WHEN DOES A TEMPTATION BECOME A SIN?
Today is Sunday and while in class, I puzzled over some thoughts that had enter into my thought process. For example, why did I wear blue socks with a green suit? I wonder if anyone noticed? then another thought. How big of a piece should I break off during the passing of the bread? Ever wonder if your pew neighbor looks at you funny, thinking you just ate your Sunday lunch for what you pinched off?
Anyway, seriously I wondered when does a temptation become a sin? Keith (my teacher) made a great point to me that I thought I should pass on. Temptations vary from people to people and the degree of what that temptation is only measured by the desires of each person being tempted. Obviously, drinking alcohol is not much of a temptation for me because that is not my weakest link while for someone else that temptation could be a family breaker especially if Satan is successful. I have a deep desire that anytime I see a pinata, I vision myself beating the living tar of that donkey until only the ears remain but that is another counseling session. What if I just thought about sinning and didn't physically do it? Physical action doesn't constitute the sin. Sin happens before physical reaction.
I used to have a 10 second rule. If I dwell on something longer than 10 seconds than it was a sin. However, I have come to understand that I am assuming all temptations are quickly fought and overcome. This understanding was incorrect. I have found that sometimes it takes more than 10 seconds to not eat that last piece of pie after eating a whole turkey at Thanksgiving. It takes me longer than 10 seconds sometimes to not want to curse my head off after I have hit my finger with a hammer which by now, with my handyman skills, my finger automatically swells when I walk into a Home Depot.
I have found the best answer lies in the struggle. When you give up and stop fighting the temptation that is when your temptation becomes a sin. For example, if I being a macho man place my attention on some "eye candy" in Wal-Mart (Walmart has everything don't they) and my attention stays on her and I no longer fight the fact that God's Word states even looking upon a woman and lusting after her is a sin. I continually and willing dwell on her, I have sinned. If I think of her and sincerely pull my thoughts back into proper prospective and then my irrational manhood goes back to her and I pull it back into prospective again with sincerity to beat this temptation...so far I have not sinned. However, once I decide I will quite SINCERELY fighting this temptation and just dwell on her, then it becomes a sin. This fight can go on for a few seconds or a few minutes. That level of temptation depends upon your weakness. What is your weakness? How long does it take before you give in?
This is a profound thought and I beg you to take a moment read your Bible for yourself. Study this understanding for yourself and don't depend on anyone other than the WRITTEN Word of God to bring you into better understanding of His ways.
Next: I will discuss the PURPOSE OF TEMPTATIONS. You may be surprised on what you find out.
LIFTED HIGH
Scripture References: Psalm 62
Everywhere we look there's something that is trying to steal our devotion and attention. Whether good or bad there's so many things that if we aren't careful, can rob us of our hunger and passion to know the Lord. Everything in this world will always be temporary. Even the love we have for other people isn't eternal. The only place we'll ever be truly satisfied is in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the lord is where we find hope, vision for our lives, healing, love, restoration from past hurts, and honor in the eyes of Jesus.
In Psalm ch 62 vs 1 David says " My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Later on in verses 7&8 David continues to say " My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, mighty refuge. Trust in Him at all times, Oh people pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." David not only said our honor depends on God, but he went as far as to say our salvation depends on God! Then he urges the people to pour out their hearts to God.
I believe God's love for the world is very much eternal and so is His salvation, but I also believe that we can be so hardened to God sometimes that without even knowing it we can walk away from Him. No one is perfect and the great part about that is that God knows it. He knows that we fail and we fall sometimes in our walk with Him, but the most important thing to remember is that when we get back up, it brings honor to the Lord. So don't be discouraged in your faith. Just make the effort every day that you live and in the way that you live, to lift Jesus up and make Him the center of everything.
Everywhere we look there's something that is trying to steal our devotion and attention. Whether good or bad there's so many things that if we aren't careful, can rob us of our hunger and passion to know the Lord. Everything in this world will always be temporary. Even the love we have for other people isn't eternal. The only place we'll ever be truly satisfied is in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the lord is where we find hope, vision for our lives, healing, love, restoration from past hurts, and honor in the eyes of Jesus.
In Psalm ch 62 vs 1 David says " My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Later on in verses 7&8 David continues to say " My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, mighty refuge. Trust in Him at all times, Oh people pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." David not only said our honor depends on God, but he went as far as to say our salvation depends on God! Then he urges the people to pour out their hearts to God.
I believe God's love for the world is very much eternal and so is His salvation, but I also believe that we can be so hardened to God sometimes that without even knowing it we can walk away from Him. No one is perfect and the great part about that is that God knows it. He knows that we fail and we fall sometimes in our walk with Him, but the most important thing to remember is that when we get back up, it brings honor to the Lord. So don't be discouraged in your faith. Just make the effort every day that you live and in the way that you live, to lift Jesus up and make Him the center of everything.
BORN FOR A PURPOSE
Verse Text: “For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Never in history has there existed so many products and services marketed in
getting people to buy what they need or at least what they “think” they need. Granted, the majority of the products we find are useful in helping us be more efficient with our time and resources. Anything from toasters to sport utility vehicles are a welcomed commodity in our lives. If we stop and realize that these “things” were actually thought up, designed, and manufactured with a purpose, how much more are WE (who are made in God’s image and likeness) created with a purpose. Isaiah 45:18,19, says, “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create in vain, Who formed it to be inhabitated: I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” What these scriptures tell me is that GOD DOES NOT CREATE ANYTHING IN VAIN (including you and me!!). Everything (and I mean everything) that God does, He does with purpose. In Romans 8:28, it says, “And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” “Purpose” is derived from “prothesis” in the Hebrew which means “before” (pro) and “a place” (thesis). It suggests a deliberate and advance plan. God has a specific purpose and plan for you and me, which He has set into motion and called to be, before we were even born!! Let us look at how we need to 1.) realize, 2.) recognize, 3.) respond to, 4.) resolve, and 5.) run with the purpose God has for us.
1. REALIZE - Isaiah 46:10,11, says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I HAVE PURPOSED IT; I will also do it.” We need to understand that before God “starts” something, He has already finished it!!
For example, before any SUV is displayed for sale, the manufacturer first decides what the consumers need and want. It is then engineered in a computer to create the look and design of the vehicle with all of its features. Then it is sent to the manufacturing plant for construction. In actuality, the SUV was finished before it even went into construction and placed on the parking lot. Even so, realize that God has placed you on this earth at this time, because you are needed by the people around you and He has placed certain features (desires) in you for you to fulfill and accomplish in your life.
2. RECOGNIZE - To “recognize” means to “to know to be something that has been perceived before or to perceive or acknowledge or accept the validity or reality of.” We are not only to realize that “Yeah, I was born to accomplish some things in life,” but we are seek to know what those “things” are. Eph. 2:10, says, “For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” “Workmanship” in this verse signifies that which is manufactured, a product, a design produced by an artist. Before we came to know Christ, our lives may not have had rhyme or reason, but since we have accepted Christ, God has brought balance, purpose and order. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (or masterpiece); old things have passed away, behold, all things have become NEW.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17. Let’s seek to recognize what God wants to accomplish through our lives. We are to live NOT to ourselves, but for Him who has given His life for us so that we can walk in His life and fulfill the good works He predestined for us to do.
3. RESPOND - Once we know that God has created us for a purpose, we need to respond to His calling. Many times, either we don’t seek to know what that is or if we do know (by praying and earnestly seeking God), we often procrastinate in pursuing God’s plans for our lives. We may come up with excuses such as, “I don’t really know if this is God” or “I don’t have time
to get involved in ministry” or “I’m not capable of doing this” or just plain “I don’t want to.” We don’t need to be like Moses who gave God excuses or like Jonah that ran from God, because we know that eventually they obeyed God anyway. As for Jonah, he learned the hard way. Let us respond to God as the Prophet Isaiah did when God asked him, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go and tell this people. . . .’” Isaiah 6:8,9. At first, Isaiah did not feel worthy, but unclean (as should we), but God does the purging and the equipping as we allow Him. He does not ask for “perfect” vessels, just willing ones. I pray our response to God is, “HERE AM I LORD, SEND ME!!”
