).

On Judgment Day, the word of God, not creeds written by men, will be the standard by which we will be judged: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). No creed can adequately prepare us for the Judgment. Only the word of Christ can fully prepare us for the Judgment in which we will be able to stand with confidence.

What’s the Difference Between Creeds and Preaching?

Many claim that a creed is nothing more than a form of preaching or teaching (Eph. 4). That to banish creeds, we would also have to stop the mouths of preachers and teachers and limit what we say to the mere reading of Scripture without comments of any kind. Yet, in actuality, is preaching the same as creeds? Absolutely not!

Remember, a creed is an authoritative written statement that formally declares what a religious group believes. It is used as the means to establish a consensus on what all have agreed the truth to be. It is viewed as having authority, the official and final word (at least for now) on what God’s will is. In contrast, when a preacher delivers a sermon or when a teacher teaches a class, such is not the final word (“edged in stone”) that all has agreed to and committed to following. Every member, including the preacher, will continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). Each one has a responsibility to search the Scriptures for the truth and hold every teacher accountable (Acts 17:11). While unity among all is the goal, it is a process that is continual or ongoing (Eph. 4:13). To publish an official “church of Christ” list of confessions (i.e., creeds) that we all agree to is foolhardy and contrary to the way unity is achieved and improved among God’s people.

No doubt, preachers must speak with authority, giving “book, chapter, and verse” in the instruction they give to others. What they speak must be confined or limited to what the Scriptures reveal, giving no place to personal opinion. What is taught must be governed by God’s word. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God...” (1 Peter 4:11, NKJV). Yet, no preacher or teacher in any way, shape, or form is a “creed-maker”!

Let Us Follow the Bible Only and Be Christians Only!

To be a Christian only, man-made creeds and “confessions of faith” must be put away and the Bible alone followed. That is the only way to be a disciple of Christ and avoid being a follower of men (1 Cor. 1:10-13). By following the Bible only, to what church will we belong? The same church we read about in the New Testament, the church of Christ. All who have obeyed the gospel as penitent believers in Christ are members of the Lord’s body, the church of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 41 & 47). As Christians, let us continually honor the name of Christ by doing all things by His authority (Col. 3:17), by the standard of His word (John 12:48). Let us “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3), not for the creeds of men, to demonstrate our faithfulness to the Lord.

Winning the Battle Against Pornography

2007-04-09T22:58:00.000-04:00

By Mark Larson

www.cvillechurch.com

Pornography is a very real problem in our society that will not go away any time soon. In fact, statistics show that it will only get worse. There is more pornography available than ever before with the advent of the Internet and pay-per-view movies by remote control. The moral standard of the entertainment industry continues to decline that it is now a great challenge to find a TV show or a movie that does not entertain through the use of pornography in some form. Studies show that pornography addiction is now a big problem with more addicts in the U.S. than alcoholics! The forms of pornography are many (See article: The Deception of Pornography). It can be found almost anywhere.

How is it possible, therefore, to win the battle against this monstrous foe? The word of God provides the answers and gives us the help we need to gain the victory!

No One Is Immune.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12, NASB). From the start, it is important for each person to accept the possibility that he or she could get entangled with this sin. If we are too proud to admit this, then we set ourselves up for a fall. Whether a person is an elder, a deacon, a preacher, a Bible class teacher, a new convert or a long time member of the Lord’s body, young or old, every person should “take heed lest he fall.” The progressive nature of sin (James 1:14-15; e.g., Gen. 4:3-8) demonstrates that we may find ourselves committing a sin that we never dreamed we would ever commit, all because we did not take heed!

“Cut Out” Unholy Activities

“But I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matt 5:28-30).

Through the use of figurative language, Jesus gets His point across in a very powerful way. Cut it out! What sacrifices are you willing to make to ensure that pornography does not ensnare you or a member of your family? Rather than just “talk the talk,” we must also be willing to “walk the walk” and take whatever action that is necessary to reduce temptations and eliminate sin. Would discarding your cable or Satellite service or even your TV be too extreme? Would throwing away movies and suggestive music be too costly? Would canceling all magazines and catalogs that deliver moral filth to your door be too much to ask? Or how about getting rid of your Internet service or at the very least purchasing the best filtering software or service possible? If these suggestions seem too radical, put things into perspective: “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Heb. 12:4).

Replace Bad with Good

When you get rid of the bad, be sure to replace it with that which is good. Don’t leave your “house empty” like the man who got rid of the one demon, only to be inhabited by seven more (Mat. 12:43-45). The saying is true: “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” Without something positive and helpful to do, you may find yourself right back where you started or worse, committing even more sin. Good activities are to take the place of the bad such as wholesome recreation, service to those in need, time spent with spiritual people, and prayer. Bad thoughts can be replaced with good thoughts (Phil. 4:8) through Bible study and the singing of spiritual songs, for example (Col. 3:16).

Flee!

“Flee immorality...” (1 Cor. 6:18a; cf. Mat. 5:28). Ever heard the old saying: “Curiosity killed the cat”? The same is true when one gets involved in pornography. How many times have you found yourself taking “just a peek” at pornography in the name of “curiosity” only to get burned? “Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?” (Prov. 6:27). How much fire would you allow to touch the clothes you are wearing? Even a little flame can easily set a house on fire. When pornography in any form confronts you, don’t stop and stare, don’t linger or stick around, flee! God will provide the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) so look for it and make your exit. “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).

“Discipline Yourself for the Purpose of Godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7b)

Be honest. How is your prayer life? How would you describe your commitment to personal Bible study? Both of these activities are essential to remaining strong in the Lord (1 Pet. 2:2; Mat. 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:15 / Rom. 12:12; Ps. 34:8-10; 42:1-2). Without a commitment to both, we are like “sitting ducks” that are easy targets of the devil who is just waiting to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8).

When we come to recognize the spiritual war that takes place everyday of our lives, we will make the time to pray and read Scripture on a daily basis (Eph. 6:10-17). To walk in faith and keep our focus upon God, daily prayer and Bible study is essential. Such discipline is critical for success in the battle against pornography. “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation...” (Mat. 26:41a). “Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee” (Ps. 119:11).

Be Quick to Confess and Seek Forgiveness from God.

If and when you commit any sin, but in particular the sin of partaking of pornography, don’t delay to get your life right with God again. The worse thing you can do is make excuses or try to rationalize your behavior away. Instead, make haste to confess your sin to the Lord: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Sometimes Christians find it difficult to forgive themselves of the sin they committed, perhaps especially those types of sins that are seemingly more shameful (e.g., partaking of pornography). If we can’t forgive ourselves, we may also doubt God’s forgiveness of us. This will lead to much discouragement and may cause us to give up altogether and go back into the sin (“What’s the use!”). Yet, we must count the Lord’s promises as true if we hope to move forward and start anew. Believe in God’s grace (Eph. 1:6) and the assurance of His complete forgiveness. “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Heb 8:12).

Face Up to Your Addiction

As important as confessing our sins are, confession alone is not enough. We must also repent of our sins (i.e., change our mind and course of direction) to be forgiven (Acts 8:22; cf. 2:38). While a person may struggle with a particular sin all of his or her life, God knows the difference between the person who is fighting against sin and the person who is just “paying lip service” when he confesses his sins. To confess our sin to God, only to turn around and commit it again (without any fight or resistance against it) is not true repentance. We must “bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8). Grace is not to be regarded as a license to sin (Jude 4; Rom. 6:1-2; cf. Titus 2:11-12).

Be honest. Does the above paragraph describe you? If your tendency after confession is to swiftly go back into pornography, then chances are you are addicted. The practice of sin is slavery (John 8:34; cf. 2 Pet. 2:18-19) and pornography can indeed become a real addiction in a person’s life. To win the battle against pornography, honesty and humility are required. Don’t look into “the mirror of God’s word” and just walk away because you don’t like what you see (James 1:23-24). Yes, it can be hard to allow the light of His word to expose our faults, yet it is critical that we let it if we want to walk with God again. “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:20-21).

Not So Secret

Pornography addiction is usually not a public addiction, like alcoholism is in which the problem is out in the open for others to see. Most often, pornography addiction is a secret that no one may be aware of except the person who has the problem. For this reason, pornography addicts may persist in their destructive behavior, reasoning that no one is watching nor holding them accountable.

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:13). No matter how secretive a person may be the eyes of the Lord behold it all. There is a tendency to dismiss God because He is invisible (1 Tim. 1:17). Yet, His witness is very real and always present. His judgment is very real also and may occur at any hour of any day (Mat. 24:42, 44).

Transform Your Way of Thinking

Essential to winning the battle against pornography is to retrain our minds in the way we regard it. We are commanded: “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). We need to learn to view all forms of pornography as evil (1 Thes. 5:22). To develop the same hatred and disgust for it that God has (Ezek. 22:11; cf. Mat. 5:28 / Heb. 13:4; Gal. 5:19) and be nauseated by the thought of returning to it (2 Pet. 2:22).

Such a transformation may seem impossible to the one who has struggled against pornography. Yet, such change is most definitely possible through Jesus Christ. Although the change will not take place overnight, by our faith in Jesus and by the power of the gospel, our way of thinking can be transformed! (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 1:16).

Major in the Fruit of Self-Control (Gal. 5:23)

It is highly probable that those who struggle with pornography will never completely eliminate their desire for it. It may always have a certain amount of appeal for the pleasure it brings. Yet, this does not mean that the battle against it has been lost. Victory is still possible, in part, through the practice of self-control. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:24-27).

The person who has self-control has mastered his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites. He has strength, power, or dominion over himself. This relates to the call that Jesus gave to be one of His disciples: “... If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). Since Jesus requires it, it is therefore quite possible for anyone to have self-control!

Though sometimes it may feel that you are “out of control,” rest assured that you can gain control over yourself and your life. Those who are in Christ (Gal. 3:27), who are partakers of the divine nature, are people who can have self-control with the help of God. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness...” (2 Pet. 1:3a; cf. 1:6).

Seek Help from Those Who Are Spiritual.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). There is so much that your brethren can do for you if you would only ask for help! As embarrassing as this particular type of sin may be to confess to another, the spiritual benefit in doing so is well worth it. For when brethren who are righteous or spiritual (James 5:16b; Gal. 6:1), not immature (1 Cor. 3:1-3), pray for you, much can be accomplished on your behalf. Specifically, spiritual healing will be given in which you will be able to recover from your sin and receive strength by the Lord and His people.

Don’t Give Up!

Remember that just as your problem with pornography did not develop overnight, neither will you conquer it overnight. Understandably, it can be very frustrating to go for several weeks without a problem, only to be caught in the trespass again. Yet, don’t give up! Don’t destroy what you have built so far and not finish what you have started (Luke 14:27-30). Learn to rejoice in small victories. Take it one day at a time. Persevere!
“And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, "Do men fall and not get up again?
Does one turn away and not repent?” (Jer. 8:4).

Do You Want to Love Life and See Good Days Again?

“For, ‘let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12).

Pornography robs a person of the wonderful life we are meant to have with the Lord. There is no fellowship with God for those who partake of it (Isa. 59:2). While pornography may provide pleasure, it will never fully satisfy (Heb. 11:25b) and will always leave you hungry for more. Meanwhile, true fulfillment will always escape you (Mat. 5:6).

Do you desire to love life and see good days again? Do you desire freedom from the bondage of your sin? A marriage that is strong, happy, and loving again? A right relationship with God that is meaningful and fulfilling? Then draw near to the Lord. Purify yourself. Seek God’s forgiveness. Humble yourself in His sight and He will lift you up. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:8-10, NKJV).

Is Pornography Grounds for Divorce?

2007-03-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Pornography can cause major destruction to a marriage. The temptation to cheat on one’s spouse becomes ever stronger for those who partake of it (The use of online porn is involved in two-thirds of all divorces!). Yet, even when pornography does not lead to extra-martial affairs, the effects of porn can be quite devastating emotionally, financially, and spiritually to the marriage and family.

Understandably, when a man or woman (usually the woman) to her horror, discovers that her spouse has been partaking of pornography, she experiences a tremendous amount of emotional distress. She feels shocked, hurt, rejected, angry, and betrayed. Feelings of inadequacy arise and the confidence and security in the marriage is replaced with fears and doubts. Pornography use not only takes a major toll in a marriage, it can also bring much harm and anguish to the children, influencing them toward moral corruption.

It is for these reasons why more and more brethren are viewing pornography as scriptural grounds for a divorce, otherwise referred to as “Mental Adultery.” This doctrine asserts that when one’s spouse lusts after another, has thoughts of adultery, he or she may then put away his mate for “unfaithfulness” or “fornication” (Mat. 19:9). The proof that is offered for this position is Matthew 5:28. While we can all concede to the fact that “adultery in the heart” (i.e., thoughts of adultery) is no “small” sin to make light of, is it in truth a lawful cause for divorce?

The Context of Matthew 5:28

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:27-28, NASB).

A major theme in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5-7), evident throughout His preaching, is the importance of paying attention to the heart. At the time of Christ, religious leaders were notorious for giving too much emphasis to the externals or outward appearances to the neglect of the inward thoughts of the mind or heart. Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for such hypocrisy (Mat. 23:25-28). Concerning the sin of adultery, many were convinced that as long as a person did not commit the actual, physical act, that he or she remained right before God (Mat. 5:27). Jesus shattered such an erroneous misconception through His teaching (See Mat. 5:28 above). Clearly, adultery (or fornication) starts in the heart where sin is first committed: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Those who think such evil thoughts are already unclean or offensive to God and must seek His forgiveness (e.g., Acts 8:22).

Is Mental Adultery Equal to Physical Adultery in Every Way?

By Jesus’ own words, “mental adultery” is equally sinful before God as actual, physical adultery: “... everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mat. 5:28). Jesus goes on to warn us of the Eternal consequences of lusting (Mat. 5:29-30). Thus, either mental or physical adultery can condemn our souls to Hell if not repented of (Heb. 10:26-27). We are no better off in the sight of God when we commit sin in the heart than when we physically commit the sin.

Unmistakably, there is a sense of “equality” between the two. Does it, therefore, follow that if a person catches his or her spouse lusting after another person (e.g., flirting) or viewing pornography that he or she has grounds for divorce? After all, adultery is a form of fornication and fornication is the cause that Jesus allows for a person to put his or her spouse away (divorce) (Mat. 5:32; 19:9).

“Adultery in the Heart” Is Figurative, not Literal Adultery.

Immediately following Jesus’ warning against adultery in the heart (Mat. 5:28), Jesus explains just how seriously we should fight against it: "And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. "And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell” (Mat. 5:29-30). In both passages, Jesus uses figurative language to get His point across more vividly. In verses 29-30, hyperboles are used. A hyperbole is an “obvious and intentional exaggeration; an extravagant statement or figure of speech, not intended to be taken literally, as in “to wait an eternity” (From dictionary.com). Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation. If we pluck out the right eye, we still have the left one that remains and even a blinded man may exercise his imagination and lust in his heart. Instead, what Jesus is teaching us, through figurative language, is that we must make whatever sacrifices which are necessary in order to resist sin, no matter what the price (e.g., TV, Internet, certain friends, career, etc.).

The “adultery in the heart” of Matthew 5:28 is no more literal than Jesus’ discourse of plucking out the eye or cutting off the hand that causes a person to stumble! Adultery (moicheuo), by definition, is unlawful sexual intercourse, specifically with another person’s spouse (See Thayer & Vine definitions). “Adultery in the heart” does not involve the physical act of adultery, for it takes place in the heart, not the body. The adultery committed in Matthew 5:28 is figurative, not real or physical, yet nevertheless a sin, an offense to God.

Both Are Sins, Yet Have Different Consequences.

Whether adultery is committed in the heart only (Mat. 5:28) or with the body also (Rom. 13:9), sin has been committed. However, each type of sin does not result in the same exact consequences. While both kinds of sin can condemn a person eternally, there are significant differences in the consequences or results that each one brings.

Mental adultery makes one morally unclean before God (Mark 7:21), yet it is not a sin against the body like physical adultery is: “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18). Moreover, adultery in the heart is a private or individual act that does not require the joint participation of another person and his or her body like actual adultery does: “Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, "The two will become one flesh” (1 Cor 6:16). Adultery in the heart simply does not result in the same kind of consequences (e.g., unholy sexual relations, pregnancy, disease, etc.). Of course, adultery in the heart can eventually lead to acting on those thoughts (James 1:14-15), but this is not always the case.

One of the possible consequences for committing adultery (not mental adultery) is to be put away (divorced) by your spouse for fornication and thereafter have no right to remarry another (Mat. 5:32; 19:9). When Jesus taught that fornication is the only just cause for divorce, He used the word literally, not figuratively. A person cannot lawfully (scripturally) put away his mate for viewing pornography any more than an angry person can rightfully be put to death for his temper by the state! (Mat. 5:21-22; cf. Rom. 13:1-5). Pornography and wrath, for example, are both wrong (Gal. 5:19-21), yet they do not lead to the same exact consequences as actual adultery or murder does. Both can condemn our souls to Hell (if we fail to repent), yet each has different consequences for us while on earth.

“Unfaithfulness” Does not Always Mean Actual Adultery.

Commonly, we try to be discreet when speaking of the problem of adultery by saying: “He was unfaithful to his wife.” Yet, when we do so, we are not being specific as to the nature of the unfaithfulness. This leads to generalizations and misunderstandings. Furthermore, this gives the impression that any type of “unfaithfulness” (as defined by us, not God) is grounds for divorce, when in fact Jesus specifically taught that there is only one kind of unfaithfulness which is just cause for divorce – the cause of fornication (Mat. 5:32; 19).

In the Old Testament (in the NASB), to commit physical adultery is to be “unfaithful” to one’s spouse (Num. 5:12, 27). However, unfaithfulness is not restricted to such a narrow definition in the Scriptures. A case and point is the idolatrous behavior of the Israelites. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God declared to them: “... they have committed adultery with their idols...” (Ezek 23:37). Their idolatry was unfaithfulness to God (Ezek. 20:27-28). By failing to put God first and obey Him (e.g., put away idols), they were unfaithful.

Similarly, whenever a husband or wife displaces his or her loyalty and is no longer committed to the marriage, then it can rightly be said that he or she is being “unfaithful.” Failure to love (Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4) and the shunning of martial responsibilities (e.g., 1 Cor. 7:3-5; Eph. 5:22-31; 1 Tim. 5:8, 14) is a demonstration of unfaithfulness. Certainly, “adultery of the heart” such as flirting with others or the partaking of pornography would be acts of unfaithfulness (Mat. 5:28). However, such does not constitute grounds for divorce. Only the cause of fornication does (Mat. 5:32; 19:9).

Physical Adultery Is Definitive, Mental Adultery is not.

If mental adultery is allowed to stand as a “just and lawful” cause for divorce, by what standard will it be decided that “mental adultery” has been committed? How will a person know, for certain, that he or she has a right to put away his or her spouse?

“Mental Adultery” as a Cause for Divorce Is Too Subjective: Suppose you catch your spouse looking at a pornographic web site or magazine just one time, would you then feel justified to put him away? No? How about twice, maybe three times, or four? Suppose you catch him or her flirting with another, will you then file for divorce? Maybe him watching a sensual TV show or browsing a women’s lingerie catalog will be enough to provide just cause. Such examples demonstrate that mental adultery as a cause for divorce is left up to the whim and opinion of the individual, rather than the authority of Scripture. Such a standard will be based not on the Word of God, but on the degree of emotional hurt of an offended spouse. Furthermore, this puts the husband or wife in the inappropriate and impossible position of “searching the heart” of his or her spouse. To the church at Thyatira, the Lord Jesus declared: “I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (Rev. 2:23). Indeed, only God has the power, the special ability to search a person’s heart and know exactly what it contains (1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chron. 28:9; Jer. 17:10; 20:12).

Physical Adultery Provides Actual, Scriptural Proof: In contrast, physical adultery is not determined by the subjective estimation of a spouse whose feelings have been hurt. With physical adultery, there is much more certainty. Either he (or she) committed adultery (a form of fornication) or he did not. There is no in between or middle ground about it (Unlike trying to determine if your spouse has committed mental adultery - Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t!).

Jesus tells us plainly what the only lawful cause for divorce is: “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Mat. 19:9, KJV). Jesus also said: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48, NASB). Jesus specified what the acceptable cause for divorce is, thereby excluding all other causes a person can name (e.g., pornography, “mental divorce,” emotional abuse, etc.). Only by standing upon the word of Christ will we have full assurance before the Lord on that last day.

Are You Eagerly Waiting for the Savior?

2007-03-03T18:17:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21, NASB). Eagerly, the Christian waits for the arrival of the Savior. This means there is a strong desire, an enthusiastic expectation, and an intense interest in His return. Does this describe you? Do you eagerly wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Our First and Foremost Thought

What are the first thoughts we have when we wake up in the morning each day? Typically, our minds may go directly to such questions as: I think I’ll take a bath. What’s for breakfast? Where’s my coffee? What should I wear? Preparations for the day, may involve locating our book bag, briefcase, or backpack or making sure we have school lunches, homework, reports, or our computer laptop ready to go. Days when there is no work or school, our first thought may be: “What shall I do today?”

In contrast, when is the last time you woke up with an eager anticipation for the Lord’s return? While it may sound radical, fanatical, or extreme, have you ever woken up in the morning to look out the window, not to see what the weather is like, but to look for the Lord’s return? “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thes. 4:16-18).

The coming of Christ was not an occasional thought of concern to many of the Christians of the first century, it was primary! Indeed, the arrival of Christ is a real event to anticipate, on our hearts each day. As the above passage teaches, the coming of Christ is an event not only to believe in, but to think about deeply, imagine, contemplate, and talk about regularly.

Everyday Could Be The Day!

"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour” (Mat. 25:13). When we come to fully recognize this truth, that the Lord could return at any hour, on any day, we will remain constantly watchful. For the children of God, the Lord’s coming is not to be viewed as a remote possibility far off in the distant future. To Christians, everyday has great potential for being “The Day of the Lord”!

There are no warning signs that will tip us off when Jesus will arrive. “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thes. 5:2). Thus, readiness is demanded everyday of our lives (Luke 12:35-40). Certainly, to remain in “a state of readiness” we must continually live faithful, obedient lives for God (2 Pet. 3:8-14). Yet, there is also the exhortation by our Lord to literally watch for His coming. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (Mark 13:35-37, NKJV).