4. RESOLVE - Once we have realized, recognized and responded to God and said, “Yes, Lord,” we need to resolve in our heart to do it. To resolve, means “to make a FIRM decision about; to decide or express by formal vote; to remove or dispel any doubts.” Like Daniel, let us be determined to accomplish what God has asked us to do despite of fear, peer pressure, our environment, or anything else that tells us we have to compromise. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . .” Daniel 1:8. Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, only you will be responsible to God for your actions or in-actions with what He has given you. EVERY single one us have been entrusted by God with gifts and have been called to use them. Don’t let fear or anything else deter you from being obedient to God. Resolve to accomplish God’s purposes in life one step at a time. Be determined that you “CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Philippians 4:13.
5. RUN - All there is left to do now is to RUN!!! In Hebrews 12:1,2, it says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN with endurance the race that is set before us, LOOKING unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. . .” Be encouraged today that God has marked out a race before you that only you can run. At times, it will get tiring and hard, but if we look to Christ and draw strength from God, His word and His Spirit and keep keeping on, we will reach the finish line. Let us be able to say as the Apostle Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2nd Timothy 4:7.
There is no better life goal than to know we have accomplished what we were born to do and were obedient to our God. REALIZE that you were born with God’s purposes in You. RECOGNIZE what those purposes are. RESPOND to God with a positive attitude. RESOLVE in your heart to accomplish them. Take off from the starting line and if you have already, pace yourself, and RUN till your race is over or till Jesus comes!!
Never in history has there existed so many products and services marketed in
getting people to buy what they need or at least what they “think” they need. Granted, the majority of the products we find are useful in helping us be more efficient with our time and resources. Anything from toasters to sport utility vehicles are a welcomed commodity in our lives. If we stop and realize that these “things” were actually thought up, designed, and manufactured with a purpose, how much more are WE (who are made in God’s image and likeness) created with a purpose. Isaiah 45:18,19, says, “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create in vain, Who formed it to be inhabitated: I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” What these scriptures tell me is that GOD DOES NOT CREATE ANYTHING IN VAIN (including you and me!!). Everything (and I mean everything) that God does, He does with purpose. In Romans 8:28, it says, “And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” “Purpose” is derived from “prothesis” in the Hebrew which means “before” (pro) and “a place” (thesis). It suggests a deliberate and advance plan. God has a specific purpose and plan for you and me, which He has set into motion and called to be, before we were even born!! Let us look at how we need to 1.) realize, 2.) recognize, 3.) respond to, 4.) resolve, and 5.) run with the purpose God has for us.
1. REALIZE - Isaiah 46:10,11, says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I HAVE PURPOSED IT; I will also do it.” We need to understand that before God “starts” something, He has already finished it!!
For example, before any SUV is displayed for sale, the manufacturer first decides what the consumers need and want. It is then engineered in a computer to create the look and design of the vehicle with all of its features. Then it is sent to the manufacturing plant for construction. In actuality, the SUV was finished before it even went into construction and placed on the parking lot. Even so, realize that God has placed you on this earth at this time, because you are needed by the people around you and He has placed certain features (desires) in you for you to fulfill and accomplish in your life.
2. RECOGNIZE - To “recognize” means to “to know to be something that has been perceived before or to perceive or acknowledge or accept the validity or reality of.” We are not only to realize that “Yeah, I was born to accomplish some things in life,” but we are seek to know what those “things” are. Eph. 2:10, says, “For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” “Workmanship” in this verse signifies that which is manufactured, a product, a design produced by an artist. Before we came to know Christ, our lives may not have had rhyme or reason, but since we have accepted Christ, God has brought balance, purpose and order. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (or masterpiece); old things have passed away, behold, all things have become NEW.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17. Let’s seek to recognize what God wants to accomplish through our lives. We are to live NOT to ourselves, but for Him who has given His life for us so that we can walk in His life and fulfill the good works He predestined for us to do.
3. RESPOND - Once we know that God has created us for a purpose, we need to respond to His calling. Many times, either we don’t seek to know what that is or if we do know (by praying and earnestly seeking God), we often procrastinate in pursuing God’s plans for our lives. We may come up with excuses such as, “I don’t really know if this is God” or “I don’t have time
to get involved in ministry” or “I’m not capable of doing this” or just plain “I don’t want to.” We don’t need to be like Moses who gave God excuses or like Jonah that ran from God, because we know that eventually they obeyed God anyway. As for Jonah, he learned the hard way. Let us respond to God as the Prophet Isaiah did when God asked him, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go and tell this people. . . .’” Isaiah 6:8,9. At first, Isaiah did not feel worthy, but unclean (as should we), but God does the purging and the equipping as we allow Him. He does not ask for “perfect” vessels, just willing ones. I pray our response to God is, “HERE AM I LORD, SEND ME!!”
4. RESOLVE - Once we have realized, recognized and responded to God and said, “Yes, Lord,” we need to resolve in our heart to do it. To resolve, means “to make a FIRM decision about; to decide or express by formal vote; to remove or dispel any doubts.” Like Daniel, let us be determined to accomplish what God has asked us to do despite of fear, peer pressure, our environment, or anything else that tells us we have to compromise. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . .” Daniel 1:8. Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, only you will be responsible to God for your actions or in-actions with what He has given you. EVERY single one us have been entrusted by God with gifts and have been called to use them. Don’t let fear or anything else deter you from being obedient to God. Resolve to accomplish God’s purposes in life one step at a time. Be determined that you “CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” Philippians 4:13.
5. RUN - All there is left to do now is to RUN!!! In Hebrews 12:1,2, it says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN with endurance the race that is set before us, LOOKING unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. . .” Be encouraged today that God has marked out a race before you that only you can run. At times, it will get tiring and hard, but if we look to Christ and draw strength from God, His word and His Spirit and keep keeping on, we will reach the finish line. Let us be able to say as the Apostle Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2nd Timothy 4:7.
There is no better life goal than to know we have accomplished what we were born to do and were obedient to our God. REALIZE that you were born with God’s purposes in You. RECOGNIZE what those purposes are. RESPOND to God with a positive attitude. RESOLVE in your heart to accomplish them. Take off from the starting line and if you have already, pace yourself, and RUN till your race is over or till Jesus comes!!
GLORY OF GOD
Verse Text: 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
So familiar and relatable, that it swept the nation a few decades ago in the form of a song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds. What a great, accessible combination of melody, rhythm, arrangement and instrumentation! If you’ve heard the song,
then you know that it’s an adaptation of this same passage above; which essentially states that God has willed a time for everything. But the writer of the passage (and the Byrds) don’t clearly address the overarching point of it at all. Even the writer of the passage, Qoheleth, keeps saying, “Oh vanity of vanities!”. I guess, in laymans terms, that would translate to “what is the point of it all?! God’s done everything! Nothing new will ever happen!” So, then, what is the point?
Well, the point is Jesus Christ, of course. In Him, everything is accomplished. In Him, all seasons and times and reasons bow down. Jesus has clearly shown us the way to the Father, through the cross; and in doing so, has shown the point of human existence: quite simply, to glorify God.
So in all we do, in all seasons, in all times, the point is to live for God’s glory. God loves us so much that He allows us to decide what (and Who) we’re going to live for. Are we going to live for ourselves, our vanity, our material possessions or our own selfish agendas? Or are we going to make our lives count for something that lasts longer than this life? No, we might not enjoy the instant gratification that our human nature longs for when we live for God’s glory and not our own. We may not always enjoy seeing the fruit for each and every good deed we do, or right decision we make.
So, the point of this passage…the point of the song I mentioned really adds up to one thing – let us emulate Jesus…let’s you and I draw on the strength Jesus provides us to live for the glory of God and not our own. Let our every motivation, everything we put our hand to – be for the glory of God.
So familiar and relatable, that it swept the nation a few decades ago in the form of a song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds. What a great, accessible combination of melody, rhythm, arrangement and instrumentation! If you’ve heard the song,
then you know that it’s an adaptation of this same passage above; which essentially states that God has willed a time for everything. But the writer of the passage (and the Byrds) don’t clearly address the overarching point of it at all. Even the writer of the passage, Qoheleth, keeps saying, “Oh vanity of vanities!”. I guess, in laymans terms, that would translate to “what is the point of it all?! God’s done everything! Nothing new will ever happen!” So, then, what is the point?Well, the point is Jesus Christ, of course. In Him, everything is accomplished. In Him, all seasons and times and reasons bow down. Jesus has clearly shown us the way to the Father, through the cross; and in doing so, has shown the point of human existence: quite simply, to glorify God.
So in all we do, in all seasons, in all times, the point is to live for God’s glory. God loves us so much that He allows us to decide what (and Who) we’re going to live for. Are we going to live for ourselves, our vanity, our material possessions or our own selfish agendas? Or are we going to make our lives count for something that lasts longer than this life? No, we might not enjoy the instant gratification that our human nature longs for when we live for God’s glory and not our own. We may not always enjoy seeing the fruit for each and every good deed we do, or right decision we make.
So, the point of this passage…the point of the song I mentioned really adds up to one thing – let us emulate Jesus…let’s you and I draw on the strength Jesus provides us to live for the glory of God and not our own. Let our every motivation, everything we put our hand to – be for the glory of God.
BE BAPTIST (IMMERSED) .... STEP 5
One cannot preach the Gospel of Christ without preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16). In fact, water baptism is always a part of preaching Christ (Acts 8:5, 12, 35-39). Jesus began his personal ministry by being baptized (Matt. 3:13-17), and He ended His earthly stay by commanding baptism (Matt. 28:18-20).
The death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus for our sins are the facts of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). These facts must be believed and obeyed if a soul is to be saved. If we do not obey the Gospel, we will be eternally lost (2 Thess. 1:7-9). The command to be baptized was a part of the first Gospel sermon (Acts 2:37-38), because water baptism beautifully portrays the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:1-4).
How many baptisms does the Bible demand? "There is…One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).
What is the action? “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).
What is it for? Baptism washes away our sins by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38). Baptism brings us into Christ (Gal. 3:27) where all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3).
These Spiritual blessing include but are not limited to forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7), salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), the indwelling Spirit of God as an earnest and intercessor (Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:26), and eternal life (1 John 5:11).
The only scriptural candidate for water baptism is a taught penitent believer. The one being baptized must know about the blood of Jesus, where it is to be contacted, and what it does. If one does not realize that by being baptized his sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28), and is thus added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:47), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism. If one does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and has not decided to turn from his sins (repented), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism.
Concerning denominational baptism, if a person was baptized, but was ignorant of the significance of baptism to his salvation, he was not baptized scripturally. He needs to be taught right and baptized again (cf. Acts 19:1-5). Since baptism is a burial in water (Rom 6:4), a person who simply had a little water sprinkled or poured over his head or body was not scripturally baptized. So if a person has not been immersed in water with the proper understanding of its significance, he has not been baptized scripturally (cf. Romans 6:17).
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Why are we baptized?
Acts 22:16… We are baptized to wash away our _____________.
Revelation 1:5 We are baptized to wash away our sins by the _____________ of Jesus.
Romans 6:4… We are baptized to walk in newness of ______________.
John 3:3, 5… We are baptized to be ____________ again.
1 Peter 3:21… We are baptized to be ____________.
Acts 2:41, 47… We are baptized to be added to the _______________.
How are we baptized?
Acts 8:38-39… We are baptized by going down into the _____________ and coming back up out of the ____________.
Colossians 2:12… We are baptized by being _____________ in the water.
Into what are we baptized?
Galatians 3:27… We are baptized into ______________.
Romans 6:3… We are baptized into Christ’s ______________.
1 Corinthians 12:13… We are baptized into one _______________ (the church).
What will we receive when we are baptized?
Acts 2:38… We will receive forgiveness of _____________ and the gift of the ___________ ____________.
The death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus for our sins are the facts of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). These facts must be believed and obeyed if a soul is to be saved. If we do not obey the Gospel, we will be eternally lost (2 Thess. 1:7-9). The command to be baptized was a part of the first Gospel sermon (Acts 2:37-38), because water baptism beautifully portrays the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:1-4).
How many baptisms does the Bible demand? "There is…One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).
What is the action? “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).
What is it for? Baptism washes away our sins by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38). Baptism brings us into Christ (Gal. 3:27) where all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3).
These Spiritual blessing include but are not limited to forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7), salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), the indwelling Spirit of God as an earnest and intercessor (Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:26), and eternal life (1 John 5:11).
The only scriptural candidate for water baptism is a taught penitent believer. The one being baptized must know about the blood of Jesus, where it is to be contacted, and what it does. If one does not realize that by being baptized his sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28), and is thus added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:47), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism. If one does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and has not decided to turn from his sins (repented), he is not a scriptural candidate for baptism.
Concerning denominational baptism, if a person was baptized, but was ignorant of the significance of baptism to his salvation, he was not baptized scripturally. He needs to be taught right and baptized again (cf. Acts 19:1-5). Since baptism is a burial in water (Rom 6:4), a person who simply had a little water sprinkled or poured over his head or body was not scripturally baptized. So if a person has not been immersed in water with the proper understanding of its significance, he has not been baptized scripturally (cf. Romans 6:17).
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Why are we baptized?
Acts 22:16… We are baptized to wash away our _____________.
Revelation 1:5 We are baptized to wash away our sins by the _____________ of Jesus.
Romans 6:4… We are baptized to walk in newness of ______________.
John 3:3, 5… We are baptized to be ____________ again.
1 Peter 3:21… We are baptized to be ____________.
Acts 2:41, 47… We are baptized to be added to the _______________.
How are we baptized?
Acts 8:38-39… We are baptized by going down into the _____________ and coming back up out of the ____________.
Colossians 2:12… We are baptized by being _____________ in the water.
Into what are we baptized?
Galatians 3:27… We are baptized into ______________.
Romans 6:3… We are baptized into Christ’s ______________.
1 Corinthians 12:13… We are baptized into one _______________ (the church).
What will we receive when we are baptized?
Acts 2:38… We will receive forgiveness of _____________ and the gift of the ___________ ____________.
CONFESS ... STEP 4
The central theme that runs through the Bible is the salvation of man, through Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. Genesis through Malachi says, “Christ is coming.” Matthew through John says, “Christ has come.” Acts through Revelation says, “Christ is coming again.” Since God now speaks to us through His Son (Heb. 1:1; cf. Deuteronomy 18:18-19), to obey God is to obey Christ. To obey Christ is to confess Christ.
“Confession” means to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33). In Romans 10:10, Paul said, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), then the “confession” that is made unto salvation has to do with the deep convictions of an individual believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, based on the facts and evidences that are presented in the Word of God. But, more than that, it also conveys the obedient response which must be rendered throughout life by the one who confesses Christ by the lip.
There are two ways to confess Christ. First, there must be the confession of the Christ on the part of one – as he places himself under the obligation to accept the terms which have been set forth by the Christ. Part of ones obedience to the Gospel is the public acknowledgement of his belief in Jesus as the Son of God.
When we reflect back to the time of our Lord’s ministry, those who were going to follow Him had to acknowledge (had to believe) that He was the Christ of God. Obviously, then, they had to indicate that belief in some way. This is why it was said to the shame of some in John 12:42-43, that even among the chief rulers there were “…many who believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Likewise, today, when one comes to be a disciple – there must be that willingness to abide in the teaching of Christ and the confessing of the Christ. This confession cannot be a secretive or hidden kind of confession. In fact, how can anyone be assisted in their obedience to Christ unless that confession takes place? How could we know what their desire is? It would be impossible to know unless we find out from them! (cf. Acts 8:26-40).
Second, the one who has made the initial confession with the mouth – that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” and has rendered obedience to the Gospel of Christ, must also add to that initial confession another kind of confession. And that is, the confession that is to be made in life, which will last as long as they live.
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
What must we confess?
Matthew 16:15-16… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of ____________.
John 11:27… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the __________ of ______________.
1 John 4:15… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, __________ ___________ of ___________.
How must we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… We must confess Him before ___________.
Romans 10:9-10… We must confess Him with our ____________.
What will happen if we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:8… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ______________ us before the angels of God.
What will happen if deny (do not confess) Jesus?
Matthew 10:33… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:9… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before the angels of God.
2 Timothy 2:12… If we deny Jesus, Christ will ______________ us.
1 John 2:23… If we deny Jesus, we will not have the _____________.
“Confession” means to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33). In Romans 10:10, Paul said, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), then the “confession” that is made unto salvation has to do with the deep convictions of an individual believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, based on the facts and evidences that are presented in the Word of God. But, more than that, it also conveys the obedient response which must be rendered throughout life by the one who confesses Christ by the lip.