We Are Eager for His Return Because We Love Him.

How is it possible to be constantly watchful for His return, to have such a strong desire in our hearts for His coming? When we learn to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), we will watch for Him! If the Lord is truly our first and greatest love in life, we will absolutely long for His return. Just as a wife longs for her husband to return from the war safely or when parents long for the return of their child who is lost, there is a heartfelt yearning for the Savior to return that the Christian has. Genuine love for the Lord will produce a desire for His return that is intense, strong, and powerful as well as a life that is zealously dedicated to obeying Him (John 14:15). We look forward to the day when we will finally see His face! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8, NASB).

Are You Eager for His Return?

If you are not eager for His return, chances are, something is terribly wrong in your life that needs correction. Prayer may be lacking, your heart may be nearly void of Scripture, sin, worldliness, and materialism may be taking your focus off the Lord, or your priorities in daily living may be ridiculously out of order. Whatever it is, your life as a Christian must be redirected toward the coming of Christ again. If our hope is truly fixed on Christ, we will purify ourselves by putting away all our sins and seek God’s forgiveness (1 John 3:3; 1:9).

Eagerness for His arrival will mean we look forward to His return, not fear or dread it. For the person who is right with God, he or she will want, with all their heart, their Savior to come again. Christians look forward to His return and it show by the lives they live for the Lord. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).

The Deception of Pornography

2007-02-24T21:39:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Pornography; the mere mention of the word ought to raise a red flag in the mind and heart of every Christian. No child of God should ever even consider partaking of such a dangerously wicked form of entertainment. Yet, despite the clear warnings of Scripture against pornography, too many Christians have allowed themselves to get ensnared by it (Heb. 12:1). This is due to the great deception of pornography. Though it may seem that Christians are above such filth and perversion, we still must beware lest we fall! “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, NASB).

Do We Even Know What Pornography Is?

Many get entangled with pornography because of their faulty definition of it. If your concept of pornography is limited to magazines at the back of a shelf in a convenient store or a movie officially rated X, you are setting yourself up for a fall. The fact is, pornography comes in a variety of forms, all of which we must beware.

The word pornography comes from the Greek word pornographia – literally meaning “the writing about or drawings of harlots” akin to the New Testament Greek word porneia where we get the word fornication. The American Heritage Dictionary defines pornography as: “Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.” It is the “other material” that we should be particularly aware of, understanding that pornographic influences can come at us from many different sources, some that we may not expect!

Remember, the goal of pornography is to “cause sexual arousal.” By that very definition, we can more easily recognize pornography for what it is and be on guard for its various forms. “Wikipedia” the Free Encyclopedia online, gives this description: “Pornography may use any of a variety of media — written and spoken text, photos, sculpture, drawings, moving images (including animation), and sounds such as heavy breathing. Pornographic films combine moving images, spoken erotic text and/or other erotic sounds, while magazines often combine photos and written text. Novels and short stories provide written text, sometimes with illustrations. In addition to media, a live performance may also be called pornographic. Notably, all of the above may be found on the Internet.” By this description, it is plain to see that the influence of pornography is much bigger than we realize. Though society may not label something as pornographic, doesn’t mean that it is not. What the world may call art, music, romance novels, “a word from our sponsor” (i.e., commercials) and entertainment may in fact be pornography!

Pornography Doesn’t Always Involve Nudity.

One of the great deceptions of pornography industry is the misconception that for something to be pornographic there must be complete nudity. Again, remember the goal of pornography: “to cause sexual arousal.” The truth is, many who told themselves they would never partake of “pornography” (i.e., hard core, involving nudity), ended up ensnared anyway because they believed such a lie. Pornography addicts who have sought counselling readily admit that it began first by viewing people in immodest clothing which over time increased their appetite for more and more. Indeed, the progression of lust and sin will go from bad to worse when we use such reasoning (James 1:14-15).

We deceive ourselves if we think we are not partaking of pornography when we view such things as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, the Victoria Secret models, and TV shows that dress actors like prostitutes or gigolos. If God was not pleased with Adam and Eve’s attempt to cover themselves with fig leaves (Gen. 3:6-7, 21), what makes us think we can purposefully view such immodesty and be right with God? (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9).

Pornography Is Addictive!

“Pornography consumption can be as mood altering and as addictive as narcotics.” (Richard Drake, assistant professor at Brigham Young University College of Nursing).
Like alcohol, nicotine, heroin, gambling, etc., pornography can become an addiction that will take over your life and destroy you over time. In the U.S., ten percent of adults are addicted to online porn. That’s over forty million regular users! That’s more addicts than alcoholics! We need to beware that even a “little” pornography “now and then” can easily become the first step toward becoming addicted. Sinful activity can become an addiction, and viewing pornography is no exception (John 8:34; cf. 2 Pet. 2:18-19).

Pornography Wrongly Teaches That All Sex Is Acceptable.

The viewing of pornography will, over time, retrain our way of thinking -- that sex with anyone, married or not, is acceptable. Pornographers paint the picture of fun and excitement, yet leave out the temporal nature and consequences of such behavior (Heb. 11:25b; 13:4). Pornography will effectively desensitize our resistance against extra-martial affairs, thereby tempting us to become unfaithful to our mates. Sadly, online porn now plays a major role in the cause of many divorces today (involved in two-thirds of all divorces!). It is no accident that Jesus warned against committing “adultery in the heart” in the same context of the problem of divorce in His sermon on the mount (Mat 5:27-32).

Pornography is not Harmless Fun!

“Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?” (Prov. 6:27). The biggest deception of pornography is that it is a harmless activity for those who view it. Yet, in reality it can cost a person’s soul! (1 Pet. 2:11). Pornography is a form of lasciviousness (lewdness or sensuality), an unrestrained, shameless public display of sex acts. To willfully look at it makes our hearts morally unclean and we offend God and lose our fellowship with Him (Mark 7:20-23; cf. Isa. 59:2). Ultimately, those who continue to partake of pornography will be denied entrance into Heaven itself: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality ... those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). Let us beware of the deception and dangers of pornography and take heed lest we fall!

Have You Read the Book?

2007-02-19T17:31:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Conservative” and controversial talk-show host, Glenn Beck, known for his wacky presentation of political issues, recently had Dinesh D’Souza, the author of “The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11” on his radio show. As an opener to the interview, Beck begins with a criticism and follows it with a confession: “Dinesh, I have to tell you, I’m disappointed in this book” and then the next moment, in a mischievous sort of way admits: “Though, I haven’t read the book!”

How many people today dismiss the Bible as the word of God, as God’s saving message for mankind, all because they did not read the Book! How ironic it is that some of the harshest critics of the Bible, of God, of Jesus Christ are people who have never sat down and read the Bible. Too many people reject the Scriptures as the guide for living because they have never taken the time to truly consider the wisdom the Bible offers. Many do not believe in the gospel because they have never heard the evidences that the Bible reveals that prove that Jesus is the Son of God.

Have You Given the Bible a Fair Hearing?

“He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him” (Prov. 18:13, NASB). What sense does it make for a person to express his views on the Bible before he has actually taken the time to read it? Furthermore, doesn’t such a potentially important, life-changing book, deserve an honest, open-minded look? For only for the person who does will benefit from reading it: “And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” (Luke 8:15). A friend of mine, during my college years, boasted of reading the entire New Testament just before his tour of Jerusalem, yet came away with very little knowledge of its contents. This goes to show that the attitude we bring in our reading of the Bible can make all the difference in the world. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19). Are we so quick to say what we think and feel about the Bible before truly listening to what God has to say first (as revealed in the Scriptures)?

Do You Love the Truth?

Quite often, the person who is not willing to pick up a Bible and seriously consider its contents is a person who is not actively searching for the truth. In contrast, the genuine truth seeker who loves the truth will leave “no stone unturned” and will diligently search for the truth wherever truth can be found. Before ruling out the Bible, the seeker of truth listens with an open heart to the voice of Jesus: “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” (John 18:37).
Ninety percent of Americans own a Bible, yet most people rarely take the time to read it and take it to heart. We are given this promise in Scripture: “When you read, you can understand” (Eph. 3:4). When is the last time you read the Bible with the goal to understand?

Our Quest to Be Spiritual

2007-02-04T22:41:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Now, more than ever before in our country, there is a desire to be “spiritual.” While the interest in churches or organized religion is in decline, the pursuit of spirituality has become ever more popular. So popular in fact, that spirituality has become recognized by society as a legitimate need to be met for our complete happiness. In the past, if one spoke openly about their need to be spiritual, they could expect ridicule and accusations of being strange, odd, or radical. Today, there is acceptance and mutual respect of each person’s quest to be spiritual.

Many Look to Our Religious Diversity for Answers

Religion in America has changed dramatically in the last thirty years. The change in laws of immigration has opened the door to make it much easier to come to our country and become a resident. This change in law not only resulted in millions of new residents, but also “new” religions that have been brought to America by the people of other nations.
America, which was once a solely “Judeo-Christian” nation, has now become the most religiously diverse nation in the world, which now includes Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.

Such great religious diversity has been seen by our youth as very appealing. In the search for “true spirituality,” many people are now turning to other religions for help. Instead of the Bible as their guide, many now believe that spirituality can be achieved in different ways through most any religious method or means. The prevailing attitude is: “What can I learn from each religion to enhance by spiritual life even more?”

There Are Many Different Ideas of Spirituality.

The majority of Americans associate spirituality with religion. However, there are a growing number of people who believe spirituality has very little to do with organized religion. For them, being spiritual is highly individualistic and personal. Each person decides for himself what is spiritual and thus defines it according to one’s own personal desires, feelings, and experiences. This is why New Age and Existentialism has become more popular in recent years or why books or magazines on the topic of spirituality have received more fanfare. The common belief now is: “Whatever feels good is spiritual!”

Let’s not Forget Our Spirit in the Word Spiritual!

In all of the talk about spirituality, it is a wonder how people often lose sight of their own spirit! To best understand spirituality, we need to remember our spirits as given to us by God (Prov. 20:27; Eccl. 12:7). Everyone has not only a body, but also a soul and a spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). The soul represents life (Gen. 2:7), but the spirit is much more. The spirit is that limited expression of God Himself. The spirit each person has is in a likeness image of the Creator (Gen 1:26-27). Simply put: To be spiritual is to be like God! Hence, a person who is spiritual is a person who submits his or her spirit unto God. Spirituality by each person will be seen as he or she walks by the Spirit and obeys God’s word as revealed in the Bible. This will result in the development of the spirit to the glory of God, the bearing of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 22-25).

Why Choose Christ as the Way to Be Spiritual Over Others?

Why should the way of Christ be given first consideration? After all, there are so many religions we can now choose from in America, so many paths or methods toward “spirituality” offered that it may seem almost absurd or ridiculous to restrict ourselves to just one religion. What compelling reasons do we have that should motivate us to choose Christ over any other way to be spiritual?

Jesus’ Claim to Be God Is Backed Up by Historical Evidence (Heb. 11:1).

No other religion in the world has the historical evidence Christianity does to support its claims in spiritual matters. Why believe Jesus over, for example, Muhammad, Buddha, or Guru Nanak on what it means to be spiritual? Because only Jesus has proved to the world that He was God. After Jesus was crucified, he was raised from the dead by the power of God (Rom. 1:4). This historical fact is supported by the eye-witness testimony of the apostles (Acts 2:32; 3:14-15; 5:29-32; etc.) who pass the test as credible witnesses in every way (1 John 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; 30-32; Luke 1:1-4 – i.e., accuracy).

Spirituality Is Possible by Grace Through Faith, not by Personal Merit.

Christianity is unique from every other religion in the world in that it is the only one that offers spirituality and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). Other religions, each to a certain degree, have a meritorious system in which a person must achieve spirituality by one’s own personal efforts or earn salvation through personal merit. In contrast, spiritual life and salvation is made possible by Jesus and His atoning blood of the cross (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 6:3-11). In Christ, it is possible to be wise, righteous, holy, redeemed, and thus spiritual with no room to boast in ourselves (1 Cor. 1:30-31). By a living (obedient) faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1; cf. James 2:24, 26), a person can receive eternal salvation as a free gift, otherwise impossible to earn (Rom. 6:23; 3:23).

Spirituality in Christ Is Clearly Defined by God’s Spiritual Law.

Instead of basing spirituality on our feelings, which are unreliable (Prov. 14:12), or strictly on the basis of individual opinion, which is highly subjective, true spirituality can be learned by God’s spiritual law. “The law is spiritual” (Rom. 7:14), therefore “the law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21) is spiritual. Thus, when we apply His law, as revealed in the New Testament, to our lives, we can discover what it means to be spiritual!

To truly “live in the spirit” (1 Pet. 4:6), only the gospel will do, which has the power to save us from our sins (Rom. 1:16). When we follow God’s spiritual law, we can live the kind of life we were meant to live (Eph. 2:10), as people who were made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and enjoy all the spiritual blessings in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3).

What Would it Take to Get You to Leave God?

2007-01-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

For the Christian, the thought of leaving God should never occur. No consideration should ever be given to leaving the Lord and going back into the world and into sin. Yet, let us not be naive and believe for one second that it could not happen to any one of us (1 Cor. 10:12). The reality is, leaving God is a real danger: “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God” (Heb. 3:12, NASB). Falling away from the living God is a temptation that is frequently set before us by Satan. In fact, it is the devil’s number one goal to get us to leave the Lord and return to following his ways (Luke 22:31; Eph. 6:11-12; 1 Pet. 5:8).

Knowing, therefore, that leaving God is a possibility, though certainly should not be a probability, what would it take to get you or me to leave God? There are many possible causes that the Scriptures warns us about, all of which we should beware of such as trials and tribulations (Rev. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:6-7), persecutions (Mat. 13:21; 2 Thes. 1:4-5), false doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1-3), unbelief in God, and the practice of sin (Heb. 3:12-13).

Many suppose that it would take something “really big” to get them to leave God, some horrific trial that really puts them to the test such as a terrible illness, imprisonment, or an unexpected death of a family member. Others believe that only a “major” problem in the practice of sin such as drunkenness, adultery, or covetousness would cause them to leave God. While these scenarios could certainly cause one to leave God if he or she allowed it, there are far more subtle, yet just as dangerous causes that we need to beware of.

“They Did not Honor Him As God, or Give Thanks.”

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Rom 1:21-25).

Like the Gentiles who made the foolish exchange of trading God for their idols, we too can go down that same road if we aren’t careful. Notice, that even though they knew of God, as revealed by His creation (Rom. 1:19-20), they failed to honor Him as God or give thanks for all that the Lord had made. As a result, their reasoning about God became empty and foolish, resulting in the darkness of heart and the practice of sin and idolatry.

Knowing God much more than the Gentiles did, we have not only the Creation to understand God, we also have the revelation of God’s word to teach us who God is and what His will is for us. Yet, despite this knowledge of God, we can, just like the Gentiles, leave God to serve idols when we fail to honor Him and give thanks to Him as we should. Simply by failing to honor God and express our thanksgiving unto Him, we may find ourselves putting someone or something above God and as a result, leave the Lord!

Are You Honoring the Lord as Your God?

When we fail to give praise, glory, and honor to God in our worship, we fail to truly worship the Lord. It is not enough to simply attend a worship assembly or pray a prayer. Honoring God with our lips only or paying “lip service” to Him while our hearts are far from Him is not true worship (Mat. 15:8; cf. John 4:23-24). Our “attendance record” or daily practice of prayer is not always “proof positive” of our faithfulness to God. The truth is, we can go through all the right motions of an outward, external service, yet still not honor the Lord by our heart and the attitude we bring. Our aim in worship should be to glorify Him for what He has done and what He means to us. Our commitment to such worship is preparation for what we will do in Heaven for all Eternity! (Rev. 4:10-11).

A sure danger sign that we are on our way to leaving the Lord is when we lose sight of God Himself in our day to day lives. If we allow ourselves to get entangled in the affairs of this world (2 Tim. 2:4) and become so busy that we give little thought to the Lord who we serve (restricted to a Sunday service or occasional prayer), there is something terribly wrong with our relationship with God. God is to be the center of our life, not a hobby. God is to be the Lord of our life, not a mere friend of convenience. God is to be the most important Person of our life! Our goal in life should be to honor Him in all that we do (Col. 3:17). This will require not only our obedience to Him, but also giving Him the glory, not ourselves, for every good work, accomplishment, and blessing (1 Cor. 1:29-31; 2 Cor. 10:17-18). Let us not forget to give God the glory! (e.g., Luke 17:11-19).

Are You Giving Thanks to God Continually?

Failure to give thanks to the Lord is also a warning sign that we may someday leave God. A person who possesses an unthankful heart is a person who has forgotten their Lord who will slowly, but surely stray from the commandments of God (e.g., Deut. 8:11-17). Although he or she may “know” God, their neglect to give thanks to God indicates that they do not really know God or have a right relationship with Him. For if they did, they would see just how much the Lord has blessed them and provided for His children.

A lack of thankfulness toward God will negatively affect our commitment to obey Him. Without appreciation for what He has done for us in Jesus Christ, we will not grow spiritually as we should (2 Pet. 1:4-9). Without a heart of gratitude, discontentment and a lust for worldly things will dominate our hearts instead, causing us to stray from the faith (1 Tim. 6:7-10). To remain true to the Lord, we need to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving in our hearts, in our conversations with others, and in our prayer lives to God. “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:20; cf. 1 Thes. 5:18).

To remain with God and one day enter that Heavenly city to come, let us continually offer praise to God and give thanks to His name (Heb. 13:14-15).

The Fragrance of Christ

2007-01-08T10:24:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson

www.cvillechurch.com

Every Christian has a responsibility to proclaim the gospel to others according to one’s ability and opportunities (e.g., Acts 8:4). Yet, is every Christian held liable by God for the response each person gives to the gospel? Certainly, there are cases when we do not present the Bible as we should and for these we will be held accountable. We may not have spoken the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) or may have acted hypocritical, having sin in our own lives (Mat. 7:1-5) for example. Yet, what about cases when we present the gospel in a Christ-like manner and people still fail to render obedience? The question is raised because sometimes we unwittingly blame ourselves for other people’s rejection of the gospel.

There is a great temptation to believe that God disapproves of us if we are not successful in getting other people to obey the truth. Parents are sometimes too quick to blame themselves for their children’s reluctance to obey the gospel. Preachers mistakenly believe that they are to blame for lack of numerical growth in a local church. Some Christians tend to equate worthiness before God by the number of converts to Christ they have made!

After all is said and done and we have done our job to teach the gospel to others and set a good example as Christians (Mat. 5:16), the response each person makes to the gospel is essentially their own. As much as we might want to blame ourselves for other people’s decisions, the fact of the matter is: We are not held responsible for people’s disobedience!

On the other hand, we are not to be credited for people’s obedience either. If and when a person does decide to obey the gospel, let us not fail to give God the glory (Rom. 16:25-27; Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 3:6). Successful evangelism is due to the victorious power of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16) and not due to our powers of persuasion. The power to convert a soul is not within us, it is within the gospel.

Sometimes Our Anxieties Hinder Our Efforts in Evangelism

“Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia” (2 Cor 2:12-13, NASB). Like Paul who was unable to put his distress about Titus out of his mind, we also may be troubled or preoccupied with cares that we have in our lives. When we have no rest of our spirits or have no peace of mind in our own lives, it can hinder us and cause us to bypass “doors of opportunity” given by the Lord. Yet, despite our past anxieties, we can move forward and continue to preach God’s word victoriously! (2 Cor. 2:14-17).

Thanks Be to God Who Always Leads Us in Triumph in Christ!

Despite disappointments, we can in confidence continue to proclaim the gospel to others.
In spite of a few setbacks, Paul still had courage and confidence because he put his faith and trust in Christ. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Cor 2:14). He was certain that the Lord was leading him in triumph. His confidence in the victory found through Christ can be ours too!

The phrase “leads us in His triumph” would have been very familiar to those saints who lived at Corinth, a providence of Rome: “A triumph in Rome was a magnificent procession in honor of a victorious general, and the highest military distinction which he could obtain. It was granted by the senate only to one who had held the office of dictator, consul, or praetor, and after a decisive victory in the complete subjugation of a province. In a Roman triumph the victorious general entered the city in a chariot drawn by four horses. He was crowned with laurel, having a scepter in one hand and a branch of laurel in the other. He was preceded by the senate and magistrates, musicians, the spoils of his victory, and the captives in fetters; and followed by his army on foot, in marching order” (ISBE).

Similarly, as Christ “leads us in His triumph” we may picture our own victory parade in which we celebrate our triumph in Christ. Just as the victorious general’s son would walk behind their father’s chariot, sharing in his victory; we as Christians follow in Christ’s magnificent triumph! Christ will lead us in triumph too!

The Triumphal Sweep of the Gospel Gains the Victory!

Praise be to God for graciously allowing us to share in this triumph! (2 Cor. 2:14). When we do our duty to proclaim the gospel, the knowledge of God will spread everywhere: At work, school, in our neighborhood, and throughout our community. The gospel will spread much like an aroma that distributes in the air: “the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”

When we proclaim the gospel boldly and regularly and let our Christian lights shine in the process, the word of God, like perfume, will permeate or saturate the air so that the people will take notice! And much like the parable of the sower (Luke 8:11-15), depending on where “the seed of the word” lands or where the fragrance of Christ goes, will result in either a reception or a rejection of the gospel. Yet, regardless of the results, let us be thankful to take part in the cause of Christ in spreading His gospel!

The Gospel Will Generate Different Responses That We Are not Responsible for.

During the triumphal entry of the general, the Roman priests burned incense during the parade. To the triumphant soldiers it signified life and victory, but to the conquered enemy it meant defeat and death. To some people we will be like a sweet aroma, to others we will be like a stench. “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:15-16).
Some people will be receptive to the gospel and it will be like a sweet aroma that is pleasing and joyful to smell. Such people are seekers of truth who desire to please God and go to Heaven, so the truth of the gospel is received and not rejected by them. These people obey the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation (1 Cor. 1:18).To others the gospel is foolishness. The smell of the gospel is foul and unpleasant because it exposes their sins and warns of eternal death (John 3:20; 8:24).