There are two ways to confess Christ. First, there must be the confession of the Christ on the part of one – as he places himself under the obligation to accept the terms which have been set forth by the Christ. Part of ones obedience to the Gospel is the public acknowledgement of his belief in Jesus as the Son of God.
When we reflect back to the time of our Lord’s ministry, those who were going to follow Him had to acknowledge (had to believe) that He was the Christ of God. Obviously, then, they had to indicate that belief in some way. This is why it was said to the shame of some in John 12:42-43, that even among the chief rulers there were “…many who believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Likewise, today, when one comes to be a disciple – there must be that willingness to abide in the teaching of Christ and the confessing of the Christ. This confession cannot be a secretive or hidden kind of confession. In fact, how can anyone be assisted in their obedience to Christ unless that confession takes place? How could we know what their desire is? It would be impossible to know unless we find out from them! (cf. Acts 8:26-40).
Second, the one who has made the initial confession with the mouth – that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” and has rendered obedience to the Gospel of Christ, must also add to that initial confession another kind of confession. And that is, the confession that is to be made in life, which will last as long as they live.
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
What must we confess?
Matthew 16:15-16… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of ____________.
John 11:27… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the __________ of ______________.
1 John 4:15… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, __________ ___________ of ___________.
How must we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… We must confess Him before ___________.
Romans 10:9-10… We must confess Him with our ____________.
What will happen if we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:8… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ______________ us before the angels of God.
What will happen if deny (do not confess) Jesus?
Matthew 10:33… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:9… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before the angels of God.
2 Timothy 2:12… If we deny Jesus, Christ will ______________ us.
1 John 2:23… If we deny Jesus, we will not have the _____________.
REPENT .... STEP 3
“Freewill” is a natural part of man’s being. God made man with the attribute of “freewill” and he, therefore, is fully capable of choosing to serve either God or Satan (cf. Joshua 24:15). Being that all accountable persons have exercised their freewill in choosing to sin, it is equally true that the freewill of sinful man I necessarily involved in his choice to return to God (Rom. 3:23).
The Lord, our only Savior, requires repentance of taught believers. He did not come to call the righteous, "but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9:13). Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Luke's account of His last words tell us that Jesus required "repentance and remission of sins (to) be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47).
What is involved in the mind and life of one when he or she repents? This question must be answered, because if one would be saved by Christ that one must repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Repentance is a simple word. Its most basic meaning is "to think differently." Repentance is about changing direction. It also signifies "to change one's mind or purpose." It always involves a change for the better. One makes a change in direction from a lifestyle that was separated from God and a life that was rebellious against God and turns to Him. Isaiah summed it up: "Cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
Repentance is the way we must get ready and prepare for the coming of salvation. There is no salvation where there is no repentance. What is required is not that we try to escape from predicaments and crises, but a repentance wherein one sincerely turns to God. What is required is a life that repents (or turns) and walks with God.
What produces repentance? GODLY SORROW produces REPENTANCE (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Repentance then results in a REFORMATION OF LIFE (Luke 3:8). Therefore, Repentance is both an effect and a cause. It is the effect of godly sorrow and the cause of a reformation of life.
God has two ways to bring mankind to repentance. 1) From the word of God we are caused to see the fearful and eternal consequences of a life lived in sin (Matt. 11:20-24). 2) From the same word we also see that the goodness of God leads us to repent (Rom. 2:4-5). If these two ways will not cause a person to repent, such a person will never be brought to repentance!
The time is limited. Indeed, God has set the time of the end. The time when he is calling out for repentance will not go on for ever. Consequently, the apostle Paul has so spoken in the following way in the epistle addressed to the church at Corinth, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
We should not take lightly God's forgiveness of those who come to him repenting and God's abundant loving kindness, forbearance, and endurance which allows us to live in a righteous relationship with Him above. Remember: repent means to turn away from sin (change your mind about sin) and turn to God.
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Who commands us to repent?
Matthew 4:17… We are commanded to repent by _______________.
Acts 17:30… We are commanded to repent by ________________.
Of what should we repent?
Acts 8:22… We should repent of our _______________.
What will happen if we repent?
Luke 15:7… If we repent there will be ________________ in ______________.
What will happen if we do not repent?
Luke 13:3… If we don’t repent we will ______________.
The Lord, our only Savior, requires repentance of taught believers. He did not come to call the righteous, "but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9:13). Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Luke's account of His last words tell us that Jesus required "repentance and remission of sins (to) be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47).
What is involved in the mind and life of one when he or she repents? This question must be answered, because if one would be saved by Christ that one must repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Repentance is a simple word. Its most basic meaning is "to think differently." Repentance is about changing direction. It also signifies "to change one's mind or purpose." It always involves a change for the better. One makes a change in direction from a lifestyle that was separated from God and a life that was rebellious against God and turns to Him. Isaiah summed it up: "Cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
Repentance is the way we must get ready and prepare for the coming of salvation. There is no salvation where there is no repentance. What is required is not that we try to escape from predicaments and crises, but a repentance wherein one sincerely turns to God. What is required is a life that repents (or turns) and walks with God.
What produces repentance? GODLY SORROW produces REPENTANCE (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Repentance then results in a REFORMATION OF LIFE (Luke 3:8). Therefore, Repentance is both an effect and a cause. It is the effect of godly sorrow and the cause of a reformation of life.
God has two ways to bring mankind to repentance. 1) From the word of God we are caused to see the fearful and eternal consequences of a life lived in sin (Matt. 11:20-24). 2) From the same word we also see that the goodness of God leads us to repent (Rom. 2:4-5). If these two ways will not cause a person to repent, such a person will never be brought to repentance!
The time is limited. Indeed, God has set the time of the end. The time when he is calling out for repentance will not go on for ever. Consequently, the apostle Paul has so spoken in the following way in the epistle addressed to the church at Corinth, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
We should not take lightly God's forgiveness of those who come to him repenting and God's abundant loving kindness, forbearance, and endurance which allows us to live in a righteous relationship with Him above. Remember: repent means to turn away from sin (change your mind about sin) and turn to God.
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Who commands us to repent?
Matthew 4:17… We are commanded to repent by _______________.
Acts 17:30… We are commanded to repent by ________________.
Of what should we repent?
Acts 8:22… We should repent of our _______________.
What will happen if we repent?
Luke 15:7… If we repent there will be ________________ in ______________.
What will happen if we do not repent?
Luke 13:3… If we don’t repent we will ______________.
BELIEVE...STEP 2
In approaching our study of FAITH, we are mindful of the lesson we just completed (Step 1) on HEARING the Word. If there is no hearing, the faith will not be present because hearing is the basis of faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). This tells us that real Bible faith (the only acceptable faith) must be based upon the Word of God. Since Jesus is the Word, Paul says, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Therefore our faith must rest on Jesus Christ.
The Bible speaks of walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), a keeping the faith (Rev. 14:12), a building on faith (Jude 20), and a bearing of faith as part of the fruit of a Christian’s life (Gal. 5:22). Indeed, the entire response one makes to God is the process of faith. For this study, we will be thinking of faith as the second step in the plan of salvation. Faith is essential, vital, necessary, and without it there can be no salvation. Repentance, confession of Christ, and water baptism (the other steps in God’s plan) are all proceed by faith. Without faith they cannot take place!
What is faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith involves believing that God is – that He exists. Faith gives us the assurance that in seeking God there are rewards promised, and we expect to receive them. The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). This passage shows the need to please God. Therefore, faith is taking God at His word (Rom. 4:21).
Faith is NOT something merely felt or something imagined, and it is not something read or heard that is not the truth of the Bible. Many people can speak of having “faith” in this or that, but it may only be something imagined, something they desire to believe, or something they believe based on false information. None of these would be the faith spoken of and honored in the Word of God (compare Heb. 4:2).
Also, a faith that merely says, “I Believe,” but has no persuasion toward obeying, is not acceptable to God. James makes that point in reference to the devils: “Thou believest that there is on God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Satan and his hosts indeed know that God exists, and that Jesus is the Son of God, but these do not act to obey God and Christ. The only acceptable faith in God is an active obedient faith – a faith that “works by love” (Gal. 5:6). A faith that does not obey is a dead faith (James 2:17, 24, 26).