“An Aroma from Death to Death”

When Christ-like behavior is observed in us, it is a standard of living that many people do not want to be subjected to. The challenges of truth and need for personal change makes them feel uncomfortable. Like the Jews who covered their ears at the preaching of Stephen and stoned him (Acts 7:54-60), there will be people today who will respond with hostility and reject the gospel. The gospel reminds them of their lost condition which is a horrible “odor” indeed! Those who continue in sin are perishing and will suffer eternal death (2 Cor. 2:15-16).
“An Aroma from Life to Life”

To those who are being saved, the fragrance of Christ is an aroma of life (2 Cor. 2:15b). The fragrance of Christ (i.e., gospel) means eternal life to those who obey it! When the gospel that we live and proclaim to others has such a positive impact, we rejoice for the salvation of their souls. “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

We Can Triumph in the Cause of Christ When We Put Our Trust in Him.

The life or death impact of the gospel causes us to ask: “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16c). Who is adequate to carry such a responsibility for proclaiming such a powerful gospel? May we always remember that our adequacy comes from God (2 Cor. 3:5) and we will have all the strength and confidence we need.

When We Proclaim His Word with the Aim to Please God We Are Victors!

“For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God” (2 Cor 2:17). We do not sell the truth like a peddler who tries to sell his goods for a profit, tricking his customers to buy what he is selling. We do not retail or market the gospel, corrupting it so that people will find it appealing. We do not alter it or change it in any way. We are not in this for personal gain, vain glory, or to win prestige in the community. Instead, our heart’s desire in all sincerity is to please the Lord as we evangelize the world.

Knowing that we have pleased the Lord by proclaiming His gospel must be our focus.
Whether one receives or rejects the gospel is not under our control. Instead, let us take heart knowing that we have done what the Lord has asked us to do. Let us be overjoyed and thankful that when we proclaim the gospel to others that we are “the fragrance of Christ,” exactly what God would have us to be.

The Spiritual Significance of Baptism

2006-12-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4, NASB). Clearly, baptism is no mere symbol or ritual. Baptism is what enters us into union with Christ! Baptism into Christ establishes a real spiritual connection to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptized Into the Death of Christ: Baptism is not just about receiving the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), it is our union with the death of Jesus! “All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death” (Rom. 6:3). Jesus the Savior died for our sins. Sin is what brought Him to the cross. Rather than a continued desire for sin after baptism, there should be a hatred and rejection of sin, the very thing that caused Jesus to die in the first place. “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). Baptism into Christ is absolutely essential to putting to death our sins: “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-6).

Buried with Christ: The word baptism literally means “immersion.” Every person, including Jesus, who was baptized was immersed (not sprinkled or poured) in water (e.g., Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:38-39). That is why the apostle Paul says to the Christians at Rome: “… We have been buried with Him through baptism… ” (Rom. 6:4; See also Col. 2:11-12). A burial best represents baptism (i.e., immersion). There is great spiritual significance to being buried with Jesus. Just as a real burial involves a real death, so does baptism (which is a “burial”) result in a real spiritual death to sin. Baptism is not merely a “good work” nor is it to be done as a public display of becoming a member of a local church. Baptism into Christ is essential to putting to death our sins!

Raised with Christ: Baptism into Christ introduces us to a new life! “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Baptism is necessary “so we too” may rise to live a new life. Just as Christ was raised or “born again” from the dead (Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:18), we too are raised or “born again” to a new life after baptism (John 3:3, 5). “Newness of life” entails all spiritual blessings that are given in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Specifically, we are no longer “dead in sin” (Eph. 2:1-2), but instead “dead to sin” and “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). There is “newness of life” because each Christian is now a new person in Christ, living life in service to God, not sin: “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). Only those who have been baptized into Christ are “in Christ” and are living the new life in Him.
Salvation Through Christ: “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). This straight forward passage about baptism makes it perfectly clear that baptism is for our salvation. Those who dismiss baptism as non-essential or optional, ignore this plain statement of Scripture. Baptism does not in any way diminish the achievement of Christ on the cross for our sins. Instead, baptism is a commandment we must obey to gain access to the saving power of Jesus. Notice what makes baptism powerful: Not the water itself (“the removal of dirt from the flesh”), but the appeal we make to God “for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). Jesus is still the means of our salvation, eternal life is still a free gift (Rom. 6:23), we are simply meeting the Lord’s condition for salvation as commanded in Scripture: “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Added to the Body of Christ: When a person is baptized into Christ, they are also, at the exact same moment, added to the body of Christ: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). His body is the church: “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23; See also Col. 1:18). To belong to the Lord’s church, there is no waiting for a “church committee” to give their approval. Instead, when you are baptized into Christ you are automatically added to His church and belong to the saved! “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:38, 41, 47, NKJV; See also Heb. 12:22-23).

Make Sure You Have Been Baptized Into Christ! No one is a disciple of Christ until he or she has been baptized into His name (Mat. 28:18-20). No one is “in Christ”, a part of Christ, or has fellowship with Christ until he or she comes to Christ in faith to be baptized into Him. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). If you have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 3:16; Acts 16:31ff.), are willing to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37), and repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), then you are ready to be baptized! If you have not yet done so, be baptized into Christ today!

"Who Are You to Judge Me?"

2006-11-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Often when Christians present the truth to others, they are accused of being arrogant, narrow-minded, and judgmental. Frequently, there are resentments that people have when Christians tell them how to live their lives for the Lord. They interpret our words as a personal attack, instead of the message of truth from God.

“Judgmentalism”

In defense against all moral judgments, people will frequently make reference to Jesus’ statement of Matthew 7:1 which says: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (KJV). This Bible verse is used today as “proof” that we should never make moral judgments about anyone. To do so is considered unloving and judgmental of others. In their view, Christians ought to never judge others or preach against other people’s religions. Just be tolerant and do not correct other people, even when they are in error (i.e., sin, false belief).

The problem lies not with Christians actually being judgmental when they present the truth to others, but rather a misconception that people have of what it means to be judgmental. Jesus was not at all saying that we can never make judgments of anyone (Mat. 7:1). In this same chapter, Jesus warns us to beware of certain kinds of people who are like “dogs” and “swine” (Mat. 7:6) and also warns us of false prophets that are like “ravenous wolves” (Mat. 7:15). To identify people as such would certainly require that we make judgments. What Jesus is actually condemning in Matthew 7:1-5 is the judging of others with a sense of moral superiority over others. The failure to examine ourselves first, for the sin that we readily see in others, results in hypocritical judging or “judgmentalism.” To effectively help a person repent of their sins, we must first look at our own lives for any sin and repent accordingly.

“Judge with a Righteous Judgment” (John 7:24).

If, at first, people feel personally attacked when you present the truth of God’s word, remember to emphasize where the truth came from. Christians are not in the business of standing in the place of God and judging people’s eternal destiny (1 Cor. 4:1-5). Rather, such judgments come solely from what the word of the Lord has to say: "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). The fact of the matter is, Christians merely deliver God’s word and do not do the actual judging. The word of God, that was given to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5), does all the judging that is necessary of people’s conduct, lives, and spiritual condition (John 16:8-11). When people feel judged, we are not acting as their judge. Instead, it is God’s word that is at work which is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

A Christian Demonstrates Love for Others by Judging.

Christians must make judgments every day in order to distinguish between good and evil and make good choices in life (1 Thes. 5:21-22; Heb. 5:12-14). In addition, Christians must also make judgments in order to help others who need to be warned, reproved, rebuked, or corrected of their sins. We have been given this responsibility by the commands of God in His word (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2:15).

Judging others of sin must be done according to God’s instructions. We must not act proud or be arrogant, but we must be humble in our conduct and in our speech (1 Pet. 5:5). We must deliver the message of truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and in the spirit of meekness or gentleness (Gal. 6:1). However, there may be certain cases that call for a severe rebuke of our brethren so they will be sound in the faith (Titus 1:13). Sometimes a severe rebuke of non-Christians or false teachers is in order also (e.g., Mat. 23).

No matter how the religious world may define love, true love for others will be demonstrated by our judgment (based on the Word) of their spiritual condition and thus our involvement to restore the erring back to God: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 22:39).

Are Christians Narrow-Minded?

The charge that Christians are narrow-minded is commonly given with the charge of being judgmental. This is because the Christian holds to only one standard of truth (God’s word) as the basis of all their moral judgments. “Narrow-minded” is defined as: “unwilling to listen to or tolerate the views of others; prejudiced” (Oxford University Press). Does this accusation have any merit? Are Christians narrow-minded?

In examining this definition of narrow-minded, we can eliminate two possible applications to the Christian. First of all, Christians are by no means “prejudiced.” Prejudice, partiality, or bias is condemned in Scripture (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; James 2:1). Any Christian who has prejudice in their heart must repent and ask God for forgiveness. Secondly, Christians are not people who are “unwilling to listen to. . . the views of others.” Christians must be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19; cf. Prov. 18:13). A willingness to hear other points of view demonstrates fairness on our part.

Yet, what about the part of the definition of narrow-minded which says: “unwilling to . . . tolerate the views of others”? Is this an accurate description of Christians? Again, we must define terms. Tolerate can mean either “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” or “patiently endure (something unpleasant)” (Oxford Univ. Press). Christians can and should at times tolerate or “patiently endure (or bear) that which is unpleasant” such as the sins of others (cf. Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; 2 Tim. 2:24). This does not mean we condone their sin, but instead we must show patience with others as they are given the chance to hear the truth and repent of their error.

However, Christians cannot tolerate or “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” when it comes to matters of morality and religion. It would be wrong for Christians to “tolerate the views of others” in this sense. Instead, we have a responsibility to challenge people’s beliefs when they are in error and do our best to teach them the truth of God’s word (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:16-17; 4:2; Titus 1:9; Jas. 5:19-20). Though the religious world teaches we ought to allow all religious doctrines to exist without any interference whatsoever, the Christian must get involved by helping others see the error of their way and teach them the truth.

Christians Are Narrow-Minded to the Extent That the Truth Is Narrow.

Christians are in a sense “narrow-minded” when it comes to their stand for the truth. After all, the way of truth that leads to eternal life is described as narrow or restrictive in nature: "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mat. 7:14). Christians should have no shame to be “narrow,” for Jesus was also narrow in what He taught: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Only through Christ, who stands for the truth, can a person have access to God in Heaven.

If Christians are going to be true to God and to their convictions of truth, they must be “narrow” without compromise. Many people will travel the “broad” way and thus “tolerate” all religious beliefs without distinction. Many are unwilling to debate or discuss religious differences in light of the Scriptures. The “broad” way only leads to eternal destruction (Mat. 7:13). Though the path of truth is unpopular and a more lonely road to travel (Mat. 7:14), the Christian commits him/ herself to it because there is only one truth or faith that will save him eternally (Eph. 4:5; Jude 3; Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16).

DEFINING MARRIAGE

2006-11-06T16:01:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson

www.cvillechurch.com

Introduction: “Is it Necessary to Define Marriage?”

A. Many say that defining marriage is unnecessary and unwarranted, that marriage is strictly a human or civil right, a social and private affair that should be left to individuals to decide without government interference.

B. Such an approach to marriage will inevitably lead to the destruction of marriage itself, where marriage is anything you want it to be!

C. Defining marriage is in fact very important, critical to preserving and protecting the institution of marriage.

I. Attempts by the World to Redefine Marriage

A. Same-sex couples who “love” and commit to one another (homosexuality).

B. A man and woman who live together in “love” and commitment (cohabitation).

C. A man and / or woman who lives with, “loves”, and commits to several men /women (i.e., polygamy and/ or bisexuality).

II. Does the World Have a Right to Redefine Marriage?

A. The Bible exhorts us to not conform to this world, which would include its
standard of morality and practices (Rom. 12:2).

B. No matter how Man may define marriage, God’s definition will forever stand! (1 Pet. 1:24-25; Heb. 4:12).

III. God’s Definition of Marriage

A. Marriage is the union of one male and one female (Mat. 19:4-6).

1. There is no mistaking God’s original definition of marriage, given “from the beginning” – a monogamous relationship.

B. Marriage is a heterosexual, not homosexual relationship.

1. “At the beginning made them male and female”, not male and male or female and female (Mat. 19:4; cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 2:22).

2. Marriage involves the union of the only type of couple, one male and
one female, capable of natural reproduction of the human race (Gen. 1:28).

3. When God created a help meet for Adam, He did not create another man
(Gen. 2:18, 21-23).

4. Another man would not have been a suitable partner for Adam, any more than any one of the animals which God had created! (cf. Lev. 18:23).

5. God condemns the fleshly union of males with males and females with females in both the Old Testament and New (Gen. 18:20; 19:5; Lev 18:22; 20:13; Mat. 11:23-24; Luke 17:28-29; Jude 7; 1 Tim. 1:10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).

6. Homosexuality is a “vile passion” that is “against nature” - not a genetic or inherited “sexual orientation” (Rom. 1:26-27).

C. The honorable institution of marriage does not permit fornication or adultery (Heb. 13:4).

1. Unmarried couples living together (cohabiting) “in love” is not the moral equivalent to marriage, but a dishonor and disrespect of marriage.

2. Those who practice polygamous “marriage” will be judged by God for
adultery.

3. To tolerate “marriage” for same-sex or homosexual couples (a form of fornication) is to belittle and defile the marriage institution.

4. Marriage is to be highly esteemed (“be held in honor”) by pure conduct and by our defense of it.

D. Marriage is about companionship and commitment.

1. By creating woman for man, the need for companionship was fulfilled in the first marriage (Gen. 2:18, 22).

2. Marriage is also about devotion, commitment, and unity (Gen. 2:24).

E. God’s definition of marriage includes couples complying with civil law to ratify the marriage contract or agreement (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).

1. Rom 12:17b says “Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men” (ASV), thus marriage must be ratified in a way accepted by society.

2. Civil procedures should be followed, provided they do not violate God’s
law (Acts 5:29).

IV. Standing Up for God’s Definition of Marriage is not Discrimination!

A. God’s definition of marriage is not discriminatory, but is open to all adults who meet His requirements (Mat. 19:4-11; cf. Gen. 2:24).

B. Marriage has a specific meaning that should be upheld and respected by all (Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:4-11).

Conclusion: Let Us Honor, Respect, and Defend God’s Definition of Marriage!

Does the Salvation of the Thief on the Cross Make Baptism Unnecessary?

2006-11-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

The following question is often asked: "If we are required to be baptized in order to be saved, why was the thief on the cross allowed into Paradise? (Luke 23:42-43).

There are several reasons why the thief on the cross got to enter Paradise without being baptized. First of all, Jesus had the authority to forgive people of their sins and give them salvation. What He did for the thief (Luke 23:43) corresponds to the theme that is emphasized throughout Luke (5:20, 24; 7:48; 19:9-10), that is, that Jesus has such authority. The story of the thief on the cross was not recorded to show us how to be forgiven, but rather to demonstrate that Jesus had authority on earth to forgive sins (cf. Mark 2:10). Luke’s gospel account showed that Jesus could forgive sins. It was only after Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead that Luke records the instruction of Jesus on how forgiveness would be obtained: “And that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47, NASB).

The majority of the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John explain to us why Jesus is good news (i.e., gospel). It is only after Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, that we are told how to respond to the gospel in order to become Christians (Mat. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16). Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, recorded how people responded to the gospel message by repenting of their sins and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The story of the thief on the cross should not be used as a reason to make baptism unnecessary and of no eternal value.

Second, people who lived before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus cannot be examples to us on how to respond to the gospel for our salvation. Yes, people like Abraham (Romans 4), Enoch, and Noah (Hebrews 11:5-7) for example, were saved and were never baptized. Yet, they also never had an opportunity to respond in obedient faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ because they all lived before His death, burial, and resurrection. How was it possible, then, that they were saved before Jesus’ death? We are told in Romans 3:25 that God “passed over the sins previously committed” (i.e., let them occur without punishment of His eternal wrath, c.f., Acts 17:30). How could He have done this and still be a righteous God? Because God anticipated the death of Christ as a propitiation (i.e., atonement) for sins. The cleansing power of Jesus’ blood is essentially “retroactive”, applying to those people who lived before “the cross of Christ” – people who, in obedient faith, looked to the Messiah (Hebrews 9:15).

The thief on the cross was saved, even before Jesus died for his salvation, because Jesus knew His heart - knew that He had a penitent, believing heart and thus chose to save him, even though he had not been baptized. Jesus saved him because He had the authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus, in saving the thief, did not establish an exception to the rule of baptism for salvation (a rule to be given later under the New Covenant). Now that the death, burial, and resurrection has taken place, we have no excuse not to meet the conditions that Jesus gave to be saved to become Christians which includes baptism into Christ (Mark 16:16) (even those He gave through His apostles - Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21).

Third, when Jesus died on the cross He established a New Testament (i.e., Covenant). When instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus taught that it would be His blood (i.e., death) that would establish a New Covenant making forgiveness of sins possible (Matthew 26:28). His death on the cross brought the end of the Old Testament (i.e., covenant) (See Colossians 2:13-17; Hebrews 8-10). With this in mind, we should recognize that the thief on the cross was under the Old Covenant era, not the New. The New Covenant was not in effect yet, thus he could not respond to the instructions of the New Covenant (or Testament) to be baptized into Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13; 35-39; 9:18 / 22:16; 10:48; 16:14-15, 30-33; 18:8; 19:3-5; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:5b; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21). Therefore, Jesus, with authority on earth to forgive sins, invited him to enter Paradise with Him for his faith and penitent heart.

Fourth, the gospel by which we are saved today is built upon the foundation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Thus, no one who lived and died before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus can be used as an example of what is required to respond to the gospel for salvation. The thief on the cross could not have been baptized into Christ, even if he wanted to because baptism into Christ is based upon Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (See Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12) which had yet to occur.

May we also recognize that even if the thief on the cross had received John’s baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3), that this would not have qualified as being “baptized into Christ” for salvation. The baptism John gave was only temporary and people baptized by John would still need to be baptized into Christ in order to be saved (See Acts 19:3-5). Baptism washes away our sins (Acts 22:16) because of Jesus’ death / blood (Revelation 1:5). Baptism saves us due to the power of Jesus’ resurrection (1 Peter 3:21). The thief simply could not be baptized into Christ and gain those blessings before the death, burial, and resurrection occurred. Thus, Jesus, with the authority He had, granted him salvation for this faith and penitence.

The Eternal importance of baptism should not be minimized. To be “spiritually reborn” (John 3:3-5) or become a child of God, a person needs to not only believe in Christ, but also be baptized into Christ to “put on Christ” (See Galatians 3:26-27). A person does not belong to Christ and enjoy the blessings found “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3) until baptized into Christ.

To belong to the Lord’s church, a person must be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). When a person is baptized into Christ, he/ she is, at the very same moment, baptized into His body (1 Corinthians 12:13), which represents the church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). Salvation begins at baptism, for only those who belong to the Lord’s church have their names “written in heaven” (See Hebrews 12:22-23).

Are There Many Ways to Heaven?

2006-11-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“We’re All Trying to Get to Heaven, Just Taking Different Paths to Get There.” How often have you heard that statement? Too often, it has been said by people who want to legitimize most any religious belief or practice. Rather than examine the different religious beliefs that people have by the Scriptures, most people prefer to show “tolerance” and not interfere with what others believe the religion of God or the truth in religion to be. In American society where freedom is trumpeted, the philosophy is: “Everyone is free to worship the God of their choice and the religion they like best.” Unfortunately, respect for freedom has been taken to the extreme by most people. Rather than question the existence of the many different religious groups and denominations that we have, people accept religious divisions as a way of life in America.

If Many Paths to Heaven Are Possible, Then Jesus Died on the Cross in Vain!

Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). If any path to Heaven will do, then Jesus needlessly died on the cross for our sins. The Bible clearly teaches that only through Christ can one have access to God in Heaven (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25). Even though there are many different religions in the world, only the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ will lead a person to Heaven.

Not All “Christian” Beliefs and Practices Will Lead to Heaven

Many people in America agree that only through Christ a person may go to Heaven. Yet, at the same time, these same people believe there are many different beliefs and practices that people may have to express their “Christianity” that will all lead to Heaven! For them the motto is: “Preach the man, not the plan.” What they mean by this expression is that the only important issue is that people believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. What people happen to believe about other matters and practices in religion is of no real consequence to them, so we need not be concerned. The belief that all so called “Christian” paths lead to Heaven usually comes from the “Can’t we all just get along” philosophy in the desire for unity.

Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is at the core of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4). However, the Lord made it clear that no one can go to Heaven by following beliefs and practices that are contrary to the Father’s will (Mat. 7:21-23). Some paths that people choose in religion definitely do not lead to Heaven (2 Pet. 2:1-3). Just because a religious group or teaching makes the claim to be of Christ, does not make it so. All religious teachings, including those associated with the name of Christ must be tested by the word of God (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11). Contrary to popular belief, what a person believes and teaches does matter! (Gal. 1:6-9).

Would You Take Any Road to Travel to Your Destination?

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus does not speak of many ways that lead to life, but only one “narrow” way of truth. It is amazing that people do not understand this principle in religion, yet in travel most everyone does. Imagine being on a road trip and you stopped to ask a man for directions to Nashville and he told you “Take any way you want to. It doesn’t matter which way you go. Any road you choose will lead you to it.” You would wonder if the man was mentally unstable, dishonest, or just “pulling your leg!” Not all roads will lead to Nashville or to our final destination in travel. Neither do all roads in religion lead to Heaven.

Religious Paths Invented by Men Do not Lead to Heaven

When a person comes up with their own way to get to Heaven and does not take the one “narrow” way that God has given, the place he or she will end up is not Heaven, but Hell. The Bible warns against coming up with our own way to Heaven: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Prov 14:12). People will take many different paths invented by men (e.g., religious creeds, traditions, popular opinion or philosophy, worldly wisdom, family customs, etc.), yet not one of these will lead to Heaven. It does not matter how sincere people are in their moral and religious convictions. If the path they have chosen to take to Heaven is the wrong path, it will still lead to “the pit of destruction” (Mat. 15:12-14).

Only the Path of Truth Will Lead to Heaven

When we listen to the truth, believe in its message, and obey it, we then know that we are on the right path that leads to Heaven (Eph. 1:13; 1 Pet. 1:22). By continuing in God’s word, which is truth (John 17:17), we can be set free from our sins (John 8:32) and have the hope of eternal life. Only through faithful obedience to the words of Jesus (law of Christ as revealed in N.T. - 1 Cor. 9:21) may a person have confidence in going to Heaven after this life is over (John 12:48).