Remember: man is justified (or made right) by faith (Rom. 5:1), but we must again hasten to point out that man is not justified by faith only (James 2:24). Always, the faith that pleases God is that which is obedient to the will of God. Jesus is the author of salvation only to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). The only people who will make heaven their eternal home are the ones who do the will of God (Matt. 7:21).
Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
What must we believe?
Mark 1:15… We must believe the _______________.
John 2:22… We must believe the _______________.
John 14:1… We must believe in ______________ and in _____________.
John 12:36… We must believe in the _______________.
John 17:1, 21… We must believe God sent _________________.
John 14:26… We must believe God sent the ______________ ________________.
John 6:69… We must believe Jesus is the ______________ of the ______________ _______________.
James 2:19… We must believe there is (ONLY) _______________ God.
Acts 10:39… We must believe Jesus was put to death on the ________________.
1 Thessalonians 4:14… We must believe Jesus died and ______________ ______________.
1 John 1:7… We must believe Jesus’ blood cleanses us from _____________ _____________.
What will happen if we believe?
John 20:29… If we believe we will be ______________.
Mark 9:23… If we believe all things will be ______________.
What will happen if we do not believe?
Mark 16:16b… If we don’t believe we will be _____________.
John 8:24… If we don’t believe we will die in our _______________.
The Bible speaks of walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), a keeping the faith (Rev. 14:12), a building on faith (Jude 20), and a bearing of faith as part of the fruit of a Christian’s life (Gal. 5:22). Indeed, the entire response one makes to God is the process of faith. For this study, we will be thinking of faith as the second step in the plan of salvation. Faith is essential, vital, necessary, and without it there can be no salvation. Repentance, confession of Christ, and water baptism (the other steps in God’s plan) are all proceed by faith. Without faith they cannot take place!
What is faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith involves believing that God is – that He exists. Faith gives us the assurance that in seeking God there are rewards promised, and we expect to receive them. The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). This passage shows the need to please God. Therefore, faith is taking God at His word (Rom. 4:21).
Faith is NOT something merely felt or something imagined, and it is not something read or heard that is not the truth of the Bible. Many people can speak of having “faith” in this or that, but it may only be something imagined, something they desire to believe, or something they believe based on false information. None of these would be the faith spoken of and honored in the Word of God (compare Heb. 4:2).
Also, a faith that merely says, “I Believe,” but has no persuasion toward obeying, is not acceptable to God. James makes that point in reference to the devils: “Thou believest that there is on God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Satan and his hosts indeed know that God exists, and that Jesus is the Son of God, but these do not act to obey God and Christ. The only acceptable faith in God is an active obedient faith – a faith that “works by love” (Gal. 5:6). A faith that does not obey is a dead faith (James 2:17, 24, 26).
Remember: man is justified (or made right) by faith (Rom. 5:1), but we must again hasten to point out that man is not justified by faith only (James 2:24). Always, the faith that pleases God is that which is obedient to the will of God. Jesus is the author of salvation only to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). The only people who will make heaven their eternal home are the ones who do the will of God (Matt. 7:21).
Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
What must we believe?
Mark 1:15… We must believe the _______________.
John 2:22… We must believe the _______________.
John 14:1… We must believe in ______________ and in _____________.
John 12:36… We must believe in the _______________.
John 17:1, 21… We must believe God sent _________________.
John 14:26… We must believe God sent the ______________ ________________.
John 6:69… We must believe Jesus is the ______________ of the ______________ _______________.
James 2:19… We must believe there is (ONLY) _______________ God.
Acts 10:39… We must believe Jesus was put to death on the ________________.
1 Thessalonians 4:14… We must believe Jesus died and ______________ ______________.
1 John 1:7… We must believe Jesus’ blood cleanses us from _____________ _____________.
What will happen if we believe?
John 20:29… If we believe we will be ______________.
Mark 9:23… If we believe all things will be ______________.
What will happen if we do not believe?
Mark 16:16b… If we don’t believe we will be _____________.
John 8:24… If we don’t believe we will die in our _______________.
PLAN OF SALVATION...STEP 1
Loved ones, God approaches man through his ears and eyes, his understanding. Thus, the Bible was given to be read, studied, understood, and obeyed (Matt. 7:24-29).
In Acts chapter two, the Gospel was preached for the first time to the Jewish people who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. At that time the apostles preached the Gospel, telling the people how Jesus had died for their sins, been buried and rose from the dead on the third day. The apostles told the people that God had made the man Jesus, whom the leaders had just crucified, both Lord and Christ. In Acts 2:37, the Bible says, “Now when they HEARD this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). This is one of the many verses in the Bible that shows the importance of HEARING the word of God.
Surely we recognize the importance of repentance; for without it men will perish (Luke 13:3). Confession of faith in Christ must be made with the mouth unto salvation (Matt. 10:32-33). Baptism washes sins away (Acts 22:16), puts one into Christ where salvation is found (Gal. 3:27; 2 Tim. 2:10), thus making that one a child of God. If however, there is not proper hearing of God’s word none of these things will ever come about.
Jesus is the author of salvation to the obedient (Heb. 5: 8-9), but to no one else. We can not obey Him unless we learn His will, and we can not learn His will outside of the Bible. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). Thus, no one can find God, the Savior, or the Holy Spirit, without HEARING the word of God.
To be saved one must “call upon the name of the Lord.” Before this can be done, one must believe, and in order to believe, he must HEAR (Rom. 10:13-14). The Holy Spirit says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), so again the Bible teaches that HEARING is so very important.
We must hear the word of God discerningly. We should not be a gullible hearer. The noble Bereans searched the scriptures daily to see whether the things they HEARD were true (Acts 17:11). Like them we must not accept or reject what is preached until we have examined it carefully in light of all the Bible teaches.
We must hear the word of God eagerly, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).
We must hear the word of God with proper motives. Jesus taught, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…and everyone that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand” (Matt. 7:24-26).
Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Why was the Word (the Bible) written?
2 Timothy 3:16… The Word was written and is profitable for our ______________, ________________,
______________, and ______________ in ________________.
Romans 15:4… The Word was written in the Old Testament for our ________________.
Romans 10:17… The Word was written so we will have ______________.
John 20:30-31… The Word was written so we will believe that Jesus Christ is the _____________ of ____________.
James 1:25… The Word was written because it’s the perfect _____________ of _____________.
John 17:17… The Word was written because it’s the ________________.
1 Thessalonians 2:13… The Word was written because it’s the ______________ of ______________.
What will the Word do for us?
Luke 11:28… The Word will ____________ us.
John 8:32… The Word will make us ______________.
2 Timothy 3:15… The Word will make us ____________ unto _______________.
James 1:21… The Word will save our ______________.
What will Judge us in the last day?
John 12:48… The _______________.
In Acts chapter two, the Gospel was preached for the first time to the Jewish people who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. At that time the apostles preached the Gospel, telling the people how Jesus had died for their sins, been buried and rose from the dead on the third day. The apostles told the people that God had made the man Jesus, whom the leaders had just crucified, both Lord and Christ. In Acts 2:37, the Bible says, “Now when they HEARD this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). This is one of the many verses in the Bible that shows the importance of HEARING the word of God.
Surely we recognize the importance of repentance; for without it men will perish (Luke 13:3). Confession of faith in Christ must be made with the mouth unto salvation (Matt. 10:32-33). Baptism washes sins away (Acts 22:16), puts one into Christ where salvation is found (Gal. 3:27; 2 Tim. 2:10), thus making that one a child of God. If however, there is not proper hearing of God’s word none of these things will ever come about.
Jesus is the author of salvation to the obedient (Heb. 5: 8-9), but to no one else. We can not obey Him unless we learn His will, and we can not learn His will outside of the Bible. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). Thus, no one can find God, the Savior, or the Holy Spirit, without HEARING the word of God.
To be saved one must “call upon the name of the Lord.” Before this can be done, one must believe, and in order to believe, he must HEAR (Rom. 10:13-14). The Holy Spirit says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), so again the Bible teaches that HEARING is so very important.
We must hear the word of God discerningly. We should not be a gullible hearer. The noble Bereans searched the scriptures daily to see whether the things they HEARD were true (Acts 17:11). Like them we must not accept or reject what is preached until we have examined it carefully in light of all the Bible teaches.
We must hear the word of God eagerly, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).
We must hear the word of God with proper motives. Jesus taught, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…and everyone that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand” (Matt. 7:24-26).
Please answer the three questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
Why was the Word (the Bible) written?
2 Timothy 3:16… The Word was written and is profitable for our ______________, ________________,
______________, and ______________ in ________________.
Romans 15:4… The Word was written in the Old Testament for our ________________.
Romans 10:17… The Word was written so we will have ______________.
John 20:30-31… The Word was written so we will believe that Jesus Christ is the _____________ of ____________.
James 1:25… The Word was written because it’s the perfect _____________ of _____________.
John 17:17… The Word was written because it’s the ________________.
1 Thessalonians 2:13… The Word was written because it’s the ______________ of ______________.
What will the Word do for us?
Luke 11:28… The Word will ____________ us.
John 8:32… The Word will make us ______________.
2 Timothy 3:15… The Word will make us ____________ unto _______________.
James 1:21… The Word will save our ______________.
What will Judge us in the last day?
John 12:48… The _______________.
Statement of Faith
There exists only one God, creator and sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally co-existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Scriptures, both Old and New testaments, are the inspired, inerrant and trustworthy Word of God, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the final authority for all matters about which it speaks.
Human nature derives from two historical personas, male and female, created in God’s image. They were created perfect, but they sinned, plunging themselves and all human beings into sin, guilt, suffering, and death.
The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe. Only those who trust in Him alone are born of the Holy Spirit and are true members of the Church; only they will spend eternity with Christ. One must be born of the water and spirit to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers, and He comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor Christ.
The Scriptures, both Old and New testaments, are the inspired, inerrant and trustworthy Word of God, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the final authority for all matters about which it speaks.
Human nature derives from two historical personas, male and female, created in God’s image. They were created perfect, but they sinned, plunging themselves and all human beings into sin, guilt, suffering, and death.
The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe. Only those who trust in Him alone are born of the Holy Spirit and are true members of the Church; only they will spend eternity with Christ. One must be born of the water and spirit to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers, and He comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor Christ.
IT IS A FACT!
IT IS A FACT -
Using the poor rate of reading 200 words a minute (about 10 verses) THE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH, READING 30 MINUTES (1 ½ HOUR) DAILY for 4 MONTHS or 3 TIMES A YEAR!
Using the poor rate of reading 200 words a minute (about 10 verses) THE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH, READING 30 MINUTES (1 ½ HOUR) DAILY for 4 MONTHS or 3 TIMES A YEAR!
IT IS A FACT -
God has spoken 7 blessings to His Bible readers in Deut. 17:19, 20. The 19th verse says, “he shall read therein ALL THE DAYS of his life.” If he is told to read ALL HIS DAYS, he must read ALL THE BOOK!
IT IS A FACT -
(1) “When I READ the Bible, GOD TALKS TO ME.” (2) “When I PRAY, I TALK TO GOD.” And (3) “When I STUDY, I TALK TO OTHERS.”
The 3 words are different and will not mix. How can I talk to others about God UNLESS I LET GOD TALK TO ME FIRST AS I READ THE BIBLE THROUGH.
IT IS A FACT -
READING is a HABIT and we must PRACTICE TO PROGRESS DAILY. PUSH every day to CHANGE YOUR BAD READING HABIT. PRACTICE - read 10 pages in an hour. PRACTICE - read 15 pages in an hour. PRACTICE - read 20 pages in an hour. PRACTICE, PUSH, every day to a goal. MOST WILL NOT - YOU CAN DO IT.
IT IS A FACT -
Read the Bible through every 3 months (90 days) for 25 years - that would be 20 pages in the Giant Print edition Bible daily - this is SLOW reading, allowing 3 minutes to each page for one hour.
IT IS A FACT -
To be FREE, we must KNOW THE TRUTH. THE CONDITION we MUST KNOW first, BY READING THE BOOK THROUGH. Then we ACT on what we KNOW and the result is FREEDOM. Remember the Chinese proverb, “A book not read is A BLOCK OF PAPER.”
IT IS A FACT -
The 200 words per minute ARE NOT SPEED READING the Bible through. Some of my students read far beyond the 200 words, BUT AT 200 words a minute, you will be a far better reader of the Bible than you are NOW - TRY IT and SEE FOR YOURSELF how much MORE you will enjoy, remember, comprehend, and meditate in the WHOLE BIBLE as you repeatedly READ THE WHOLE BIBLE THROUGH over and over for your own good both here and in eternity. Dr. Moule said, “No matter what your study habit, BE ALWAYS READING your Bible THROUGH.”
IT IS A FACT -
You need not speed read your Bible, But over 90% of all Bible believers NEED TO READ THE Bible better, and daily and through. Start today!
IT IS A FACT -
You can read the Bible through EVERY 4 ½ DAYS for 6 months. You will gain a working knowledge of every chapter in the Bible (1189) in only 6 months -reading the Bible from the first word to the last word over and over.
IT IS A FACT -
If you use your clock or the timer on your stove, you will read more pages in the hour, and the more you read your Bible through, the clearer will be the over-all picture of God's dealings with mankind through the ages.
IT IS A FACT -
Reading 200 words a minute is poor by national standards, BUT THE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH, reading ONE HOUR DAILY for 2 MONTHS or 6 TIMES A YEAR at 200 words a minute!
IT IS A FACT -
44 Bible books ARE SHORT, EACH CAN BE READ IN 30 MINUTES (1/2 Hour). If 2 short Bible books are READ in ONE HOUR daily, 2/3 of the entire Bible can be read SLOWLY in 22 DAYS!
IT IS A FACT -
All the way back to the apostles, the great majority of Bible believers have never read the Bible from start to finish.
IT IS A FACT -
In the New Testament, Paul tells Timothy to READ in the first letter, and instructs him to “study” in the 2nd letter. This IS CORRECT ORDER!
IT IS A FACT -
We must read entire books of the Bible at a time - do not chop it up, skip here and there, or read a few chapters in the Old Testament and then a few chapters in the New - NEVER DO THAT - “You will remain ignorant of God's plan and purpose through the Bible.”
WHAT WILL CONTINUOUS BIBLE READING DO FOR ME?
Your answer is in your own Bible and found in Deuteronomy 17:18-20.
The king is told he needs “the Book.” V18. “It shall be WITH him”…always. V19. Why? V19 “he shall READ THEREIN ALL the DAYS OF HIS LIFE:”
7 Blessings Of Bible Reading:
LEARN to fear the Lord.
KNOW what laws to keep.
Kept humble.
Established - not turn
Long Life
CONTINUE - his kingdom
Blessed children
KNOW what laws to keep.
Kept humble.
Established - not turn
Long Life
CONTINUE - his kingdom
Blessed children
7 BLESSINGS WILL RESULT:
1,2 … MENTAL …Mind needs the WORD!
3-5 …Physical, Social, Emotional WORD!
6 …Material and social care - WORD!
7 …Happy family - by the WORD!
“He shall READ therein ALL the DAYS of his LIFE” How can anyone honestly question consistent, constant, daily, READING THE BIBLE THROUGH? How can you refuse to do it? What will you say when you stand in His presence and the BOOK will face you there?
Remember SAUL REFUSED TO HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK - SAUL DID NOT READ DAILY THROUGH THE BOOK - SAUL'S confused, unstable life, his mental illness, his hates and outlandish conduct and eath should warn us all - DO NOT NEGLECT TO READ DAILY THROUGH AND KNOW GOD'S WORDS.
Just one hour daily reading the Bible through - Purpose - Plan - Schedule - Record. This does not hinder prayer and study time. All 3 Read-Pray-Study are separate and different. Bible reading through has suffered most in the past. Proper balance between the 3 is the only safe policy, no matter what you have been doing - make room for Bible Reading in your daily schedule and be sure to have a purpose-plan-schedule-keep a record.
SIX SCHEDULES OF READING
The reading Bible you should use should be big print and not marked much.
5 PAGES DAY Through in 365 days Read through 1 Time Year
10 PAGES DAY Through in 180 days Through 6 months - 2 Times Year
15 PAGES DAY Through in 120 days Through 4 months - 3 Times Year
20 PAGES DAY Through in 90 days Through 3 months - 4 Times Year
30 PAGES DAY Through in 60 days Through 2 months - 6 Times Year
60 PAGES DAY Through in 30 days Through 1 months - 12 Times Year
260 pages, average pages, to each of 7 volumes. No one is asking anyone to follow any certain schedule. You make the choice honestly. If you do not follow a schedule in Bible reading, the chances are slim that you will ever read the Bible through. The devil and circumstances will see to it that, without discipline and determination, you will never read your Bible through.