The Path to Heaven Must Be Chosen

Most people believe, that in “the end,” they will somehow be received up into Heaven by virtue of “the fact” that they are “good” people who want to be saved. Rather than choose a particular path to get to Heaven, they just assume that Heaven is their home and hope for the best.

The Scriptures teach that no one can enter into Heaven by good morality alone, no matter what the standard of good a person may have. Everyone needs to obey the gospel to have their sins forgiven and be saved: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Even a devout and generous man like Cornelius still needed to obey the gospel to be saved (Acts 10:1-2, 48; cf. Acts 2:38). Everyone needs to obey the truth to go to Heaven, no matter how “good” a person may be.

Furthermore, no one stumbles into Heaven by chance or accidentally! Instead, the path that leads to Heaven must be chosen on purpose and traveled upon deliberately throughout life: “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things (i.e., vs. 4-9), you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (2 Pet. 1:10-11). After obeying the gospel (i.e., Acts 16:31ff; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38), every Christian must stay the course, remain faithful, and continue on the path of truth to the end in order to go to Heaven (Heb. 3:12-14; Rev. 2:10).

Receive Jesus as Your Savior

2006-11-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Many religious people, with good motives, seek to save the lost by getting anyone they can to receive Jesus as their Savior through prayer. The so called “plan of salvation” often goes something like this: “Pray the following prayer and receive Jesus as your Savior: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. You said in Your Word: "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved" (Rom. 10:9). I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. Your Word says, "...with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). I do believe with my heart, and I now confess with my mouth Jesus as my Lord. Therefore, I am saved! Thank You, Lord!”

Is this the Gospel plan for salvation? Is that all that is required of God to become a Christian? As popular as this doctrine may be, we need to look to “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) (not just Romans 10:9-10) to gain understanding of the truth on what exactly is the plan of salvation.

What Does it Mean to Receive Jesus as Your Savior?

Only two times during His ministry did Jesus speak about the importance of “receiving” Him (Mark 9:37; John 5:43) and in both cases Jesus gives no instruction to pray. For example, Jesus rebuked the Jews for their willingness to believe in false teachers or false Messiahs, but not in Him: “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43, NASB). “Receive” (from lambanoo) in this context means to receive, accept, admit, or come to believe (See Thayer & Friberg Lexicons). “Receiving” Jesus, in this sense, is certainly important to a person’s salvation (e.g., John 8:24), yet never does Jesus (or His apostles) teach that one must pray to receive Jesus as their Savior in order to be saved.

If a person truly wants to “receive Jesus,” then that person will also receive the sayings or teachings of Jesus: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). Being saved or entering into a right relationship with the Lord is not based on our faith in Him only, but also by our acceptance or belief in the words of Jesus. If, indeed, we believe in the words of Jesus (which would include the words which He gave His apostles – Eph. 3:3-5), then we will obey them. Those who truly believe in God’s word and accept the Scriptures as the actual words of God will perform the works of God (1 Thes. 2:13).

“Receive My Sayings”

Those who are quick to quote Romans 10:9-10 as the plan of salvation neglect much of the doctrine of Christ. Yes, Jesus did say (through the apostle Paul): “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9), but that is not all that He said! If we truly want to receive Jesus and not reject Him (John 12:48), then we must take heed to all that Jesus said on how to be saved. True believers in Jesus receive all of His sayings, not just a few.

Jesus also said that in order to be saved, we must repent of our sins: “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Through the apostle Paul, the Lord tells us that repentance leads to our salvation (2 Cor. 7:9-10; cf. Acts 17:30; Rom. 2:4-5).Thus, repentance is as critical to our salvation as belief in Christ and our confession of Him.

Jesus, furthermore, said that in order to be saved, we must be baptized: “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). To become one of Jesus’ disciples, a person must be baptized into His name: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mat. 28:18-19). To become a disciple of Jesus means to become a Christian (Acts 11:26). No one is a Christian until he or she is baptized into Christ. In fact, no one belongs to the Lord’s church until he or she is baptized into His name: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:38, 47, NKJV; cf. 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18).

Every single person, as recorded in the book of Acts, who received the sayings of Jesus to become a Christian was baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:5-13, 35-38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:31-33; 18:8; 22:16). There is no record in the Scriptures of anyone “praying to receive Jesus as their Savior” to become a Christian. Can you name one?

Jesus is Savior to Those Who Are “in Christ.”

If you really want Jesus to be your Savior, it will not come by praying a prayer. To partake of “all spiritual blessings in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), you need to be “in Christ” or enter into fellowship with Christ where salvation is found. The way to do that is to be baptized into Christ: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4; cf. Gal. 3:27).

Isn’t Romans 6:3-4 just as true as Romans 10:9-10? If not, why not? Receive all of Jesus’ sayings and you will, in truth, “receive Jesus as your Savior.”

Do You Love the Truth?

2006-10-31T14:37:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thess. 2:9-10, NASB). God, in His word, warns us of the danger of being deceived by “the son of destruction (or perdition)” and falling away from the true faith of God (i.e., apostasy) (2 Thess. 2:3). Whatever the “the son of destruction” stands for, it is certain that those who do not have a love for the truth are in special danger of perishing eternally by its wicked and deceptive influences (e.g., false teachers, false religion, antichrist forces – 1 John 2:18, idolatry, etc.).

The Truth Is God’s Word: The truth that must be loved, lest we perish, is the word of God: “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The truth also stands for the gospel of Jesus Christ: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (Eph. 1:13). Only the gospel, the truth, or God’s word has the power to save our souls (Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). In contrast, lies, falsehood, or false doctrine brings eternal death to those who follow it instead of the truth (James 5:19-20). Many people today reject the truth and prefer to believe in a lie. As a result, they refuse their salvation (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

What Does It Mean to “Receive the Love of the Truth”?

To be saved, we need to “receive the love of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:10). Many persons claim to love the truth, yet merely claiming so does not mean this is the case. For confidence in our salvation, we must demonstrate to God, by the standard of His word, that we indeed love the truth.

To Receive the Truth into Our Hearts: To “receive the love of the truth” is to welcome it wholeheartedly: “Receive” (Greek: dechomai) – “To receive favorably, give hear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject: Luke 8:13” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). There is a big difference between the person who learns the truth merely to acquire knowledge and the person who takes the truth to heart! Those who truly love the truth will receive it with an open and honest heart and hold it fast (Luke 8:15). Those who love the truth receive it with “all readiness of mind” and “search the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) because they really want to know: What must I do to be saved? (e.g., Acts 2:36-38).

To Believe in the Truth: To “receive the love of the truth” also means to believe in the truth. A person will not receive the truth into his or her heart, unless that person unites the truth they hear with faith (Heb. 4:2). No one can expect the truth to have a positive impact in their lives, nor expect it to lead to their salvation, unless they believe in the message: “And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).

To Obey the Truth: If we “receive the love of the truth,” then we will obey it. Those who say that they know the truth, and yet do not obey the truth, will not benefit spiritually from it (Rom. 1:18ff.). Those who claim to believe in the truth, yet do not practice it, are not genuine believers of Christ or of His word (i.e., the truth). True believers do more than just believe. They obey! “Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). These Jews that Jesus spoke to “had believed Him,” yet that was not enough to be His followers. To be true disciples of Jesus, they had to act on their faith. Only if we “abide in” (i.e., continue in, keep, obey) Jesus’ word (which includes the apostles’ teaching 2 Cor. 5:20; Gal. 1:11-12), can we belong to Him. We cannot know the truth only by studying it. We must also render obedience to it. “… ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). “The truth shall make us free” or give us freedom from our sins (John 8:33-36) when we abide in or obey the word of Christ and not by faith in Christ alone (James 2:24).

To Continually Desire the Truth: Those who love the truth will never stop in their quest for deeper knowledge and understanding of God’s word. A genuine love and desire for the truth will continue long after their baptism into Christ: “And I shall delight in Thy commandments, Which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Thy commandments, Which I love” (Ps. 119:47-48). Bible study has great meaning and spiritual significance for the lover of truth: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV). Never does the person who loves the truth say to himself: “I have arrived!” and cease studying the Scriptures. Instead, he continually feeds his soul with the spiritual manna that he needs to stay strong in the Lord: “… ‘It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’” (Mat. 4:4, NASB). Love for the truth will lead to a concentrated effort toward our spiritual growth and maturity in the Lord: “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2).

Those Who Love the Truth, Love the Lord.

The number one reason why a person should have love for the truth is because of his or her love for the Lord: “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21).

The Lord Jesus asked Simon Peter: “Do you love Me?” and He asks us that same question today: “Do you love Me?” Our love for the Lord is demonstrated to Him when we love the truth and obey it (John 21:15-17). Do you love the truth?

Confessing Christ

2006-10-31T14:00:00.001-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32-33, NASB). Confessing one’s faith in Christ is a requirement a person must meet before a person can be baptized into Christ (e.g., Acts 8:37; 1 Tim. 6:12).

Confessing Jesus as Lord is essential to our salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). However, confessing Christ was never met to be a one time event, restricted to one moment of time before baptism! Confessing Christ is something that every Christian should continue to practice throughout his or her life. For in so doing, it not only demonstrates our faith in Jesus, but it also displays our courage as we speak out for Christ in an anti-Christ world (See entire context - Mat. 10:26-33).

What Does it Mean to Confess Christ?

Confessing Christ is not to be muttered to self, nor should it be limited to the privacy of one’s own home, or only spoken in the company of other Christians! Such circumstances do not require much courage nor any self-sacrifice.

To “confess” Christ means to acknowledge Him publicly, to declare our allegiance to Him openly, and to speak out freely of our faith in Jesus (Mat. 10:32). A true confession of Christ will be done so men may hear, so that the world may know that we are indeed disciples of Jesus Christ! Confessing Christ, just like preaching the gospel, should be shouted from the rooftops! “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops” (Mat. 10:27). Rather than feel any shame, there is an earnest desire for all to know about Jesus!

Furthermore, confessing Christ is not to be equated with mere belief in Him. There must be the courage to vocally and publicly confess our faith in Christ. Faith only is clearly not enough to be one of Jesus’ disciples: “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43).

Are You Confessing Christ in Your Life?

At work, at school, in your neighborhood, and community, with your friends, family, relatives, and others, are you confessing Christ? Is the confession of Christ a way of life for you? Confessing Christ is not limited to when we are questioned by persecutors, but should be done freely, openly, and regularly as a result of our faith in Christ: “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, " I believed, therefore I spoke, "we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you” (2 Cor. 4:13-14). Confessing Christ is something every Christian should want to do as a result of having faith in Jesus Christ. Christians who are not inclined to evangelize or share the gospel with others often are lacking faith or are ashamed or both! (Rom. 1:16).

Don’t Let the Fear of Rejection Prevent You from Confessing Christ.

The parents of the blind man whom Jesus healed were afraid to confess Jesus to be the Christ, lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 9:22). Lest we think we are above such fears, we would do well to ask ourselves a few questions: Do we keep silent at our workplace for fear of losing our job or valuable employees? Do we refrain from confessing Christ at school for fear of losing our friends or being treated as an outcast? Do we allow fear to hold us back to confess Christ at anyplace, anytime, or with anyone? We must always remember that we are blessed by God when we are excluded or rejected by men for confessing Jesus Christ. Such an experience may not feel like a blessing, but it is! “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).

Confessing Christ Is a Proof That We Are Faithful Disciples of Christ!

If we confess Christ before men, Jesus will give us recognition before God that we are true disciples of Christ. More than merely confessing our names, Jesus confessing us before the Father is an official recognition or acknowledgment that we are His disciples! “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32). We have demonstrated ourselves to be Christians, in part, by our confessing Christ. True disciples of Christ confess Christ and thus enjoy fellowship with God: “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also… Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 2:23; 4:15). There is indeed great importance to our confessing Christ. Our fellowship with God depends on it!

Confessing Christ involves more than a mere verbal declaration of our faith, but will also be demonstrated by our obedience to His word. We cannot hypocritically confess Christ and claim to know God and then turn around and disobey Him! “And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed” (Titus 1:16). Genuine disciples of Christ will not only confess His name, but will also walk with Him in holiness (Rev. 3:4-5).

Denying Christ Is an Indication That We Are “Anti-Christ!”

To deny Christ (which is the absence of confessing Him) is to be “anti-Christ!” “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (1 John 4:2-3).

Denying Christ also involves denying the teaching of Christ which is also anti-Christ: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting” (2 John 7-10). A person is anti-Christ when he does not “abide in” or keep the teaching of Christ, which would include the teachings of the apostles who preached His word (Gal. 1:10; Eph. 3:3-5).

Our Salvation Depends on Whether We Confess Christ or Deny Him.

If we deny Christ, meaning fail to acknowledge Him publicly and do not openly speak of our faith in Christ and His gospel, we will be denied before God and thus lose our salvation: “But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:33).

If we confess Christ, we can be confident that Christ will also confess us on Judgment day: “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32).

May every Christian maintain their confession of Christ throughout life so that each one will be acknowledged by Christ as one of His disciples on that last day!

Conformity in Religion

2006-10-31T14:00:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2, NASB). To be “conformed” is to be made similar or like someone or something in form or character and in behavior and opinion. Therefore, the word of God is instructing us not to allow the world to shape us into its own image or likeness.

There is a great temptation to be like the world. When most people of the world considers a certain behavior morally or socially acceptable (e.g., “drinking parties” – 1 Pet. 4:3) or popular (e.g., wearing immodest clothing – 1 Tim. 2:9), there is a strong desire to behave in the same way in order to fit in. However, just because a belief or practice is popular or accepted by society doesn’t make it right! In fact, following the popular path may instead lead to eternal destruction: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mat. 7:13-14).

The world makes every effort it can to get us to conform to its ways. Through the news media, television shows, advertisements, movies, magazines, books, Internet, etc. the world can have a profound affect on our way of thinking and behavior. Without even realizing it, many people have conformed to the world and have allowed the world to determine their standard of morality and lifestyle.

In religion, many churches have allowed themselves to be conformed to this world. Churches often make changes in order to keep in step with the world, instead of influencing the world to make changes for God according to the Scriptures. Rather than succumb to this temptation and fail to be distinct as a church of Christ, we must “… prove [ourselves] to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we] appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). Any change that a local church makes should be done because God’s word prescribes it, not because the world demands it: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17).

Conformity in religion that is in agreement with the world is not the religion of the Lord!
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Every Christian and every local church must determine not to allow the world to define for them what to believe, teach, or practice. God’s instructions concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage (Mat. 19:4-6, 9), homosexual behavior (Rom. 1:26-27), or abortion (Ps. 139 / Rom. 13:9), for example, should not be discarded to appease the world. The New Testament pattern for the work and worship of the church should not be compromised in order to attract people of the world to Christ (Phil. 4:15; Eph. 4:16 / Acts 20:32; Acts 11:29-30 / 1 Tim. 5:16; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:16; etc.).

Christians must be resolved that they will not be conformed to this world, but instead be “transformed by the renewing of [their] mind” (Rom. 12:2). As we study from the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15), fill ourselves with the “knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9), and apply the word of God to our lives (James 1:25), we will renew our way of thinking for the better. Instead of being captivated by worldly advice (Col. 2:8), we will know exactly what the will of God is, “that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).

In due time, our lives will be “transformed” (from metamorphosis) or changed for God so that we may serve Him acceptably. We will be able “to present [our] body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1). As God’s children, let us continue to be his special and distinct people of holiness (1 Pet. 1:14-16; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) and be not conformed, but transformed!

Eternity

2006-10-31T13:51:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Four out of five Americans believe in life after death, according to a General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center that has tracked such convictions in the United States for nearly 25 years. 81% of the U.S. population is convinced there is a Heaven or Hell, or something awaiting them on the other side. Are you one of them?

Do you believe in an afterlife in which all who die will enter an eternal realm? Inevitably, questions about Eternity also lead people to questions about life and an examination of the meaning of life. That is why understanding the truth, as revealed in Scripture, is so very important. Knowing the truth about Eternity can make a big difference in the way a person views life and the way he or she chooses to spend it.

Our Understanding of Eternity Comes from God

Though man is bound by time, we have the capacity to image Eternity beyond this present world: “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set Eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end” (Eccl. 3:11, NASB). We cannot fathom or comprehend all that God has accomplished from beginning to end in all that He has made. However, everyone one of us has the ability to understand Eternity! Though it may seem difficult to imagine Eternity, it is not impossible for us to do so.

God’s eternal power is seen in the Creation (Rom. 1:20). We are privileged to be able to recognize the eternal God that is behind this temporary, present world. The Universe exhibits great power. Only power that has existed from all Eternity could have caused it. God is that great eternal power! It is in this sense that God will set Eternity in our hearts as we come to see His eternal power in this world that He has made.

By looking to the Eternity of God, God’s eternal nature, we can understand what Eternity is. Eternity is an important attribute of God. God is the “I AM,” the Eternal One (Exod. 3:14). God “lives in Eternity” or “lives forever” (Isa. 57:15). He is “the everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). God has always existed. He is without beginning and will never end: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8). Since God represents Eternity, we can learn much about what Eternity means by looking unto God who is eternal as revealed in the Scriptures.

Imagine Eternity!

Like God, Our Existence in Eternity Will Last Forever and Ever. The duration of God’s existence stretches backward in time without limit and stretches forward in time without limit: “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God” (Ps. 90:1-2). The Lord is eternal or forever God. Likewise, all who enter Eternity will stay in Eternity forever and ever. Some will “go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal” (Mat. 25:46).

Just As the Years of God Have No End, the Years of Eternity Will Have No End. On average, our life on earth, at best, lasts a mere 70 or 80 years (Ps. 90:10), a very short moment of time in comparison to Eternity! Just as the years of God’s existence have no end, neither will the years of our existence have no end in Eternity. "But Thou art the same, And Thy years will not come to an end” (Ps. 102:27). Our life span on earth is as brief as a vapor that quickly vanishes away (James 4:14). “Our days on earth are as a shadow” (Job 8:9). While on earth, a lifetime may seem like a long time, yet from the standpoint of Eternity, it is a very short or brief period of time.

In Eternity, the years are countless or without number, far beyond all comparison to any amount of time we have ever known or have measured in earthly history. Consider this example by way of comparison: In Astronomy, the distance light travels in a year is called a “light year.” A “light year” is six trillion miles, the yardstick astronomers use for measuring large distances. Since many stars and galaxies are so far away, it takes lots and lots of time for photos of them to arrive to us. So as we look out into the Universe, we are, by necessity, looking back in time. If, for example, the Sun exploded, we wouldn’t know it for 8.3 minutes, because that’s how long it takes light to get to us from the Sun. The planet Pluto is 5 light hours away, and the next nearest visible star, Alpha Centauri, is 4.4 light years away. So then, how many “light years” shall we measure Eternity? How far of a distance would Eternity reach and extend in time? Not even the distant stars seen by the most powerful telescopes some 13.7 billion light years away can measure the infinite, unlimited time or years in Eternity!

Time Will Be Insignificant in Eternity. “For a thousand years in Thy sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night” (Ps. 90:4). To God, time is insignificant in Eternity, no matter how long or how short that length of time is. The longest length of time a man has ever lived on the earth was in the case of Methuselah who lived 969 years! (Gen. 5:27). As impressive or amazing as that may be, in comparison to Eternity, it was to God like one single day! (2 Pet. 3:8).

When we enter into Eternity, time will be irrelevant. Time will be a non-issue having no bearing on Eternity itself. The favorite hymn “Amazing Grace” written by John Newton, expresses this truth very well in the verse which says: “When we’ve been here ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we’ve first begun.” When God’s people are with Him in Heaven for all Eternity, it will not matter whether ten thousand years (as we count them) pass by or ten zillion years pass by, there will be no less days to sing praises unto God!

Are You Preparing for Eternity?

What we “sow” in this life will have a direct impact on what we shall “reap” in the life to come in Eternity (Gal. 6:7-8; See also 1 Tim. 6:17-19). That is why we must sow carefully. How we spend our lives on earth will determine our eternal future!

The Egyptians believed in Eternity or at least an “after life.” When a Pharaoh died, he was buried in a tomb called a pyramid designed to protect his body forever. They believed that if a Pharaoh’s body was destroyed, his “Ka” (i.e., soul) would have no where to go and would die. If his “Ka” died, he would not be able to be united with the Sun. This in turn would cause the gods to become angry and they would no longer protect the land or the people of the Pharaoh. Therefore, they put forth much effort to preserve the body of Pharaoh. On average, it took forty years and about 100,000 workers to build just one pyramid!

Why did the Egyptians go through so much effort and spend so much time to build their pyramids? They understood that the afterlife or “Eternity” would last a lot longer than their lives on earth and that the afterlife was a whole lot more important than life on earth. Despite their false concept of God, the Egyptians worked hard to prepare for Eternity as they understood it. How much time and effort are you putting forth to prepare for Eternity?

“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scare lift a foot once from the ground.” – Thomas a Kempis. As the saying of Kempis well illustrates, many people scarcely “lift a foot”, let alone obey the gospel to prepare for Eternity (2 Thes. 1:8). Yet, these same people will make great sacrifices to gain earthly rewards that do not last (Mat. 6:19). Such people do not truly believe in Eternity nor understand that Eternity lasts forever. They may claim to believe in Eternity, but their lives spent on themselves instead of God says otherwise (Luke 12:15-21).

If we want to ready for the Judgment Day and be ready to enter into Eternity, we must prepare by taking heed to the words of Jesus Christ (John 12:48; e.g., Mark 16:16; Rev. 2:10) as also revealed to His apostles (Gal. 1:10; e.g., Gal. 5:16-24; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:58). How we “build in life” or whether or not our lives are founded “upon the rock” (i.e., Christ and His word) will determine where we will spend an Eternity (Mat. 7:24-27). When “the storm of the Lord” arrives (Jer. 23:19-20), will you be ready to enter Eternity?

God Is Three in One: The Trinity

2006-10-31T12:19:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Many critics of Christianity point to what they believe to be a fundamental flaw - the belief that God is three persons, yet one God (i.e., the doctrine of the Trinity). To the Jews and Muslims, this Christian doctrine appears to be a contradiction and a blasphemy against the one, true God. Christians have even been accused of believing in polytheism or three separate gods!

If the doctrine of the Trinity is true, then we could expect to find this teaching in the Scriptures. If the doctrine of the Trinity is false, then the Scriptures would only speak of God in such a way as to indicate that God is only one person. What do we find when we examine the Scriptures?

Is God Absolutely Alone or Only One Person? There are nine different Hebrew words in the Scriptures that can be translated as “one” (See the Englishman’s Concordance). Sometimes words such as man or woman are translated “one,” but such words are never applied to God in the Bible. This is understandable since God is not a man or a woman (Num. 23:19).

Now if God is only one person, as Jews and Muslims claim, which word for oneness could they apply to God? Only one of the nine Hebrews words that can be translated as “one” can refer to “complete solitary” or being absolutely alone. That word is YACHIYD (e.g., Ps. 68:6; Gen. 22:2; Judg. 11:34). If this word was applied to God anywhere in the Scriptures, it would be devastating to the doctrine of the Trinity. However, no where in Scripture can this word be found ever applying to God! That is because God is not absolutely alone as only one person.

God Has a Unified Oneness About Him: We learn much about God by studying the Hebrew word ECHAD. Sometimes the word is used with reference to the number one or quantity of one (e.g., Gen. 2:21), but when it does it is never in reference to God. Frequently, the word ECHAD is translated “one” to denote a unified or compound oneness: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Many other examples could be given (e.g., Gen. 3:22; 11:6; 34:16; 2 Chron. 30:12; Ezra 2:64; Jer. 32:39). Jews and Muslims would not want to find this Hebrew word applying to God, lest they lose their argument that God is only one person.

The word ECHAD does in fact apply to God! “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one [ECHAD] LORD” (Deut. 6:4; Compare to Mark 12:29). God is “one” in the sense of a unified or compound oneness. All three persons united -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, constitute or comprise the one true God.

God Is Referred to in the Singular As Well As in the Plural: Those who deny the doctrine of the Trinity will never refer to God in the plural or quote God speaking in the plural (e.g., “They,” “Them,” “Theirs,” “We,” “Us,” “Ours”), but only in the singular (e.g., “I,” “Myself,” “Me,” “”My,” He,” “Him,” “His”). We may use singular nouns and verbs to refer to God because God is described in this way in Scripture. This is often done to emphasize that the Lord is the one and only God: “See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand” (Deut 32:39, NASB).

However, we may also use plural nouns and verbs to refer to God because God is also described in this way in Scripture! The Bible commonly uses plural words for God, the most common one being the Hebrew word ELOHIYM (i.e., a plural form of deity or god): “In the beginning God [ELOHIYM] created the Heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). It may surprise some to know that ELOHIYM is translated more than 400 times in the Bible as “gods” – plural! For example, “And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods (Josh. 24:16, NASB; See also Gen. 31:30; Exod. 12:12). God spoke in the first person plural when creating us! “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26a). Some have suggested that the “us” or “our” in this verse refers to angels, yet man was not created in both the image of God and the angels! Other examples of plural pronouns for God can be found in Scripture (e.g., Gen. 3:22; 11:7-8; Isa. 6:8). Further evidence that God comprises of more than one person can be seen in the Scriptures where two divine persons are both called God in the very same passage (See Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9; Isa. 48:12-17; Hos. 1:6-7; Gen. 19:24).

God Being Three Persons, Yet One God Is Due to His Unified Nature: God is One, yet composed of three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are referred to as God in the Scriptures because each one is God by nature or the divine essence (John 6:27; Col. 2:8-9; Acts 5:3-4). God would not be God to exclude any one of the three persons that make up the divine nature. For example, Jesus, even while on earth, was God in the flesh or the “I AM” (John 8:24, 58). Yet, Jesus always was accompanied by both the Father and the Holy Spirit (e.g., John 10:37-38; Luke 4:1).

Equality Among All Three Persons: Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are just as much God as the Father is! “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus “thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:6). The equality of the Father and Son is seen in the salutations of most New Testament epistles (e.g., Rom. 1:7; Gal. 1:3; 2 John 3).Each person of the triune God is emphasized equally in prayer in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Equal, Yet of Different Rank by the Divine Order: Jesus submitted to the Father’s will and obeyed His commands (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; 14:31). How then could they be equal? Both are equally God, yet according to the divine order, each has a different rank or position in the hierarchy of God: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3). Just as man and woman are equal (Gal. 3:28), so are the Father and the Son (John 10:30). The different rank a woman has does not make her any less of a Christian (or human for that matter). Neither does the different rank of Christ make Him any less Deity. The different rank that each person holds simply means that there are different roles and responsibilities that each one fulfills (e.g., Eph. 5:22-33; Phil. 2:8).

All three persons (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) represent Deity, though each person of the Godhead is distinguishable from the other. Each person of God is distinct in the sense that each one has a different role that each one fulfills (e.g., Heb. 12:9; Eph. 5:23; John 16:13).

The Unified Work of the Trinity: All three persons of God are one also in the sense of functioning together as a team to accomplish the work of God. The work of Creation: “[God] in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Heb. 1:2, NASB, See also Gen. 1:2, 26-27). "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). The work of salvation: “’Come near to Me [Christ - ML], listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.’ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go’” (Isa 48:16-17, NASB; See also Eph. 1:2-14). Even the miraculous spiritual gifts experienced by Christians in the first century was given by the unified work of the Trinity (1 Cor. 12:4-6).

The Trinity Provides Our Salvation: Fellowship with God is achieved through the Trinity (Eph. 2:17-19). Salvation has been made possible by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To become a child of God and receive the spiritual and eternal blessings that the Trinity provides, each person must be baptized in the name (i.e., authority) of the Triune God: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Mat. 28:18-20, NASB; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21). Once we are baptized in Their name, we must continue to abide in God’s word for the Triune God to continue to abide in us (e.g., 1 John 4:12-16; 2 John 9; Gal. 3:2 / Rom. 10:17; Gal. 5:16).

Jesus Christ, Our Only Lord and Master

2006-10-31T12:14:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Jesus Christ is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). When we confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), we confess that He is supreme in authority and power. More than that, we submit to His control as our Master, the One who rules over us. We do our best to abstain from sin so we will be “useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). In life, Jesus is the “one Lord” (Eph. 4:5) Christians give their allegiance to: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6, NASB).

As much as we may recognize these truths, sometimes, if we are not careful, we may unwittingly allow others to become our lord and master in life. Certain people, if we do not beware, will have the same or similar degree of influence over us. When that happens, we cease to be true disciples or followers of the Lord!

Even the Apostles Did not Behave As “Lords.” The apostles were blessed to have spent over three years with Jesus and learn much from His example and teaching. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into Heaven, the apostles, in a special sense, became His representatives (2 Cor. 5:20). They spoke the will of Christ to the people as inspired by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 2:1-4; Eph. 3:3-5). They, through their teaching, became part of the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20). Yet, as important as they were to the establishment of the church, they understood that Jesus Christ is the only master and Lord over Christians. The apostle Paul declared: “Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm” (2 Cor. 1:24). The apostles were not masters or lords that exercised dominion or lordship over other Christians. Instead, they were fellow workers who labored along side other Christians as equals in Christ (Gal. 3:28).

Elders (or Pastors) Are not to Behave as “Lords.” In the organization of the local church, the New Testament gives us a pattern to follow. Included in the pattern are overseers (bishops), deacons, evangelists, and teachers (Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11). Overseers are otherwise called elders or pastors (See Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:2). Elders have the great responsibility to shepherd or care for the local church of which they belong (1 Pet. 5:1-4). They are to also provide spiritual leadership (Heb. 13:7, 17). In addition, they must guard the church against false teachers and their evil influence (Acts 20:28-31). Yet, as important as their role is in the local church, they must not ever exercise dominion or control over members, as if they were lords or masters. Like the apostles, elders must understand that Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Master: “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). Though elders are shepherds over the church of God, they, like the apostles, are our equals in the Lord (Gal. 3:28). No elder has the right to rule in a domineering way in which he browbeats or strong-arms members to obey. No elder has the authority to arbitrarily make rules for members to follow. No one, save Jesus Christ, has the right to “lord it over us” and rule over our lives.

No One (Save Christ) Should Be Regarded as “Lord” nor Followed as “Lord.” Though we may readily confess Jesus as our only Lord and Master, we still need to guard ourselves from putting any man or woman on a pedestal. This occurs, for example, when men elevate themselves through titles of honor or prestige that they hold for themselves. Jesus addressed this problem in His rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees: “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ” (Mat. 23:6-10). Similarly, in modern times, titles such as reverend, pastor, minister, or “discipler” have been given to men to elevate them over others. Whenever such an honoring of men occurs, whether titles are used or not, there is great risk of such men becoming proud and “lording it over” others. This results in the negative effect of disciples of Christ becoming disciples of men over time.

How Do We Keep Christ as Our Only Master and Lord in Life?

#1 The will of Jesus is always put above the will of man (Mat. 10:37; 15:7-9; Col. 2:8). Sometimes people will tell us to do things that go against the will of Christ. Family wishes, traditions, and the advice of men may seem wise and beneficial, but if it goes against God’s word and we follow it, we are not respecting Christ as our Lord: “And why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I say?” Jesus asks (Luke 6:46). A true disciple of the Lord will seek to know His will as revealed in the Scriptures (Eph. 5:17) and do everything by His authority (Col. 3:17). He will “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10).

#2 Our primary motive for obedience is to please the Lord, not men. Sometimes, in the busyness of obedience, we may, if we are not careful, take our focus off of Christ and put it on to men. If we think more about gaining the approval of men instead of Christ, something is seriously wrong at heart (John 12:42-43). To be a true servant of Christ, we must always maintain that number one goal to please Him, above and beyond our desire to please men: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

#3 Let no one tell you that God’s grace in Christ is a license to sin. To believe such a lie is a sure way to deny the Lord and become a slave of sin all over again (See Jude 4; Rom. 16:18). Instead of making sin your master, deny every form of ungodliness and worldly desire in your response to the grace of God (See Titus 2:11-12).

#4 When looking to the example of others, only follow Christ-like qualities. As much as we may admire certain brethren or value a friendship or leader, we must never allow ourselves to go to the extreme in our loyalty or devotion toward others. The imitation of others is noble only when such characteristics we imitate are Christ-like in quality. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1; See also 1 Cor. 4:16-17).

Seek a Church of the Truth

2006-10-31T12:07:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15, NKJV). The church (God’s people - Acts 2:47; Heb. 12:23) is “the house of God” where “the living God” dwells. Characteristic of God’s church are people who are “of the truth.”

In seeking a local church with whom to work and worship, a person should desire only a church that is “of the truth,” meaning committed to following the word of God (John 17:17). It is important to compare what they believe and practice with what is taught in God’s word. This requires a willingness on our part to search the Scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11). There are many different local churches to choose from today. Yet, no one should settle for anything less than a church that stands for the truth.

The local church has the duty to be the “ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) or the firm, steadfast support of it. The church must be unyielding, uncompromising, and unwavering in her commitment to the truth. The church must remain strong and steady in the truth so that when the “storms” of false teaching blow against it, it will not be shaken nor collapse, but continue to be a church of God. Many churches have forsaken this duty and as a result have been overtaken by worldliness. The opinions of men, man-made traditions or philosophies, social or secular agendas, and the low standards of morality in the world have captivated many local churches leading them into apostasy (Col. 2:8). Such churches are not of the truth and should be rejected.

The local church also has the duty to be “the pillar of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Pillars are for holding up the roof of a building, but they also serve the purpose of keeping it up high. This, in effect, makes it visible for all to see, even from far away. Thus, the church has the duty to hold the truth up high, so that the world may see and hear it. This requires members of the church to not only preach the truth to others (1 Thess. 1:8), but also obey the truth themselves so that they may be a good example for the world to see, “like a city set on a hill” (Mat. 5:14). Every church should take this God given duty very seriously. When seeking a local church that you can join yourself to (e.g., Acts 9:26), devotion to the truth by her members should be of the utmost importance.

It is absolutely essential for every church to be a “pillar and ground of the truth,” for the truth is the very foundation of the church! “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). Notice that the church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” The foundation they laid was the truth or the word of God they preached (Eph. 3:3-5). The spiritual health and life of a church depends on its foundation. If truth is not the foundation, it is not a church of God.

Just as the truth is the foundation of the church, so also is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), who represents the truth (John 1:14; Rev. 19:13) and bears witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus is in fact, the most important aspect to the foundation. He is “the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20) because the whole building or church rests upon Him. A local church that is truly a church of Christ will be built upon “the Rock,” on Jesus and the words that He taught (Mat. 7:24-27).

In your search for a local church, don’t just look for something “new” and “different.” Instead, look for a church that conducts herself as “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Competition in the Local Church

2006-10-31T11:44:00.001-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And they came to Capernaum; and when He [Jesus] was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all’” (Mark 9:33-35, NASB).

The discussion that the twelve disciples had on the way to Capernaum is not an uncommon one today, even among disciples of Christ (though usually an unspoken one). Sadly, there are members of the Lord’s church that ask this same question today: “Which one of us is the greatest?” Though brethren may not think exactly in those terms, the spirit of competitiveness nevertheless exists in many local churches across the land.

The twelve disciples were supposed to be acting as a team, as brothers in God’s family, as fellow servants of the Lord. Instead, they were more concerned about their rank, status, or position in the kingdom: Who is “first”!?! The disciples had the benefit of spending time with Jesus who demonstrated humility and service. They received first hand instruction from the Lord on how to walk righteously. Yet, they disputed among themselves who is the greatest! The disciples’ behavior appears very childish and ridiculous. Their conduct was very shallow, beneath of how true disciples of Jesus should conduct themselves.

Lest we judge the twelve too harshly or hypocritically, we must examine ourselves by the same standard of judgment with absolute honesty (Mat. 7:1-5). What about own attitudes and behavior in the local church? Are we, in any way, shape, or form, being competitive in the Lord’s church? Are we overly concerned about who is “the greatest”?

Many of us cheer for our favorite sports teams, enjoy the competitiveness of the sports arena, and argue for which team is the greatest. Most sport activities can be beneficial in teaching the importance of leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship (i.e., fairness in following the rules of the game). We can recognize that leadership, teamwork, and “following the rules” (the law of Christ) is also important in the local church (Heb. 13:7, 17; Eph. 4:16; Col. 3:17). Yet, should there be also be a competition among brethren? Not according to the Scriptures.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21). Every local church should aim to give God the glory for everything they do (1 Cor. 10:31). This is expressed not only by the songs we sing or the prayers we pray, but also by our attitudes, behavior, and how we treat one another. When the goal is to glorify God or magnify His greatness, the issue of who is “the greatest” (in a competitive sense) becomes irrelevant.

We must learn to view our accomplishments in God’s service in the proper way. Whenever we achieve spiritual goals, improve in our character toward godliness, lead a person to Christ, or gain a victory over sin, etc. we need to remember to always give God the glory or “boast in the Lord” only (1 Cor. 1:31; See also 1 Cor. 3:6-7; 15:56-57). We need to always remember that we are merely God’s instruments who uses us to accomplish His purposes. Paul’s attitude is a good one for us to imitate: “Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed” (Rom 15:17-18). When observing the abilities and accomplishments of others, instead of being jealous, we should rejoice for them and pray that their talents and achievements may abound even more to the glory of God (1 Cor. 12:26; Phil. 1:9-11). In whatever role or part we fulfill in the Lord’s church, we must, in all things, give the glory to God: “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).

Let us not behave like Diotrophes, who loved to be “first” among brethren (3 John 9-11) and act as if we are in competition with one another. Too many local churches have been torn apart because of a lust for power and “greatness” by certain brethren. Far too many gospel preachers have, out of jealousy or envy, worked against each other instead of worked together to accomplish the work of God (e.g., Phil. 1:15-17). Even some pastors or elders have developed a competitive spirit among themselves in which the eldership turns into a “popularity contest.” The desire to be “first” is given greater concern than the work of the church and the shepherding or caring of the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:1-3).

If we truly want to be great in the sight of God, let us not go about it in a competitive manner nor look to the world’s definition of greatness (Mark 10:35-42). Instead, let us remember what Jesus said on what it means to be first or great: “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). A Christian who want to be great must humble himself and become the servant of others (Mat. 23:11-12). God sees greatness in us when we act selflessly and put others before ourselves, just as Christ did (Phil. 2:3-5ff.). Rather than expect to be served, crave the limelight, or desire the glory given by men, let us imitate our Savior who demonstrated true greatness: “And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’” (Mark 10:42-45).

The Urgency of Obedience

2006-10-31T11:44:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Most everyone claims to be extremely busy today. Matters in which we consider "urgent" and "important" consume a lot of our time in life. Yet, regrettably, our obedience to God is oftentimes viewed as important, but not urgent. As a result, other matters in life are given more importance than they deserve, even above our spiritual needs and duties. To determine what is most important in life, we must go to God's word. Once we learn to put that which is most important first, we will learn to also regard spiritual matters as urgent.

Consider the many demands in life that we consider both urgent and important: Daily meals - Everyday, we must eat food to sustain our strength and health. Hunger comes everyday and therefore preparing meals is a continual, urgent matter, a pressing necessity that cannot be delayed for too long. Medical emergencies - When sickness strikes either ourselves or our family members, we have to take action fairly quickly to nurse ourselves back to health (especially small children). When there is a major illness or injury, it is an urgent matter to seek medical attention immediately. Duties related to work and school - Pressure is placed upon us by our employer to be on time and get the job done. We are compelled to work in order to provide for our families. Young people must attend school and come on time. Homework, tests, and deadlines are given which must be met to succeed. A mechanical failure at work or at home that must be fixed promptly - If machinery breaks down or the computer crashes, repair is often an urgent matter in order to fulfill the day's work agenda. If at home we have trouble with our plumbing, electrical system, heating and cooling, stove refrigerator, etc. it must be taken care of quickly. Such demands often act on us in such a way to motivate us to action. Not only are they important, but they are very urgent, therefore we are called to action to fulfill these needs and duties in life.

As Christians, we readily recognize the importance of fulfilling God's commands, yet we often do not treat our obedience as an urgent matter. We understand we must do the good God has told us to do, yet we too often "forget" to do it, treating it not as urgent. "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb 13:16, NKJ). We know that no sin must continue in life, lest we fall away from God. Yet, we do not see sin as an urgent and daily danger to avoid. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:12-13, NKJ). Do brethren today truly recognize that our fight against sin and our duty to do good is an urgent matter of pressing importance? We neglect our salvation when we do not treat our obedience as an urgent matter (Heb. 2:1-3).

We often assume we have plenty of time to obey God and therefore lack a sense of urgency in our readiness for the Judgment day. Like the five virgins who did not bring oil in readiness for the bridegroom (Mat. 25:1-13), we act like fools when we believe we can wait until the last minute to prepare for the Judgment! God's word declares that when we live life without a sense of urgency in our obedience to God that we are spiritually "asleep" and need to "wake up"! "And this do (obey the law of God vs. 8-10 - ML), knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Rom. 13:11-14, NASB).

Let us remember that the commands of God will not stir us to action without personal faith in God's word. Unlike hunger, medical needs, job or school responsibilities, etc., the commands of God do not seem to immediately press upon us. At least not by external forces. We can procrastinate in fulfilling God's will and most of the time there are no immediate consequences that we suffer. Unfortunately, for many people, there is the rationalization that we can delay obedience and that we have plenty of time to change our ways and make improvements for God. The commandments of God do not motivate some to action because they do not take God's word seriously. Only by receiving God's word with genuine faith will it stir us to obedience. Hebrews 4:1-2 says "Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard" (NASB). When we truly believe in what God says, our hearts will be convicted and we will be firmly persuaded to urgently obey the will of God. Though obedience may not seem urgent, it is in actuality a very urgent matter! (2 Peter 3:10-13).

Let us beware of the fact that many times we allow others to define for us what is important and urgent. Unwittingly, we may allow the world to set our priorities for us and a love for worldly things develops (1 John 2:15-16). The news media, entertainment, sports, and recreation are viewed of greater importance than they actually are and may control us as a result becoming our "master" (1 Cor. 6:12). Non-Christians may negatively influence our lives more than we realize to the point that we do not place priority on prayer, Bible study, good works and holiness as we once did (1 Cor. 15:33).

Frequently, we waste too much time in areas that are neither important nor urgent (sometimes even sinful!) such as TV or movie watching, reading newspapers and magazines, playing video games, surfing the Internet, engaging in gossip, shopping and buying things just for the fun of it, involving ourselves in hobbies or the collection of things that become almost an obsession, etc. Sin, such as gossip or covetousness, must of course cease. Yet, even those activities that appear morally neutral can become wrong or sinful when they are treated as more important and urgent than doing the will of God. In daily living, we must strive to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Mat. 6:33). This requires that we put God and His will above all other "urgent" matters as defined by the world (John 6:26-29) and redeem or make the most of our time each day in the service of the Lord (Eph. 5:15-17).

Putting that which is most important in life first is essential to spiritual fulfillment. No child of God should have regrets at the end of life and say "I wish I would have put first things first" (e.g. Bible study, prayer, serving, giving, marriage, parenting, evangelism, spiritual growth, victory over sin, etc.). God's will must be given priority now! Give your best to God right now. Treat prayer and Bible study as important and urgent, for they are preventive measures against committing sin (Mat. 26:41; 1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 6:17). Remember the importance and urgency of long range planning of spiritual goals and good deeds that you want to accomplish in your service to God (2 Pet. 1:4-11; 1 Thes. 4:1). Take the time to encourage others and talk honestly and openly with family members, brethren in Christ, and others. This should be regarded as important as well as urgent (1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 3:12-14; 10:24-25; Eph. 4:25). Your diligent commitment to the work and worship of the Lord should always be considered both important and urgent. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58, NKJ). Our obedience to God is an important and urgent matter to attend to so we will always be ready for the Judgment day when our Lord and Savior returns.

Do You Really Believe the Bible Is the Word of God?

2006-10-31T11:37:00.001-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thess 2:13, NASB). Paul commended the Christians at Thessalonica for accepting the message that was preached to them “for what it really is, the word of God” instead of mere words of men. Could you be given such a complement?

Many people today claim to believe that the Bible is God’s word, but their response to the Bible says otherwise. By the beliefs they hold and the lifestyle they live, they do not really believe that the Bible is God’s word. For if they did, they would take it much more seriously and perform the good works that God commands in Scripture.