READING SCHEDULES
You ask how to have a Bible reading schedule in your own life? You have been told - it is actually so simple - yet the average believer lives and dies never knowing the comfort of the Scriptures, simply because he never read them enough to find out!
Never read the Bible hop, skip and jump. Never limit your reading to familiar passages. Do not read a few chapters in the Old Testament and a few chapters in the New Testament. Dr. Scroggie says, “If you read the Bible, a bit from the Old Testament and a bit from the New Testament, you will REMAIN IGNORANT OF THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD IN THE BIBLE.”
Leave the books of the Bible alone where God has seen fit to put them. Remember also the chapters and verses are not actually a part of the Bible. They should not be allowed to interrupt the connect READING OF THE SCRIPTURES…The chapter divisions are usually attributed to Stephan Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury in England. The verse divisions of the Old Testament by Rabbi Nathan in 1148, and the New Testament verse by a printer of Paris, Robert Staphanus.
Helpful Hint With Reading Your Bible
Be sure to use a Giant print reading Bible, and when it is cut into 7 volumes of 260 pages each, it is not heavy, you can keep your volume with you and you should at all times. You can then read in spare moment or while waiting. Hundreds of otherwise lost hours can be redeemed by reading the Word continually. I have done this for years with great profits in 
my life.
Be sure to have a good study Bible. Do not read from your study Bible, and do not study from your reading Bible. One of the things you must stop is trying to mix reading and study. Reading through the Bible is on a schedule (reading a set number of pages each day to finish at a set date); but study can be slow, you can mull over Scriptures as much as you like, mark verses, BUT NOT WHILE READING YOUR HOUR A DAY!
“When I READ the Bible ------GOD TALKS TO ME.”
“When I STUDY -------I prepare myself to TALK TO OTHERS.”
my life.Be sure to have a good study Bible. Do not read from your study Bible, and do not study from your reading Bible. One of the things you must stop is trying to mix reading and study. Reading through the Bible is on a schedule (reading a set number of pages each day to finish at a set date); but study can be slow, you can mull over Scriptures as much as you like, mark verses, BUT NOT WHILE READING YOUR HOUR A DAY!
“When I READ the Bible ------GOD TALKS TO ME.”
“When I STUDY -------I prepare myself to TALK TO OTHERS.”
What is Considered Good Reading?
The National Reading Institute reports 200 words a minute poor reading. 250 words a minute is good. 400 words a minute is excellent. If you read less than 200 words a minute the mind wanders off to other things. The mind is a computer that picks up ideas - not words. As long as you get the idea from what you read, a better rate of reading is yours from practice, practice and more practice, reading from a set number of pages an hour, then a few more pages the next day, and gradually move your reading rate up and when you go back a bit in your words per minute, you will still be doing better than when you get started.
For all considerations we will use the slowest rate - 200 words a minute in following paragraphs. This 200 words per minute is not reading, but a suggestion to help you discontinue dragging your reading through the Bible. You can read too fast and you can read too slow - b
y far the greater percentage of Bible readers read much too slow. This is a bad habit. You will lose interest. You will quit reading your Bible through. Slow reading is why so many people do not and have not read the Bible through in the past.
When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (about 10 verses), for one hour a day, you WILL read the Bible through in 2 MONTHS or 6 times a year. Are you surprised? Thousands of people are surprised about this.
When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (and that is slow reading), for only ½ hour or 30 minutes daily, you will read the Bible through in 4 MONTHS or 3 times a year! Are you still surprised?
Someone has written that 2/3 of all Bible books (44 of 66) are small books, AND CAN BE READ THROUGH, each one of the 44, in 30 MINUTES OR LESS! IF two small books are read in 1 hour each day, TWO THIRDS OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS READ THROUGH IN ONLY 22 DAYS! IF the remaining 22 longer books are read through, one a day, THE ENTIRE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH IN 44 DAYS or 6 weeks and 2 DAYS! THAT'S 8 TIMES THROUGH YEARLY!
If you READ THE Bible through only once a year - 5 pages daily - you will not remember what you read because your thoughts will not hold together because other thoughts will crowd into the mind, and you are not taking enough of the Word into your mind and heart to do much good.
For all considerations we will use the slowest rate - 200 words a minute in following paragraphs. This 200 words per minute is not reading, but a suggestion to help you discontinue dragging your reading through the Bible. You can read too fast and you can read too slow - b
y far the greater percentage of Bible readers read much too slow. This is a bad habit. You will lose interest. You will quit reading your Bible through. Slow reading is why so many people do not and have not read the Bible through in the past.When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (about 10 verses), for one hour a day, you WILL read the Bible through in 2 MONTHS or 6 times a year. Are you surprised? Thousands of people are surprised about this.
When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (and that is slow reading), for only ½ hour or 30 minutes daily, you will read the Bible through in 4 MONTHS or 3 times a year! Are you still surprised?
Someone has written that 2/3 of all Bible books (44 of 66) are small books, AND CAN BE READ THROUGH, each one of the 44, in 30 MINUTES OR LESS! IF two small books are read in 1 hour each day, TWO THIRDS OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS READ THROUGH IN ONLY 22 DAYS! IF the remaining 22 longer books are read through, one a day, THE ENTIRE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH IN 44 DAYS or 6 weeks and 2 DAYS! THAT'S 8 TIMES THROUGH YEARLY!
If you READ THE Bible through only once a year - 5 pages daily - you will not remember what you read because your thoughts will not hold together because other thoughts will crowd into the mind, and you are not taking enough of the Word into your mind and heart to do much good.
To My Loving Wife...Another Funny!
A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long weekend to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. Because both had jobs, they had difficulty coordinating their travel schedules. It was decided that the husband would fly to Florida on a Thursday, and his wife would follow him the next day. Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. There he decided to open his laptop and send his wife an e-mail back in Minneapolis. However, he accidentally left off one letter in her address, and sent the e-mail without realizing his error.
In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who had been 'called home to glory' following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted and fell to the floor. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who had been 'called home to glory' following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted and fell to the floor. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
To: My Loving Wife
From: Your Departed Husband
Subject: I've Arrived!
I've just arrived and have checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
(P.S. Sure is hot down here!)
I Thought I knew the Bible
I had an employer that wasn't a Christian as far as we could tell. He loved to read books. We would sit and talk about bibliographies, politics and even a few religious topics. One day in our conversation about nothing he made the statement that he has never truly read the Bible. He has mainly been told what the Bible says and has read a few scriptures here and there but nothing in depth. Therefore, he decided he was going to read the Bible. More for reading material and the historical events than anything. A few weeks later I spoke with him to find out how far he has gotten. He explained that he was just about finished with the old testament. I was glad but shocked he actually did. Then without warning, a feeling of depression came on to me. Here is a "non-Christian" telling me stories and events of the Bible I couldn't remember or even knew about. I being a Christian should have said, "oh, yeah I know that part and did you know....".
I decided it was time for myself to do the same. I should sit and read the Bible from cover to cover. Not skipping around reading a verse here or there. Truly read it as if it was on the New York Times bestsellers list today. Therefore, I set out a resolution to do so.
Here is the funny thing. I began last night reading in Genesis and by the time I hit chapter 9, I had learned 4 things I never knew. FOUR THINGS! Wow. Let me tell you what they were.
1.) Noah cursed his son, Ham and his generations (Canaanites) for not helping him.
2.) Noah made the Canaanites servants of his brothers generations.
3.) There was not 2 of each kind of animal that went into the ark. There were 4 of the same kind. There were 2 clean and 2 of unclean same type animals and they were also to be of different species of each category. There were at least 7 different species.
4.) Man was a vegetarian until after he was cast from the garden.
Let me encourage you to open your Bible. If not for any other reason to know what the Bible says. Read it from cover to cover. Even when the ancestry slows you down, read them. You will know who each person is and it helps relate where they came from giving a better understanding of who they are and why they do what they do.
Read your Bible and even when you think you know the stories or events, read it again. You will be surprised what might show up and just how enriching reading it becomes.
I decided it was time for myself to do the same. I should sit and read the Bible from cover to cover. Not skipping around reading a verse here or there. Truly read it as if it was on the New York Times bestsellers list today. Therefore, I set out a resolution to do so.