More and more “scholars” and theologians today are denying that the Bible is an inspired book. Although they may teach that Bible writers were influenced by God, they do not respect every word in Scripture as the actual words of God. Their perspective of the Bible has had a negative effect on the people, so much so, that many people do not revere the Bible as God’s book to follow today.

To believe that the Bible is truly God’s word is to understand the meaning of inspiration.
2 Timothy 3:16 declares: “All Scripture is inspired by God” (NASB). “Inspired” (theopeustes) means God (theo) breated (pneo). Therefore, all Scripture is God inspired or God breathed! God Himself “breathed through” the Bible writers that spoke for Him! The breath of God is parallel to the word of the Lord (Ps. 33:6). Commonly, “scholars” will speak of what Moses, Isaiah, John, Paul, Peter, etc. wrote (or said) as if they themselves came up with the words we read in Scripture! The assertion is, God gave them an idea or a concept and then they themselves chose the words to say. Such an understanding of Scripture demonstrates an ignorance of how inspiration works.

Consider how the prophets and apostles (writers of the Bible) got the words for the writing of Scripture. A genuine prophet was a “mouth” of the Lord. The actual words of God were placed in his mouth, not merely an idea placed in his mind: “I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Deut 18:18, NASB). Notice that God Himself choose the words to say, not the prophet. (See also Amos 3:7; 7:14-17; Micah 3:8). The same was true for the apostles. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all the truth, giving them words which came from God (John 14:26; 16:13-14; 1 Pet. 1:10-12). The apostles spoke the words the Holy Spirit directed them to speak (e.g., Acts 2:1-4). The apostles never preached a man-made wisdom or words which they themselves chose, but only the exact words taught by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:6-13). “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (1 Cor. 2:12-13, NASB).

The inspiration of Scripture is a wonderful blessing for us, for not only is the Bible God’s word, but when we read it we can understand it! “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” (Eph. 3:3-5, NASB). The purpose of the inspiration of Scripture was not to confuse us with words too high and complex for our comprehension, but to supply us with words that even the common man can understand. As a result, we can know God’s will for our lives (Eph. 5:17).

Thankfully, man’s opinions or personal interpretations (i.e., explanations as to the meaning) are not involved in prophecy or in the writing of Scripture: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:20-21, NASB). This means that we can have the assurance that the Bible is purely and solely from the mind of God. We can be confident that the Bible is God’s will for us today (1 Pet. 1:23-25).

We can plainly recognize that the inspiration of Scripture is not a mere emotion that moves a person to write a story or paint a painting. The inspiration of Scripture is so much more! The Bible contains the words of God! If we really believe that the Bible is God’s word, we will not shun it or try to change it, but we will respect it, learn it, and follow it carefully in life (2 Pet. 3:15-18).

Obeying the Gospel from the Heart

2006-10-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom 6:17-18, NASB). As important as the doctrine “salvation by grace through faith” is in the Roman letter (e.g., Rom. 3:22-24), obedience to the gospel is also emphasized as essential to gaining eternal life (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Indeed, genuine faith in Christ will be demonstrated by our obedience to God (James 2:14-26).

The Scriptures make it clear that the gospel not only stands for the good news of Jesus Christ concerning His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4), but also the word of God or the truth (Eph. 1:13; John 17:17) or the entire law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21). Everyone will be held accountable by God on whether or not they obeyed the gospel on Judgment day (2 Thes. 1:8).
Obeying the gospel necessarily involves the plan of salvation or the conditions one must meet to become a Christian. After a person has heard God’s word with a good and honest heart (Rom. 10:17; Luke 8:15), that person will have faith in Christ. Belief in Jesus is essential for salvation (Acts 16:31). True faith will lead a person to repent of his sins, confess Jesus as Lord, and be baptized into Christ as commanded in Scripture (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). All of these conditions must be met to become a Christian and receive all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:27).

In Romans 6:17 (see passage above), the apostle Paul reminded the saints at Rome of their prior obedience to the gospel when they first became Christians. Their obedience was not a mere symbolic ritual or show, but a sincere act of faith that came “from the heart.” “Heart obedience” must be important, for Paul, who was inspired by God, emphasizes it and also gives thanks to God for it. Clearly, conversion to Christ or our salvation is not a passive event, but a conscious choice that a person makes, a decision that comes from the heart.Obedience from the heart has always been important to God. We cannot expect to please the Lord by obeying His commandments if our heart “is not in it.” Without sincerity and true dedication of ourselves to God, we are merely “going through the motions” and fail to gladden or delight the heart of God. When the heart is absent, our worship of God is worthless and we play the hypocrite (Mat. 15:7-9). Only true or genuine obedience will do and such obedience must come from the heart (e.g., 1 Pet. 1:22).

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines the heart (kardia), in part, as “the center and seat of spiritual life” and “the fountain and seat of the thoughts.” Therefore, when we obey from the heart we are truly and fully devoted to God in our service to Him! Our thoughts, which stem from the heart, are held “captive to the obedience of Christ” and every bad attitude, evil motive, doubt, and falsehood is destroyed or put away (See 2 Cor. 10:5). Obedience from the heart means we are whole-heartedly sincere and serious about serving God, not frivolous, superficial, or vain.
Sometimes people obey the gospel in order to please men or obey without true conviction or belief in what they are doing and why. This is not true obedience! When we obey God, let us always remember that this is the way we express our love for Him: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mat. 22:37); "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

What again did the saints at Rome obey from the heart? The gospel, yet more specifically “that form of teaching to which [they] were committed” (Rom. 6:17). The form of teaching that they obeyed refers to the exact pattern of teaching that they conformed themselves to: The genuine gospel of Jesus Christ! They did not obey something that sort of represented the gospel or followed a substitute for the original (as some people do today - Gal. 1:6-9), they obeyed God’s gospel to become genuine Christians. Genuine Christians conform to the pattern of Jesus Christ who “died to sin, once for all” who also was “raised from the dead” and now “lives to God” (Rom. 6:9-10). Like Christ, true Christians “consider [themselves] to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).

When we commit ourselves to the exact pattern of the gospel and obey it from the heart as the Christians at Rome did, we not only are forgiven of all our sins (Acts 2:38), but we also deliver ourselves to God to become His servants: “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom 6:17-18). Obeying the gospel from the heart means that we have chosen to be a slave of sin no longer. Now freed from sin as our master, we choose to be slaves of righteousness which results in eternal life (Rom. 6:22-23).

1st Century Christianity in The 21st Century

2006-10-31T11:23:00.001-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

To practice 1st century Christianity in the 21st century seems like "mission impossible" to many people today. Some have doubts that the ancient practices of Christians can be repeated in modern times. Others question whether we should even try, as if it wasn't important. The New Testament writings that record the beginnings and history of the church (e.g., the book of Acts) and the beliefs and teachings of the church are often belittled as "out of date" and too archaic to apply to the people of the 21st century.

The attitudes described above explain, at least in part, the reason why there are so many different churches and denominations with different beliefs and practices today. When people do not follow the original pattern or example of Christianity as revealed in the New Testament, division and a multitude of religious groups inevitably follows. When people doubt the original "blueprint" (i.e., the New Testament) and put their confidence instead in man-made creeds, traditions, and the wisdom of men, something other than genuine Christianity will be established (Col. 2:8; Mat. 15:14; 16:18).

Let us all be encouraged to know from the word of God that 1st century Christianity can be practiced in the 21st century! 1 Peter 1:24-25 should remove all skepticism: "For, 'All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord abides forever... '" The Scriptures are timeless, applying to every generation. Rather than a dead or stale document, the Scriptures are just as "living and powerful" today as they were in the first century and thus very relevant to our modern age (Heb. 4:12). The Scriptures still have value today of helping "the man of God" to be "perfect" or complete spiritually in every way (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The best and only way to know how people became Christians in the first century is to study the New Testament. Belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God was the first essential step (Acts 16:31). Next, people were required to repent or turn away from their sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and confess their faith in Jesus (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10). Finally, people were then ready to become Christians by being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27). Baptism clearly requires an immersion in water (See Acts 8:37-39; Mark 1:10). For centuries, immersion has been viewed as a radical, disgraceful, and improper practice that goes against the tradition of sprinkling. An immersion in water may seem strange to people in modern times, however, immersion (baptism) it is only way to be "buried with Jesus" (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12) and as a result, gain forgiveness of sins and salvation (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). Once a person is baptized into Christ, they are now a part of the Lord's church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Heb. 12:22-23).

Christians, according to the New Testament, organized into collective, local bodies of Christians or churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16). Each local church was to have a plurality of elders (not just one, Acts 14:23) who provided oversight and leadership (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). The rule of elders (also called pastors or bishops, Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1) was limited only to the specific local church they were a part of (1 Pet. 5:1-2). Also, each local church was to have deacons who served the church (Acts 6:1-6; Phil. 1:1). Evangelists, otherwise called preachers or ministers, simply preached God's word (Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2, 5). Each and every member was to contribute their talents in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 12:12-27; Rom. 12:4-8).

The organization of local churches in the first century was very simple compared to the often complicated structure and dangerous arrangements that men devise today. Compare the New Testament pattern with, for example, the system of Catholicism in which there is only one pastor or "priest" that rules over a local church. These priests are then subject to a higher office called a bishop who is in charge of many local churches. The bishops then submit to just one man called the Pope. "Protestant" denominations also deviate from the New Testament plan by having only one pastor over a local church. Each local church submits to the decisions and decrees made by the leadership of the denomination. These man-made organizations and positions of leadership (e.g., church associations, general conferences, councils, church presidents, etc.) take way church autonomy and independence. This deviation from the New Testament Scriptures has led to widespread error in churches and an abuse of power and authority. If only people would follow the New Testament model for the church, then every local church will be set up the way the Lord intended, thus bringing glory to God, not men.

The work of the church in the first century was also much more simple than what typically takes place in modern times. The three major works of the local church were: (1) Evangelism or teaching the lost (Mat. 28:18-20; Phil. 4:15-18); (2) Edification or building up one another through the word of God (Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:16); (3) Benevolence toward needy Christians only (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 11:27-30; 1 Tim. 5:16).

In contrast, men today want to add to the work of the church and broaden its mission. Many churches today are engaged in all kinds of works that God did not assign such as a "ministry of recreation," world or community benevolence, maintaining orphan homes, and political crusades. Such works were not the work of the church in the first century, though certainly these types of works individual Christians could do (Gal. 6:10; James 1:27). By keeping the work of the church simple in conformity to the New Testament Scriptures, we not only please God, but we eliminate works that distract us, allowing us to remain focused on the spiritual, on what is most important for us to do as a congregation.

The worship of the church in the first century was also very simple and thus is entirely possible for us to repeat today. Since Christians are commanded to assemble themselves together for worship (Heb. 10:24-25), there must of necessity be an adequate place for worship. Contrary to popular belief, a church does not have to meet in an official "church building" or some kind of fancy, cathedral with stain glass windows. A church may assemble for worship in a variety of places, provided it is lawful and expedient (1 Cor. 6:12). In the first century, and even the second, it was common for local churches to meet together for worship in private residences or member's homes. For example, the New Testament records the early Christians assembling in the homes of Priscilla and Aquila (Rom. 16:3-5), Gaius (Rom. 16:23), and Nympha at Laodicea (Col. 4:15).

Christians in the first century assembled together on the first day of the week to engage in five major acts of worship: Hearing the doctrine of the apostles (i.e., Christ) through preaching, partaking of the Lord’s supper, prayer, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Eph. 5:19), and giving of their means towards the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 16:1-2), a spiritual sacrifice (See Heb. 13:15-16; Phil. 4:18; 1 Pet. 2:5). They did not burn incense, light decorated lampstands, nor use mechanical instruments like some churches do today. Such practices passed away with the Old Law or Old Testament (Col. 2:13-16; Heb. 8:6-13). Some churches try to “improve” worship by providing entertainment such as concerts, bands, theater, and the like. Yet, to please the Lord, only worship that is according to the New Testament pattern or the truth will do (John 4:23-24). The spiritual simplicity of worship during the first century can most definitely be practiced today.

To simply be Christians, in character, in conduct, in everything we do, we must be willing to "go back to the first century"- to the original pattern for Christianity as found in the New Testament Scriptures. Our aim should be to please the Lord as well as honor Him by respecting His authority: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17, NASB). To be genuine Christians, let us demonstrate our faith in Christ and our love for Him by doing what He says as recorded in the Scriptures (Luke 6:46; John 12:48; 14:15; Eph. 3:3-5; James 2:14-26). Let us prove ourselves to be real Christians indeed, living in the 21st century (Mat. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16).

That's Just Your Interpretation

2006-10-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

That’s just your interpretation! How many times has someone said that to you when you attempted to teach them the truth from the Scriptures? Rather than take the message of truth to heart, it is quickly dismissed as merely your opinion and not taken seriously at all.
If you have ever heard this before, you know that it is sort of like “hitting a brick wall.” Further discussion of the truth with such a person can be very difficult. The potential for meaningful Bible study is not very promising.

What Is Your Interpretation? The best way to begin in your response to someone who says: “That’s just your interpretation” is to hand the passage over to them and ask for their interpretation. An interpretation in Bible study is simply an explanation of the meaning of a particular passage of Scripture. Rather than be discouraged and give up, make this offer instead: “I am willing to hear your interpretation and correct my own position if I am wrong. What is it?” This demonstrates fairness as well as humility, both which are necessary for Bible study (Prov. 18:12-13). Be open-minded and willing to hear any evidence that they might have for their beliefs and practices. Just as we hope for positive change in the people we teach, we too must demonstrate a willingness to change our own beliefs and practices when we are corrected (e.g., Acts 18:24-26).

Speak in Terms of Evidence: When making the offer to listen to other people’s interpretation of Scripture, be sure to include this request: “You must have evidence to support your interpretation over mine. What is it?” Before allowing an exchange of interpretations to take place, it is important to come to a mutual agreement that true, saving faith is based on the evidence or the teaching of the Scriptures. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

We must speak of the importance of providing book, chapter, and verse for the beliefs that we hold (1 Pet. 4:11; Col. 3:17). We must emphasize that a fair hearing must be given to all that God has said on the matter to get a proper understanding of God’s will. When studying any subject, “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) should be sought in the pursuit for the truth. Passages must be examined in its proper context. Concordances and Hebrew or Greek Bible dictionaries are very helpful to gather even more evidence.

No Legitimate Interpretations? Sometimes people reject the truth because they are convinced that no interpretation of Scripture can be relied on as the truth. Many are convinced that every interpretation involves man’s opinions and thus everything is spun, biased, or slanted to favor a particular doctrine, practice, or personal viewpoint.

Let us admit the fact that there are indeed many interpretations of Scripture offered today that are according to man’s opinions that must be rejected (2 Pet. 3:15-17). However, not all interpretations are false. There are real differences between interpretations. Many will lead to eternal destruction, yet only the truth will lead to eternal life (Mat. 7:13-14).

Finding the truth requires a recognition that there is ultimately only one right interpretation of the Scriptures. There is only one faith (Eph. 4:5; Jude 3) or one truth (John 8:32; 17:17) that God has revealed to us. God has promised us that we can know what the truth is (1 Tim. 2:4; Eph. 3:4). These facts ought to bring hope to the skeptic who says there are no legitimate interpretations.

Will Any Interpretation of Scripture Do? Sometimes people take the opposite extreme and declare that though there is only one faith or truth, it is too confusing or difficult to find. Many people, in response to the multitude of religious groups and doctrines, conclude that almost any interpretation will do. Rather than rule out certain religious beliefs on the basis of Scripture, there is the desire to respect every belief as equal in merit or legitimacy. Many people want to “just get along” and do not want to debate or discuss their differences. The preferred “solution” of many is to just choose the interpretation that personally suits you best and call that “the truth.”

Some Interpretations Are Better or More Plausible Than Others: The answer to any confusion or challenge that we may have in searching for the truth is not to choose just any interpretation of Scripture! Imagine the trouble we would have in our lives if we handled all of our decisions this way. For example, would we be willing to randomly choose a marriage partner? Would we choose just any car to drive or any house to live in? Would any of us be willing to invest our hard earned savings into just any type of investment? When we are sick, would we decide that just any medicine or treatment will make us well? Of course not! In making any important decision in life, to choose wisely requires that we learn all that we can about the issue or problem that is at hand. The same is true in deciding what we should believe and practice in religion from the Scriptures.

So which interpretation of Scripture should one choose? To sift through the interpretations that are possible and decide on only one requires that we accept the interpretation that is most plausible, probable, or credible. Rather than foolishly accept just any interpretation of Scripture, let us choose the one that provides the most evidence (e.g., true to the context of the passage, in harmony with parallel passages on the same subject, true to the actual meaning of Bible words, etc.). “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).

God Provides Us with Rules for Interpretation: Thankfully, God provides us with some assistance on how to interpret the Scriptures right in the Word itself! The Lord gives us the help we need to determine the truth for what we are to believe and practice in religion. There are four major rules He provides: (1) Direct statements or commands we must obey (e.g., John 14:15; 2 Pet. 3:1-2); (2) Divinely approved examples we are to follow (e.g., 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 3:17; Acts 2:42); (3) Necessary implications, meaning conclusions we can make from what is implied in Scripture (e.g., Mat. 22:41-46); (4) Respect for the silence of God, meaning we restrict ourselves to what God has revealed in the Scriptures to determine His will (Deut. 29:29). We do not add to it nor take away from it (Rev. 22:18-19). Let us all be true to God and respect His word in the interpretation of the Scriptures.

Speaking the Truth in Love

2006-10-31T10:49:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15, NASB). What does it mean to speak the truth in love? Is it just a matter of speaking in a loving manner in which our voice sounds “loving” to the human ear? Some have simplified it to mean that whenever we speak the truth then we are in effect showing love. Others have explained it to mean that whenever we speak in a loving way then we in effect stand for the truth. There are differences of opinion to be sure, yet what does the Bible say how we shall “speak the truth in love”?

What Is the Truth?

The context of Ephesians 4:15 reveals that “the truth” is “the one faith” (Eph. 4:4-5) or “the faith” (Eph. 4:13). “The faith” stands for the Gospel (Phil. 1:27), the Gospel stands for the truth (Eph. 1:13), and the truth stands for the word of God (John 17:17). Therefore, to “speak the truth” is to speak that which is true or correct, namely the word of God, instead of false doctrine (Eph. 4:14) or that which is contrary to God’s word. Our speech should always be truthful and honest (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9), yet “speaking the truth” in Ephesians 4:15 has to do with our speaking the word of God.

What Is Love?

Love in Accordance to Truth: To speak the truth in love, we ought to know what love is. The love we practice should be in agreement to the truth we speak. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9). The love we are to abound in is not mere excitement or sentimental emotion. We are to love according to “real knowledge” of the will of God. We love intelligently using proper judgment or “all discernment.”

Seeking the Highest Good for Others: The word “love” (Eph. 4:15; Phil. 1:9) comes from the Greek word agape. Agape is love that seeks the highest good for others, only doing what is good and best for each person. Thus, love is about helping others, not harming them (Rom. 13:9b-10). Love involves serving others (Gal. 5:13) and making personal sacrifices for them (John 15:13). Certainly, to speak “the truth” to our neighbors is to love them, for the truth or the Gospel has the power for salvation for everyone who believes! (Rom. 1:16).

Not a Worldly Kind of Love: Let us not confuse love with the concept the world has of love. The world tends to think of love merely as a “warm-fuzzy” feeling or affectionate gesture. The world teaches that when you are made to feel good, then you are being loved. Yet, from a biblical standpoint, that isn’t always the case! “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy” (Prov. 27:6). To be made to feel good, to be comforted, or to receive affection by another isn’t always being loved. “Kisses” or feel good sayings may be comforting and pleasurable for the moment, but may in fact be deceitful. An enemy will tell you what you want to hear and not what you need to hear (the truth). False teachers, no matter how sincere they may be, are in effect “enemies” who hand out “kisses” when you need to be “wounded” instead. They aim to entertain and “tickle your ears” instead of preach the whole truth (2 Tim. 4:2-5). In contrast, a true friend is willing to “wound” you by speaking the truth: Wound your pride, admonish you, correct you, even reprove or rebuke you if necessary in order to help you grow spiritually and overcome your sin. That is true love! It is not always easy to speak the truth, yet if we truly love our neighbor as ourselves, we will not condone their sin, but instead teach them the truth so that they might be saved: “[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6).

How Do We Speak the Truth in Love?

Speak the Truth from the Motive of Love: “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:14). Speaking the truth is no exception! Just because a person speaks the truth does not mean that his or her motive is good and right. For instance, Paul did not rejoice over the envy and strife of certain preachers, but only in the fact that they preached the truth or “Christ” (Phil. 1:12-18).

Our motives for what we do are very important to God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mat. 5:8; e.g., Mat. 6:1-6). Speaking the truth should not be done out of pride, bitter jealousy, or selfish ambition (James 3:13-14). The truth should not be spoken from unfeeling, unloving harsh critics and judges who merely enjoy making people feel bad. Instead, we speak the truth because we truly love the people we are speaking to and care about the salvation of their souls, much like the apostle Paul and his love for the brethren at Corinth: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you” (2 Cor. 2:4). Speaking the truth from the motive of love is absolutely essential to pleasing the Lord (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

Speaking the Truth Appropriately: “Speaking the truth in love” requires speaking His word in the proper manner. Namely, our speech should “always be with grace” (Col. 4:6). To speak with grace is to speak graciously meaning with kindness, courtesy, and compassion. The way we speak ought to reflect the fact that we are Christians! (Col. 3:12-14). Truth spoken with grace can be effective in persuading and teaching others the will of God. “The wise in heart will be called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness” (Prov. 16:21; cf. 16:24). Love is not only about what we say (the truth), but how we say it!

Speech “with grace” also means to give grace to those who hear us speak (Col. 4:6). This means that what we say should benefit them spiritually. When we speak the truth, we should strive to meet the spiritual needs of each particular person (Eph. 4:29). To accomplish this, timeliness or tact should also be used. Wise discretion and consideration of others is important in determining when the most appropriate time to speak the truth is. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Prov. 25:11).

As God’s children, let us commit ourselves to accomplishing His will by “speaking the truth in love” as He commands (Eph. 4:15).

The Importance of Moral Consistency

2006-10-31T10:34:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10, NASB). From the perspective of God, any type of sin that we choose to commit is a disrespect of His authority, no matter how well we have done to keep other laws or commandments of God. Sin or lawlessness is always a demonstration of disobedience to His will. Sin will always separate us from God and lead to eternal death if we continue in it and do not repent (Isa. 59:2; Rom. 6:23; Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).

While we may readily admit that any type of sin can condemn our soul to Hell (if not repented of) we still have a tendency to categorize sin. In Catholicism, there is a special warning against the “Seven Deadly Sins” or “Cardinal Sins” (i.e., Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and laziness). Even Christians tend to elevate certain kinds of sins as more devastating to us spiritually than others (e.g., adultery vs. lying, forsaking the assemblies vs. covetousness, etc.). James, the servant of God, rebuked the brethren for such an attitude: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10-11).

To treat some parts of the law of Christ seriously and other parts of the law as minor, trivial, or inconsequential is moral inconsistency. As common as this practice may be, it is a grave mistake for any servant of God to make and therefore must be remedied.

Why the Tendency to Be Inconsistent?

We Often View Sin from a Personal Standpoint, Rather Than by the Standpoint of God: In our fight against sin, we are often more quick to address those sins that are personally troublesome or offensive to us. For many, there is self-centeredness instead of God-centeredness when evaluating sin. Depending on a person’s background, one may, for example, be more troubled by the sins of sexual lust, homosexuality, and the drinking of alcohol than perhaps greed, gambling, or the neglect of prayer. In addition, we frequently place a higher value on certain laws of Christ over others because we personally enjoy keeping them (e.g., singing vs. Bible study; hospitality vs. evangelism).

To combat the above tendencies, we need to develop a heart for God in all matters of life.
Rather than be angry or sorrowful over just those sins that personally affect us or personally offend us, we must learn to view sin as God does. “Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor…” (Hab. 1:13a). “For Thou art not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with Thee” (Ps. 5:4).

In addition, we must learn to grieve as God grieves over all the sins that we commit. Consider the fact that our sin causes sorrow to the heart of God: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph 4:30-31). Awareness that our sin is against God (Ps. 51:4) and that our sin grieves Him ought to cause sorrow in our own hearts, we who have love for the Lord. Such sorrow is essential in producing a repentance that leads to our eternal salvation (2 Cor 7:9-10).

There Are Sins or Pleasures People Do not Want to Give Up: Another reason for moral inconsistency is that many people do not want to give up their most favorite sins or pleasurable activities. For example, a person may be quick to take the moral high ground against using profanity in his speech (Eph. 4:29), yet at the same time continually partake of television shows and movies that contain cursing, swearing, and other foul language. In another example, a person may do well to pay his taxes and strive to be a law-abiding citizen of the state (Rom. 13:1-7), only to habitually speed when driving his car exceeding the speed limit. Many other examples could be given.

More often than not, moral inconsistency is due to the fact that people are “… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4). Instead of promptly putting away all sin, they cling to those sins that are especially desirable or pleasurable to them personally. They choose “the passing pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25b) and do their best to justify or rationalize their bad behavior as good or acceptable in the sight of God (Isa. 5:20). Just as worse, many even try to use God’s grace as a “license to sin” (Jude 4) and commonly indulge in their favorite sin “now and then.”

People Are Often More Concern About How Their Conduct Appears Before Men, Than How It Looks Before God: Moral inconsistency is particularly tempting when we are more concerned about what people think, than what God thinks (e.g., John 12:42-43; cf. 1 Cor. 4:3-4). If we are not careful, we may find ourselves practicing sin just because it is accepted by society or even by some brethren who are not yet spiritual, but carnal in their thinking (1 Cor. 3:1-3). For example, while most, if not all brethren may condemn the sin of adultery (Rom. 13:9), in contrast, the sin of covetousness (Luke 12:15), is tolerated by more brethren today than ever before (Perhaps due to living in such a materialistic society?). The brother who is moral inconsistent will reason: “I cannot get away with committing adultery, but it seems that a materialistic lifestyle is allowed!” This is of course faulty reasoning, for the viewpoint of brethren is not the authority, the word of the Lord is (John 12:48). Similarly, when it comes to keeping the law of Christ (i.e., 1 Cor. 9:21), there is a great temptation to ask the question: “Who is looking?” Sadly, some brethren attend the worship assemblies only because they know that it is expected of them and do not want others to look down on them. Therefore, they are diligent to obey the command “not forsaking our own assembling together” (Heb. 10:25). In contrast, these same brethren are not nearly so motivated to obey the command “Devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2a). This is because no one will notice if they are devoted or not. Yet, of course, there is always One who will always notice and see all that we do (or not do) and that Person is God (Heb. 4:13).

The Danger of Moral Inconsistency.

We Prove Ourselves to Be Hypocrites, Rather Than Disciples of Christ: As much as we may tell ourselves that we are Christians and appear to be so in the community in which we live, if we continually live morally inconsistent lives we are not genuine disciples of Christ! If, for example, the condition of our heart does not match the outward display of our actions, we are seen by Christ as hypocrites (Mat. 23:27-28). If we are only good at judging others and “talk the talk,” but do not “walk the walk” of a Christian (3 John 4), we are hypocrites (Rom. 2:1-3).

We Lose Our Influence for Christ: “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you…” (Rom. 2:21-24). Non-Christians are watching our conduct and will take special note of our moral inconsistencies. Though we will not be perfect (Rom. 3:23), if our commitment toward holiness is a half-hearted effort, we will in time decrease or even diminish our effectiveness to reach others for Christ, no matter how great a teacher we may be of the law of Christ.

We Put Our Soul in Eternal Jeopardy: Remember what James, the servant of God said? “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10). The principle of obedience to God requires that we strive to obey all that God has said. One part of God’s law is just as binding as another. Thus, if we disobey any law of God, we will, as a result, be guilty of the whole. If any part of our life is sinful, then we will be judged as a sinner. Any sin that we continue in will lead to eternal death (Rom. 6:23). No one will be able to plead before the throne of God on that Last Day and offer their good deeds as a way to avoid punishment for bad deeds that were never put away (i.e., repented of). Hypocrisy must be put aside (1 Pet. 2:1).

What Does Moral Consistency Require?

Not Perfection: Though we are commanded to strive for perfection or spiritual maturity (Mat. 5:48), let us not misunderstand that moral consistency demands perfection! We will set ourselves up for failure and misery by such an attitude. Such thinking is foolish and dishonest to God and us (1 John 1:8, 10).

Total Commitment: Instead of absolute perfection, God requires that we do our best to “walk in the light” or practice the truth in every area of life (1 John 1:5-7). God knows the difference between the person who is committed to His will and fights against sin, yet stumbles from time to time versus the person who surrenders to sin and continues in it.
Repentance and Confession: When we commit sin (as much as we try not to), let us not dismay, but instead repent for the forgiveness of our sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 8:22). Though sin may involve inconsistency, such inconsistency does not have to continue!
Rather, let us treat every sin as a serious matter and be quick to confess our sins to God:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Lifting Up Holy Hands in Prayer

2006-10-31T10:26:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Tim. 2:8, NASB). Is the practice of “lifting up holy hands in prayer” merely a “Pentecostal” or “Charismatic” phenomenon? Some people think so and are quick to dismiss it for this reason. Others reject it because it seems strange and is different from the traditional postures of prayer. Still, others view it as strictly a cultural practice confined to the first century. Whatever a person’s personal opinion might be, we must go to the Scriptures to find the truth and gain a proper understanding.

Examining the Context of 1 Timothy 2:8

The context reveals that prayer is the primary subject matter of the first part of chapter two of 1 Timothy: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Christians have a duty to pray for “all men.” Why Christians should pray for all men is explained in the following verses: “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-7). Then in the following verse, prayer is reintroduced: “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Tim. 2:8).

Examining the Meaning of 1 Timothy 2:8

An Instruction for Men: The word “men” (from 1 Tim. 2:8) comes from the Greek word “ANER” which is specific to men only. Since all Christians must pray (1 Thes. 5:17), this must refer to men’s role to lead public prayer. Christian men have the responsibility to lead prayer in the public worship assembly (as they have the ability and opportunity to do so – Rom. 12:4-8). Men are to lead prayer because God has delegated this authority and leadership to men. “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Tim. 2:12; See also 1 Cor. 14:34). Women are not inferior to men (Gal. 3:28), but simply have a different role than men according to the divine order of God (1 Cor. 11:2-3).

The Will of God That Men Should Pray: ”I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8, KJV). It is the will (i.e., desire, want) of God for all men to pray. Therefore, His will should be respected and obeyed.
Pray with an Attitude of Holiness: “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Tim. 2:8). Wherever prayer is done, the right attitude of holiness must be evident to God. Christians are not restricted to worship or pray only in Jerusalem or at a temple. Instead, we must worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24) in “every place” or “every where” that we pray unto God.

“Lifting Up Holy Hands” (1 Tim. 2:8): The posture that a person uses in prayer may, at least in part, serve to express a person’s attitude toward God, which may involve the hands: “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven” (1 Kings 8:22). “But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God” (Ezra 9:5).

“Holy hands” – Holiness in Heart and Action: A study of the word holy is helpful to our understanding. Holy (from the Greek word hosios) is defined by the Thayer’s Greek Lexicon to mean: “Undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious.” Our text (1 Tim. 2:8) gives us two examples of sinful attitudes that must not be present in our hearts when we pray: “Wrath” (i.e., anger, indignation, vengeance, violent emotion) or “doubting” (i.e., questioning hesitation, skeptical criticism).

“Without Wrath or Doubting”: Those who lead prayer must not pray angry words against a brother nor with ill will in his heart toward others (e.g., Mat. 5:22-24, 44; 6:14-15). Those who lack faith, who doubt God and His word in their hearts God, are unfit to lead prayer (James 1:6-8). All praying should be holy or set apart from wrath and doubting and all sinful thoughts, attitudes, and motives.

What Spiritual Value May “Lifting Up Holy Hands In Prayer” Have?

As we will address later on in our study, we are by no means restricted to one particular posture of prayer (e.g., lifting up holy hands). However, there is a history of the people of God lifting up hands in prayer that we should not overlook. Whatever possible value, if any, the lifting up of hands in prayer has is worth our consideration.

It Was an Outward Expression Used in the Praising or Blessing of God: “Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless the LORD” (Ps. 134:2). “So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name” (Ps. 63:4).

It Was an Expression of Their Approval of God and Reverence for Him: “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen!’ while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (Neh. 8:5-6).

It Was an Outward Expression of Their Desire That Their Prayers Would Be Accepted and Received by God: “May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering” (Ps. 141:2; Compare to Eph. 5:2; 1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 13:15-16).

It Was an Outward Expression of Their Acknowledgment of Their Dependency on God and the Serious Attitude They Brought in Making Requests of God: "Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones who are faint because of hunger at the head of every street” (Lam. 2:19).

It Was an Outward Expression of Devoted Hearts to God – A Symbol of Elevated Hearts Toward God: “We lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven” (Lam. 3:41). It did not literally elevate the heart, but served as a possible aid in the concentration of their hearts toward God as they prayed.

In light of these Old Testament examples (Rom. 15:4), perhaps there is at least the possibility (for at least some people), that the lifting up of hands in prayer will help us maintain the right attitude of holiness as we pray (1 Tim. 2:8) which is critical to praying prayers that are acceptable to God. "For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Pet. 3:12).

Lifting Up the Hands Is Only One of the Methods of Expression in Praying Unto God.

Lest the impression has been given that we must lift up our hands every time we pray, we should recognize the fact that there are not just one, but many methods of expression found in the Scriptures that can be used when we pray unto God.

Prostration: This requires falling upon the knees, then gradually inclining the body, until the forehead touches the ground. This was an expression of reverence and humility before God. “And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him…” (Gen. 17:3). “And He [Jesus] went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’” (Mat. 26:39). This was also done to show respect to a superior (1 Sam. 25:23; 2 Kings 4:37).

Kneeling: This was a very common posture to show respect in worship in Old and New Testament times. “And it came about that when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven” (1 Ki. 8:54). “And He [Jesus] withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray” (Luke 22:41). Sitting was a possible form of kneeling (2 Sam. 7:18), yet not a common posture in biblical times.

Standing: The person praying stands erect with a slightly bowed head. This was the most common posture in prayer to show respect or pay homage to God. “Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD” (Gen 18:22). "The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer… But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:11, 13).

Kiss of Adoration: The practice of kissing one’s own hands toward the object of adoration (i.e., great affection) or even kissing the object itself. Psalm 2:12 (NKJV) Kiss the Son, (do homage – NASB) lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (See also 1 Sam. 10:1; 1 Kings 19:18).
Lifting Up Holy Hands: The posture in prayer in which one’s attitude is expressed by the hands (lifted up toward heaven - e.g., 1 Ki. 8:22 or outspread - e.g., Ezra 9:5).

What method a person chooses may depend on what is personally necessary and on his or her circumstances (e.g., praising or giving thanks to God, petitioning God, confessing sin, a crowded situation, condition of ground, physical ability, etc.). Yet, there is no single method that God requires that we must follow every time!

Whatever Posture In Prayer We Choose, Let Us Be Sure to Obey the Lord’s Command to Pray As We Should.

Christians are commanded to pray continually (1 Thes. 5:17; Col. 4:2).

We should not ever neglect our duty to pray to God (James 4:17; 2:10).

We should always pray according to God’s will (in harmony with the Word) (1 John 5:14).

Whatever posture (or method of expression) that a person chooses to use in prayer should always be done in sincerity and truth (John 4:23-24).

Christian men should step up to the duty of leading prayer in all holiness (1 Tim. 2:8).

No matter what posture we use in prayer, let us be certain to always offer prayers that are acceptable to God.

How a Christian Defends Himself

2006-10-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Knowing self-defense may not, at first, seem all that important for Christians to know. After all, Jesus commands: “... Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Mat. 5:39). Yet, Jesus is condemning personal retaliation or revenge, not self-defense in this passage (cf. Luke 22:38).

However, the kind of self-defense that should be most important to us as Christians is not the physical kind, but the spiritual kind: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:3, NASB). To “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12) and face our persecutors victoriously, we must use spiritual, not carnal means.

Christians who are living godly lives should expect to be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). When, for example, false charges of evil are brought against us or accusations are made against what we believe and practice, we should know how to defend ourselves.

Thankfully, the Lord, through the apostle Peter, provides us with the instructions we need to properly and effectively defend ourselves from our persecutors: “... And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness (meekness – KJV) and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Pet. 3:14b-16).

“Sanctify Christ as Lord in Your Hearts”

First of all, Christians must “sanctify Christ as Lord in [their] hearts.” This is the foundation to our “self-defense” as Christians. No matter what the world may say about Christ (Note: the actual word in the Greek text is Christos / Christ, not theos / God), Christ remains holy and pure within the heart of Christians. Though others may say Jesus was an imposter, a fraud, or merely a prophet, our faith in Jesus as Christ the Lord is maintained. Christ is “sanctified” within our heart, separate from the profane or sinful comments and criticisms of our persecutors.

Christ is Lord in our hearts and thus the Lord of our lives. In order to defeat the intimidation of men, total devotion to the Lord is required (cf. Mat. 22:37). Christians who decide beforehand that the Lord will determine what they will say or do will face no uncertainty or confusion about what to do when persecuted. Christians belong to the Lord and therefore submit to the Lord and obey Him who is Master. Our loyalty lies first with Jesus Christ the Lord who has been given all authority (Mat. 28:18).

We Are to Be Ready at All Times to Defend Ourselves.

Today, the need to defend what we believe and what we practice in Christ is seen as unnecessary and even confrontational by many religious groups. Instead of standing for the truth, many have given in to secularism and the false teachings of society in order to get along with the world. Rather than refute the false charges or debate their persecutors, compromises are made in order to secure “peace” and “unity.” Nevertheless, we are commanded to “make a defense” or “give an answer” for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15). We have an obligation to give a verbal defense, a reasoned statement or argument in response to the charges of our persecutors!

Such readiness to answer our persecutors is not meant be an occasional preparation in which we speak up only when we are really “fired up” or upset about an issue. Instead, we are to be ready at all times. “... Always being ready to make a defense...” (1 Pet. 3:15). This requires prayer and a steadfast commitment to Bible study (Eph. 6:17-18; 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15). Furthermore, we are to be ready to respond to anyone who may ask for an explanation of our faith: “... Make a defense to everyone who asks you...” (1 Pet. 3:15). There is a great temptation not to give a defense or answer to certain people like family members (to keep the “peace”) or coworkers and employers (to keep our job). However, we are commanded to make a defense to everyone, not just a few select people.

People Ask Because of Our Hope of Heaven in Christ

Often, the reason why people will ask for us to give an account, reason, or explanation of our faith in Christ is because of “the hope that is in [us]” – the hope of going Heaven. Unlike the world who does not have this hope (1 Thes. 4:13b), Christians have a genuine hope of Heaven because of their faith in the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3-5; Heb. 6:19-20; Titus 2:13). Most people do not have much confidence or assurance in their salvation. Many are skeptical of the thought of an “afterlife” and demand an explanation. These are opportunities to give people the “answer” and share with them the soul-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ!

In Our Defense, We Must Respond As Christ Would.

The manner in which we defend ourselves is as important as the answer or explanation we give. In giving our defense, we are to speak “with meekness and fear” and “keep a good conscience” (1 Pet. 3:15-16). We should speak with boldness or confidence (Acts 13:46), but also keep our strength or power in check, lest we come across as harsh or rude. This requires meekness – the gentle, mild, calm, and kind spirit of Christ (Mat. 11:29; 2 Cor. 10:1). “Fear” or “reverence” is also important, treating each person with respect, just like we would want to be treated (Luke 6:31). Finally, a good conscience is absolutely essential. Let us not only be concerned with our conscience before God, but also before men, lest we appear as hypocrites (Acts 24:16). Effectively teaching the truth to others demands we live the truth ourselves: “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5). Our manner of speaking and our integrity is vital to representing true Christianity: “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong” (1 Pet. 3:17).

Tremble Before the Lord

2006-10-31T10:08:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse, after hearing about Jesus, came up in the crowd behind Him, and touched His cloak. For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.’ And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garments?" And His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the multitude pressing in on You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction’” (Mark 5:25-34, NASB).

How many of us, like the woman who was healed by Jesus, would have confessed to the Lord that we had touched Him? Today, would we not tremble in His presence if we could actually see Jesus in person, right now? The Lord asked a similar question of the people of Judah through the prophet Jeremiah: “‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence?’” (Jer. 5:22). To “tremble” means to shake or shudder involuntarily, especially out of fear or excitement. Do we today have enough fear, respect, and reverence for the Lord Almighty that we tremble in His presence?

Most People Do not Fear the Lord, Much Less Tremble Before Him.

Most People Do not Fear God and As a Result, Continually Practice Sin: “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes” (Ps. 36:1; cf. Rom. 3:10-18). How can we explain all the wickedness that goes on in the world? By pointing to the fact that most people have no fear of God. When people do not have fear of God, they disregard His will which leads to self-flattery and overconfidence in themselves to determine what is right and wrong (Jer. 10:23). This inevitably leads to a life of sin, namely wicked speech, foolishness, a lack of good deeds, and even plans of sin prepared ahead of time (Ps. 36:1-4). Those who do not fear God have little or no aversion to evil. No consideration is given to God’s word on whether or not a certain activity is sinful.

Those Who Truly Fear God Will Keep Away from Evil: “... And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil” (Prov. 16:6b). In contrast to the ungodly, those who have fear of God will seek to know His will so they may discern good and evil (Heb. 5:14). They will do their best to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thes. 5:22). Those who recognize their need for God’s mercy as given through Christ will obey His will and purpose to do the works of God (Eph. 2:4-10). “The Lord Reigns, Let the Peoples Tremble!” (Ps. 99:1a) Knowing who the Lord is will give us much cause to fear and tremble before Him. If we are God’s children, we will not feel terror or dread before the Lord, but we will always have a sense of fearful reverence for the powerful God we serve!

We tremble with fear because of who God is, what He stands for, what He has done, and what He will do. Our God is a great, awesome, and holy God! (Ps. 99:3). His kingdom endures forever and cannot be shaken (Dan. 6:25-27). Therefore, we offer an acceptable service with reverence and awe (Heb. 12:26-29). We recognize the Lord as the true God by whom all people will be judged. Unlike the idols of the pagans or “gods” of this world, the Lord is the true God who will hold every person accountable for their sins (Jer. 10:10; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10).

What Does it Take to Get a Person to Tremble Before the Lord?

For Saul of Tarsus to tremble, it took a visitation from the Lord Himself! (Acts 9:1-6). For the Philippian jailer to tremble, it took an earthquake and a miraculous prison break! (Acts 16:25-30). For Governor Felix to tremble, it took the preaching of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come (Yet, unfortunately, he did not obey! - Acts 24:25). What will it take for you to tremble before the Lord and obey His gospel?

Not a miracle nor the raising of the dead is necessary to get people to tremble before God and repent of their sins today (e.g., Luke 16:19-31). The word of God is perfectly sufficient to cause anyone with a good and honest heart to tremble, repent, and obey the Lord (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Luke 8:15).

The Lord Looks with Favor on Those Who Tremble at His Word.

“Thus says the LORD,‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,’ declares the LORD. ‘But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa. 66:1-2). God is not impressed by fancy buildings of worship nor by elaborate ceremonies that just appear religious. Instead, God looks attentively upon those who tremble at His word, who take His word to heart with the utmost fear of accountability before the Lord.

As Christians, let us never lose the seriousness of serving God in accordance to His word. Let us take every word that God has said very seriously (John 12:48). Every Christian, if he or she expects to be saved eternally, will maintain such an attitude with fear and trembling: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Our fear of God is evident as we strive to obey His word each day and stay ready for the Lord’s return and judgment. “Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth” (Ps. 96:9).

How the Holy Spirit Works in Our Lives

2006-10-31T10:02:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Every genuine child of God is a person who is led by the Holy Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, NASB). Indeed, if we are truly led by the Spirit, our behavior and lives as a whole will demonstrate this fact. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Every Christian is God’s temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16). There is no question that the Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian, the question is how? Rather than resort to the theories or imaginations of men, let us go to the Scriptures to find the correct answer to this important question.

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit Is One of the Three Persons of God: The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, source of energy, or divine influence and certainly is not a mystical or magical feeling. The Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead or Trinity that comprises who God is (Acts 5:3-4). Each Person of the Godhead has a primary and distinct role. God the Father is “the Father of our spirits” (Heb. 12:9) and God the Son is the Savior who died to redeem us (Tit. 2:13). The Holy Spirit’s primary role is revealer of the word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed the mind of God to the apostles (1 Cor. 2:7-13) who in turn revealed the word of God to us (Eph. 3:3-5).

The Word, the Holy Spirit Reveals, Is Both Readable and Understandable: Thankfully, there is no need for “divine assistance” to be able to understand God’s word today. That is because the Holy Spirit revealed it in such a way that it can be understood by all (provided the right condition of heart exists – Luke 8:15 cf. Mat. 13:14-15): “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” (Eph. 3:3-5).

The Holy Spirit’s Work of “Regeneration” (Titus 3:5).

The New Birth: Jesus declared that in order to be saved, a person must be “born of the water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). The “new birth” or being “born again” (John 3:3) is spiritual, not physical. How the Holy Spirit brings about this new birth is through the word of God: “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth (“begat he us” – KJV) by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23).

Whatever the Holy Spirit Does, the Word of God Does Also (e.g., 1 Cor. 6:11 / John 17:17; Rom. 8:16 / 1 John 5:5-10, 13; Gal. 5:18 / Ps. 119:105; John 6:63 / Ps. 119:50; John 16:8 / Titus 1:9; etc.): The Holy Spirit accomplishes His work by means of the Word. The word of God is the Holy Spirit’s medium or instrument by which the will of God is communicated to mankind, equipping each person for every good work of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). To base the Spirit’s work as something done through the Word is not limiting His power, none whatsoever, for the gospel is the power of God! (Rom. 1:16; cf. Heb. 4:12).

The Work of Salvation of the Holy Spirit Is Done Through the Word of God: As described above, the work of the Spirit cannot be separated from God’s word. The Scriptures directly link the truth (God’s word – John 17:17) with the work of the Spirit: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thes. 2:13). When we believe and obey the truth, we are sanctified or made holy by the Spirit by means of the word of God (John 17:17).

The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Every person who obeys the gospel to become a Christian is promised to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: “... Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This gift is the same gift that both the Father and the Son gives to Christians (cf. John 4:10, 14; Rom. 6:23): Eternal Life!

Notice the very next verse: “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself” (Acts 2:39). “The promise” (Acts 2:38) is for all generations to come. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s gift cannot refer to a miraculous spiritual gift, as some contend today, for miraculous spiritual gifts ceased at the completion of God’s revelation or Word (i.e., “the perfect” – 1 Cor. 13:8-10). “The gift of the Holy Spirit” must be His “earnest” or “pledge” to us for our eternal salvation (Eph. 1:13-14; cf. 2 Cor. 1:21-22).

The Work of the Holy Spirit In the Life of a Christian.

The Holy Spirit Dwells In the Christian: After conversion to Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells or abides in the Christian (1 Cor. 3:16). The same can be said about the Father and the Son (1 John 4:12-16; Eph. 3:17). Therefore, all three persons of the Godhead dwell in the Christian!

The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us When We Abide In God’s Word: The Holy Spirit (or God) does not literally dwell in us, for God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16; cf. Ex. 33:20). Instead, He abides with us spiritually. This is accomplished, once again, through the word of God. For the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, we must listen to God’s word and receive it into our hearts: “... did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Gal. 3:2; cf. Rom. 10:17). Our receiving God’s word takes place by choice and not by divine force or “irresistible grace.” God the Father and the Son dwell in the Christian in the exact same way (1 Jn. 2:24; 2 Jn. 9; Eph 3:17).

The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us to the Extent That God’s Word Dwells in Our Lives: Don’t wait for the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. To be a “Spirit led” Christian, you must choose to obey the word of God (e.g., Gal. 5:16, 22-25). Genuine children of God, who are led by the Spirit, are obedient to His word and thus truly spiritual in the sight of God.

The Pursuit of Happiness

2006-10-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

The United States Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
The right to pursue happiness in America is a right we sometimes take for granted. U.S. citizens are blessed with many material and physical things and enjoy many freedoms that most people in other countries do not have. Yet, despite the right to pursue happiness, most people do not find it! Why is this the case?

True Happiness Escapes the Sinner

Misplaced Joy: Most people are not truly happy because their happiness is based on the wrong things in life. Many seek joy through the passing pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25) or by foolish, reckless behavior (e.g., drunkenness, gluttony, materialism, fornication, gambling, gossip, etc.): “Foolishness brings joy to those who have no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path” (Prov 15:21, NLT). In our materialistic society, many seek after happiness through the accumulation of wealth and possessions, only for it to elude them: “… Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15, NKJV). While sinful conduct may appear to be a source of joy to many, it is in reality a source of pain and eternal condemnation.

The Laughter of Sinners: Even when a particular lifestyle or chosen path in life seems right to us, this does not guarantee true happiness: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,And the end of joy may be grief” (Prov. 14:12-13,NASB). Many people who practice sin often appear happy. They enjoy their sins and have their fun, yet their happiness does not last (Job 20:5). At the end of the day, when the laughter stops and the joy of sin ceases, there still remains a heavy heart that is not right with God. Laughter often covers up a heart that is in pain, a conscience that is guilty, a soul that is not at peace with God: “There is no peace for the wicked, says the LORD” (Isa. 48:22). The reason why people never find happiness or true joy is because of their sinful condition before the God.

True Happiness Begins in the Lord

To find true happiness or obtain real joy, every person must go to the Lord. Consider what great joy the Ethiopian eunuch had after obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ: “And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:36-39). He went on his way rejoicing because baptism into Christ is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and eternal salvation (1 Pet. 3:21). This may sound too simplistic to some, but the truth of the matter is: Getting right with God is when true happiness begins!

True and Everlasting Happiness Is Found Only in the Lord

The Lord Is the Source of Sustaining Joy: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). “And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in His salvation” (Ps. 35:9) (See also Ps. 13:5; 104:34; Isa. 61:10). True joy cannot be found in the world (1 John 2:15-17). Only God can give us genuine happiness: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25). We must go to God in faith and depend on Him for everlasting joy.

Partaking of God’s Word in Faith Produces Joy: The Lord, who is the source of our joy, is also the author of the Scriptures. When we receive God’s word in faith (1 Thes. 2:13; Heb. 4:13), great joy may be produced in our hearts: “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches… I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart” (Ps. 119:14, 111). Those who are sad and gloomy need to renew their commitment to reading the Scriptures and meditating on God’s word daily. God’s children can read the Bible and rejoice in all of the great things the Savior has done for them. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

Doing God’s Will Produces Joy: There is an “abundance of joy” in giving of ourselves to the Lord and His cause (2 Cor. 8:1-5). Even when serving God is difficult, there is still joy and fulfillment that only God’s children can understand: “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me” (Phil. 2:17-18; See also Acts 5:40-42). Just knowing that we are a part of something greater than ourselves, namely the work of the Lord, can give us, who are Christians, great joy. Consider, for example, the joy Christians can have when they help lead lost souls to Christ and watch God give the increase: “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord” (Acts 11:21-23).

Fellowship in God’s Family Can Lead to Great Joy: Even though the Christian is often persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12), even excluded by his own family (Luke 6:22), he gains an even greater family in the Lord (Mark 10:29-30; Mat. 12:46-50). Being a part of God’s family and sharing together a “like precious faith” (2 Pet. 1:1) is truly a wonderful blessing. Brethren can be a great support to one another as they stir up one another to love and good deeds. They exhort one another to be faithful until the day when Christ comes again (See Heb. 10:24-25). Joy is made complete in our lives when we have with one another a fellowship of love, encouragement, compassion, and unity to carry out God’s will: “If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:1-2).

Hope in Heaven Fills the Heart with Joy: Unlike the people of the world who have no hope (1 Thes. 4:13b), Christians have a real, abiding hope of going to Heaven one day. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice…” (1 Peter 1:3-6a). When Christians meditate upon the living hope of heaven, great joy is sure to follow!

Continual Joy Is the Way of Life for the Christian: Not just on special or rare occasions, but continually Christians are to rejoice. “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52). Everyday, Christians are to rejoice as commanded by the Lord: “Rejoice always” (1 Thes. 5:16). Though there are times of sorrow (e.g., John 11:35; Rom. 9:2; 2 Cor. 7:9), joy can always be found again in the Lord (Phil. 3:1; 4:4; Rom. 15:13).
Our Joy in the Lord Is a Demonstration That We Are Children of God: When we bear spiritual fruit, including joy (which is a fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22), we prove ourselves to be disciples of Christ (See John 15:1-5). In fact, our fellowship with God requires that we rejoice: “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Cor 13:11).

In your “pursuit of happiness,” don’t leave God out of the picture, but make Him your number one priority and your first love in life. When you yield your life to the Lord, genuine joy will be the result in this life and in the life to come.

Faith Comes by Hearing God's Word

2006-10-31T09:54:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). This passage of Scripture is the foundation to faith itself. This is God’s way of establishing saving faith in the heart of each individual. There is no exception to this. No one can become a Christian without first hearing God’s word or the Gospel (Acts 15:7). And no Christian can continue in the faith (Col. 1:23) or increase their faith (Luke 17:5) without the hearing of God’s word.

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word, not the Traditions or Creeds of Men.

The Bible warns not to become captivated or enslaved by the traditions of men (Col. 2:8). Traditions or creeds written by men can in fact invalidate the word of God or make it of no effect in our lives (Mat. 15:6). Creeds of men are usually established with good intentions with the goal to declare one’s religious beliefs to the world. Yet, too often the result is that it adds to God’s will, an act which God prohibits (Rev. 22:18-19). No matter how appealing, wise, or helpful traditions or creeds may seem, they cannot be the basis of our faith. Only God’s word can produce genuine faith in the hearts of men and women (Rom. 10:17). Only the Gospel has the power to save (Rom. 1:16).

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word, not Worldly Wisdom and Philosophy.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col. 2:8, NASB). There is a real danger of putting our faith and trust in the sayings of men, rather than in Christ and His word. Lest we forget that Christ has been given all authority (Mat. 28:18), we need to be careful not to give the same weight and emphasis to the wisdom of this world. While it is sometimes the case that wisdom found in the world complements (not contradicts) God’s word, it is still not the source of knowledge that actually strengthens our faith. Only God’s word can build our faith properly (Rom. 10:17).

What do you put stock in? The sayings of Shakespeare and Benjamin Franklin or the teaching of Jesus (John 12:48) and His apostles (1 Cor. 14:37)? Many preachers rely on the quotations of famous men instead of “book, chapter, and verse” of the Bible to persuade people to accept their message. Scripture is often treated as secondary instead of primary in the preaching that takes place in many pulpits today. Though the people may be “moved” by the writings of men, only the preaching of God’s word will generate true, saving faith (Rom. 10:17).

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word, not Entertainment.

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim 4:2-4). More and more people today want to be entertained by their preachers and “Bible class” teachers. Instead of the desire for truth and the preaching of God’s word, people want their “ears tickled,” want to be made to laugh and to feel good about themselves. Sermons that “reprove, rebuke, exhort” are rejected as “negative preaching” that is out-of-date for the needs of modern Man.

Congregations that receive a steady diet of entertainment with minimal emphasis on the Scriptures will not be strong in their faith. Attempts to draw non-Christians to God by entertaining means (e.g., drama plays, concerts, “motivational” speakers, etc.) will not result in true conversions to Jesus Christ. Only by hearing God’s word can people be saved, grow spiritually, and be faithful until the end (Rom. 10:17; cf. 1 Pet. 2:2; Rev. 2:10).

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word, not “Story-Time” or Man-made Illustrations.

This writer recognizes how valuable and useful an illustration can be when preaching a sermon or teaching a Bible class. Illustrations can be a very effective way to communicate a biblical principle or help people’s understanding of the truth. However, much discretion and wisdom must be used in doing so. Care must be taken to make sure that any illustration we use is in harmony with the truth of God’s word. Though an illustration or story might be interesting or motivational to us does not mean it should be taught in a Bible class or preached in a sermon.

“Modern Day Parables?” To justify the use of illustrations, preachers often point to the example of Jesus who, at times, taught in parables in His ministry (e.g., Mat. 13). Certainly, there is some merit to this argument, for Jesus is our example to follow (1 Pet. 2:21). However, there is a big difference in the stories and illustrations Jesus used and the ones that preachers use today. That difference is: Jesus’ parables were inspired (John 12:49), whereas our illustrations are not! Unless, of course, our illustrations come from the Scriptures themselves (e.g., Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11), we simply cannot place our illustrations on equal footing with the parables of Jesus. Illustrations should only be used to complement the truth, not establish the truth. Divine authority lies with the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17), not with illustrations or the stories we may tell. If the greater part of our teaching consists of “story-time” and man-made illustrations instead of the word of God, biblical faith will not come for those who hear (Rom. 10:17).

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word, not the Emotional Appeals of Men.

Like God, we have emotions or feelings (Gen. 1:26-27; e.g., Mark 3:5; Eph. 4:30). Religion void of emotion is not true religion. Appropriately so, preachers and teachers can get emotional as they convey the will of God to others. However, feelings by themselves, no matter how powerful they may be, are not to be the basis of our faith. Just because we can “stir someone up” to obey through an emotional appeal does not mean that they have been properly taught the truth nor does it mean that their sorrow is the right kind of sorrow or joy the right kind of joy.

Genuine sorrow, for example, that leads to repentance and salvation is the result of being convicted by the truth, not by mere sob-stories or heart-wrenching testimonies given by men: “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:9-10). As convincing as our emotions or feelings can be, they are meant only to be a by-product of our faith and not the basis of faith itself. Only by hearing God’s word (and obeying it) can we truly walk by faith in daily living (Rom. 10:17; 3 John 4; cf. Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23).

Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word Because God’s Word Is Powerful!

There is a reason why “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). God’s word is powerful! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:4; 1 Thes. 2:13; Heb. 4:12).

One visitor said, after attending the morning worship service, “Why did the preacher spend time reading so much Scripture when we can do that ourselves at home!?!” There is a very good reason why we read Scripture in the assembly: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”! (Rom. 10:17). Some local churches make it a practice to have a portion of Scripture read by one of the men to the entire congregation. This is often done in response to the instruction of 1 Timothy 4:13 which says: “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” Bible class teachers and Gospel preachers would do well to take heed to this command. How else can a teacher be a Bible class teacher or a preacher be a Gospel preacher unless the reading of Scripture is included? To fulfill his ministry, every preacher should “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2-5), for “faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God.” Only by the hearing of God’s word will a person come to have a living faith in God.

The bottom line is this: For the lost to be converted to Christ, they must first hear God’s word. For the saved to be faithful to the end, they must continue to hear God’s word. Let us always put our faith in God and His power to save by the power of His Gospel.

Condemnation Is a Choice

2006-10-31T09:51:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Many people today believe that one’s eternal salvation or condemnation is out of their hands, that a person’s eternal fate has little or nothing to do with what they do, that God will save or condemn those who He wills regardless of the choices they make. However, the Scriptures teach us something else entirely. People choose for themselves salvation or condemnation by the kind of deeds performed in life.

Condemnation Is Determined by a Person’s Faith in the Son of God.

He Who Believes in Him Is Not Condemned: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18, NKJV). The person who believes in the name of the only begotten Son of God is not under condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1). His belief prompted him to obey the gospel (Mark 16:16) and thus receive the forgiveness of sins as given only in Christ (Acts 2:38). Once baptized into His name, the Christian keeps on believing in Jesus to continue to be delivered from condemnation (Col. 1:22-23).

“He Who Does not Believe Is Condemned Already”: Millions of people have never been taught the soul saving gospel and thus do not believe and as a result, they are condemned. Millions more fail to be delivered from their state of condemnation even after being taught the gospel because they do not believe. Their failure to embrace “the Light” and take heed to the gospel brings condemnation upon them (2 Thes. 1:7-9).

The Basis for Condemnation Depends on Our Response to “the Light.”

Christ, the True Light: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world…” (John 3:19a; cf. John 1:4). Christ or “the Light” has come into the world to lead people out of darkness into the light. This was prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years before Christ. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them” (Isa. 9:2, NASB; cf. Isa. 60:2). Jesus declared to be that light: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12b, NKJV).

Every Person Chooses to Come to the Light or Stay Away from it: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). The truth is, no one is a victim of the condemnation of God, but instead each person chooses for himself whether or not he will be condemned by the type of response to the Light he gives.

Who Hates the Light and Thus Has Chosen Condemnation?

Those Who Love the Darkness Rather Than the Light: “Men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19b). Most people in the world choose to walk in darkness (i.e., sin or evil; see Rom. 13:12-13). They make this choice because they love their sins more than they do the Light! The fact that people love their sins so much accounts for the unbelief in Christ and the character and darkness of the human race (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Many who love their sins hold to a “form of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:5) or act religious, yet reject the power of the Gospel that could make them godly. They cling to the darkness or the religious error that will condone their wicked behavior. They love the false doctrines that will tell them that they do not need to change their ways for God (e.g., 2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Those Who Fear “Exposure”: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Just as the thief does not want the spotlight upon him as he commits acts of crime during the night, the sinner shuns the Light because his deeds are evil. Christ, the true Light, dispels the darkness: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). The truth that Christ speaks drives out error: “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness” (Eccles. 2:13). Despite the value of Light, evildoers reject it because they do not want their works condemned. They dread an examination or investigation of their life by the truth. They hate the light that exposes, tests their deeds, and determines the true nature of their actions (Heb. 4:12). Many people, deep within, are ashamed of their evil deeds and thus purposefully do not want the Light or the truth that will give them a guilty conscience. Yet, it is that guilty conscience that can lead to their repentance and salvation! (e.g., Acts 2:37-38). Sadly, many people today have chosen condemnation by their negative response to the Light.

Who Loves the Light and Thus Has Chosen Salvation?

Those Who Practice the Truth: “But he who does (practices – NASB) the truth comes to the light...” (John 3:21a). Practicing the truth is continual obedience to the word of God (cf. John 17:17). Practicing the truth is equal to walking in the light (1 John 1:5-7). Thus, having the truth is not merely an abstract idea to possess. Truth is to be lived out – practiced throughout life. Those who truly love the Lord (the Light) will obey His word (John 14:15, 21). True love for the Lord is to choose salvation, not condemnation! (Eph. 6:24; cf. 1 Cor. 16:22).

Those Who Come to the Light to Make Known Their Deeds: “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). Those who love the Light gladly come to the Light so they may plainly see that their conduct is good and right before God. They find joy and fulfillment because the truth reveals that they are living for God, please Him according to His will (3 John 3-4). The light of truth justifies their deeds; therefore, they do not shun the Light as evildoers do. They are not afraid of their deeds to be exposed to the Light because their lives are an illustration of the truth or of the Light (Eph. 5:8-10).

What is your response to the Light? Salvation or condemnation is truly a choice that each person makes. Which do you choose? Come to the Light and obey the word of the Lord today!

The Spiritual Significance of Baptism

2006-10-31T09:48:00.000-05:00

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4, NASB). Clearly, baptism is no mere symbol or ritual. Baptism is what enters us into union with Christ! Baptism into Christ establishes a real spiritual connection to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptized Into the Death of Christ: Baptism is not just about receiving the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), it is our union with the death of Jesus! “All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death” (Rom. 6:3). Jesus the Savior died for our sins. Sin is what brought Him to the cross. Rather than a continued desire for sin after baptism, there should be a hatred and rejection of sin, the very thing that caused Jesus to die in the first place. “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). Baptism into Christ is absolutely essential to putting to death our sins: “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-6).

Buried with Christ: The word baptism literally means “immersion.” Every person, including Jesus, who was baptized was immersed (not sprinkled or poured) in water (e.g., Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:38-39). That is why the apostle Paul says to the Christians at Rome: “… We have been buried with Him through baptism… ” (Rom. 6:4; See also Col. 2:11-12). A burial best represents baptism (i.e., immersion). There is great spiritual significance to being buried with Jesus. Just as a real burial involves a real death, so does baptism (which is a “burial”) result in a real spiritual death to sin. Baptism is not merely a “good work” nor is it to be done as a public display of becoming a member of a local church. Baptism into Christ is essential to putting to death our sins!

Raised with Christ: Baptism into Christ introduces us to a new life! “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Baptism is necessary “so we too” may rise to live a new life. Just as Christ was raised or “born again” from the dead (Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:18), we too are raised or “born again” to a new life after baptism (John 3:3, 5). “Newness of life” entails all spiritual blessings that are given in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Specifically, we are no longer “dead in sin” (Eph. 2:1-2), but instead “dead to sin” and “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). There is “newness of life” because each Christian is now a new person in Christ, living life in service to God, not sin: “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). Only those who have been baptized into Christ are “in Christ” and are living the new life in Him.

Salvation Through Christ: “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). This straight forward passage about baptism makes it perfectly clear that baptism is for our salvation. Those who dismiss baptism as non-essential or optional, ignore this plain statement of Scripture. Baptism does not in any way diminish the achievement of Christ on the cross for our sins. Instead, baptism is a commandment we must obey to gain access to the saving power of Jesus. Notice what makes baptism powerful: Not the water itself (“the removal of dirt from the flesh”), but the appeal we make to God “for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). Jesus is still the means of our salvation, eternal life is still a free gift (Rom. 6:23), we are simply meeting the Lord’s condition for salvation as commanded in Scripture: “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Added to the Body of Christ: When a person is baptized into Christ, they are also, at the exact same moment, added to the body of Christ: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). His body is the church: “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23; See also Col. 1:18). To belong to the Lord’s church, there is no waiting for a “church committee” to give their approval. Instead, when you are baptized into Christ you are automatically added to His church and belong to the saved! “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:38, 41, 47, NKJV; See also Heb. 12:22-23).

Make Sure You Have Been Baptized Into Christ! No one is a disciple of Christ until he or she has been baptized into His name (Mat. 28:18-20). No one is “in Christ”, a part of Christ, or has fellowship with Christ until he or she comes to Christ in faith to be baptized into Him. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). If you have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 3:16; Acts 16:31ff.), are willing to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37), and repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), then you are ready to be baptized! If you have not yet done so, be baptized into Christ today!