Here is the funny thing. I began last night reading in Genesis and by the time I hit chapter 9, I had learned 4 things I never knew. FOUR THINGS! Wow. Let me tell you what they were.
1.) Noah cursed his son, Ham and his generations (Canaanites) for not helping him.
2.) Noah made the Canaanites servants of his brothers generations.
3.) There was not 2 of each kind of animal that went into the ark. There were 4 of the same kind. There were 2 clean and 2 of unclean same type animals and they were also to be of different species of each category. There were at least 7 different species.
4.) Man was a vegetarian until after he was cast from the garden.
Let me encourage you to open your Bible. If not for any other reason to know what the Bible says. Read it from cover to cover. Even when the ancestry slows you down, read them. You will know who each person is and it helps relate where they came from giving a better understanding of who they are and why they do what they do.
Read your Bible and even when you think you know the stories or events, read it again. You will be surprised what might show up and just how enriching reading it becomes.
Where is God....Funny
A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved. They boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.
The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?". They boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!"
The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?". They boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!"
How To Be Happy and at Peace
Believe in God's love. True peace and contentment is the knowledge that we are in our Father's very capable, loving hands at all times. Here is our favorite quote, from a famous Jesuit priest: "The essence of our faith is a dream, a vision, a possibility. It may be that we can all live with one another in peace and affection. It may be that the whole of humankind can become one family. This is the story Jesus told us. This is the faith that keeps us Christian; this is the vision we see in the eyes of our children before they fall asleep at night. It is not a faith of rules, though perhaps rules are necessary. It is rather a dream of what is possible if God really loves us the way Jesus says He loves us: with a parent's tenderness and a lover's passion."
Among all God's living creatures you are special and unique, because He made you in His image as His true child. You are an infinite being who will live forever, capable of doing good that you cannot even dream about right now. Deep down you know all this, and you yearn to have it all explained and brought out into the light. One day , with the grace of God, you hear or read the words of Christ. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John contain e
very word He said during His time on earth. As His true children, we instantly recognize the truth of those words. Every single thing that He said agrees perfectly with our conscience. We do not just agree, we know. This is faith. It is not based on nothing, it is based on who we are, and comes with absolute certainty direct from our heart and soul, a pure gift to us of God's grace. It is natural for us to return God's love. God (Christ) told us to show our love for Him by caring for and loving all of His other children, our fellow human beings. We are to feed other people when they are hungry, shelter them and clothe them when they are cold. We are to comfort them when they are sorrowful. We are to always be a joyful beacon of light in a sad, dark world. We are to forgive our worst enemies of everything that they do to us that is mean or hurtful, and return their hatred with kind words and cheer. We are to especially honor and take care of our parents. And we are to do all this simply because we are true children of God.
very word He said during His time on earth. As His true children, we instantly recognize the truth of those words. Every single thing that He said agrees perfectly with our conscience. We do not just agree, we know. This is faith. It is not based on nothing, it is based on who we are, and comes with absolute certainty direct from our heart and soul, a pure gift to us of God's grace. It is natural for us to return God's love. God (Christ) told us to show our love for Him by caring for and loving all of His other children, our fellow human beings. We are to feed other people when they are hungry, shelter them and clothe them when they are cold. We are to comfort them when they are sorrowful. We are to always be a joyful beacon of light in a sad, dark world. We are to forgive our worst enemies of everything that they do to us that is mean or hurtful, and return their hatred with kind words and cheer. We are to especially honor and take care of our parents. And we are to do all this simply because we are true children of God. It is our nature. It is not easy. But the great miracle of Christianity is that every time we stray off the path, every time we offend our Father, He will instantly forgive us completely if only we ask Him to in the name of Jesus Christ, who came to earth and suffered and died so that this forgiveness would be possible. For anyone, this is wonderful news! It is more than that, it is everything.
Signs of Getting Older...Is It Funny If It's True?
1. Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
2. It takes longer to rest than it took to get tired
3. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.
4. You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
5. You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.
6. Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.
7. You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 95 around the golf course.
8. You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
9. You're asleep, but others worry that you're dead.
10. You sing along with the elevator music.
11. You constantly talk about the price of gasoline.
12. People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
13. You have a dream about prunes.
14. You actually send money to PBS.
15. The end of your tie doesn't come anywhere near the top of your pants.
16. You take a metal detector to the beach.
17. You wear black socks with sandals.
18. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
2. It takes longer to rest than it took to get tired
3. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.
4. You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
5. You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.
6. Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.
7. You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 95 around the golf course.
8. You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
9. You're asleep, but others worry that you're dead.
10. You sing along with the elevator music.
11. You constantly talk about the price of gasoline.
12. People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
13. You have a dream about prunes.
14. You actually send money to PBS.
15. The end of your tie doesn't come anywhere near the top of your pants.
16. You take a metal detector to the beach.
17. You wear black socks with sandals.
18. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
The Dying Preacher..Funny
An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his IRS agent and his Lawyer (both church members), to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moment. They were also puzzled because the preacher had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them. Finally, the Lawyer asked, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?" The old preacher mustered up some strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moment. They were also puzzled because the preacher had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them. Finally, the Lawyer asked, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?" The old preacher mustered up some strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too.
It's a Woman Thing !?!
Let me just tell you right from the beginning, I know that you've tried. And you know that you've tried. Lord knows that you have scratched your head in wonder and profound confusion when it comes to the woman that you love. You've tried to hear and understand. You want to give and respond. Ten fabulous dates. Seven promises. Five love languages. Three counselors. Anything. Everything. But whatever you do, it's never enough. The target of her desire moves and you can't seem to hit the bull's-eye. You've tried; we both know it. But the truth is that you can't.
In a hundred different ways, she has asked you, "Do you think I'm beautiful?" and
in just as many ways, you've tried to tell her, "Yes, oh my goodness, yes, you are incredibly beautiful to me." She may not have asked you directly, but everything about her is wired to long for beauty ... especially to be known as beautiful. One of the questions that our Creator attached to her feminine soul is, "Do you think I'm beautiful?"
The beauty that a woman longs for isn't all about body image. (Well, maybe it's a little about body image.) The deeper beauty that she longs for is about complete acceptance.
Does anyone see her flawed and sinful and still call her beautiful? Do you see the loneliness? Do you see her struggle? Do you see the unmet desires of her heart? Do you see her yearn for the life she has dreamed of? Do you see her in the middle of all that mess and still call her beautiful?
Somehow, somewhere, she got to thinking that you could answer the question attached to her soul. Maybe you did that wonderful thing that a man can do to a woman: Turned her world upside down and made her believe she couldn't take another breath without you. How cool that God planned such a ruckus when a man and a woman fall in love. He must certainly enjoy watching His created find pleasure and peace in one another. But somehow in the middle of all that, a woman can begin to believe that a man might just be all that she needs. He will answer my questions. He can heal my wounds. He can fill up the cup of my soul. He will make me whole. But she has lost sight of the design: God has made us for Himself. Eugene Peterson paraphrased Paul's words from Ephesians 1:4-5: "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) "He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son" (The Message, emphasis mine).
You and I and the woman that you love have been made by God, for God. The part of us that aches to be filled is the soul, and the soul was made for His presence. In this passage, Paul says we will not be whole, apart from the love of God. But God also made us relational. We have been made to long for the other lovers, giving and receiving love and intimacy. It's just that we have lost sight of the order. We've misunderstood the design. Wholeness comes from God, not from any other relationship or thing or feeling.
So what about the love of a man and a woman? It can be fabulous when your soul is full of the love of God. But it can be devastating when you have expected someone to fill up the dry and empty places. A woman who has known healthy love from a man is stronger and more self-assured. This covering of healthy love becomes a touchstone of sorts. A safe place to run back to. A haven to rest in. A shelter in the storm. There is someone to come to her rescue. There is someone to hold her in the night. There is someone to call her beautiful. Perfect. It might all be just perfect, except that one day the woman can wake up and look at the man who calls her beautiful and decide that he's not enough. Maybe if he'd come home in time for dinner or pick up his socks or make more money or part his hair differently ... then maybe he'd be enough to fill every longing ... then, maybe he'd make her whole. A woman can gaze across her backyard and dreamily believe that her neighbor's man could get it right. He owns his own business, can barbecue for 50, smiles a lot and brings her expensive gifts. She could imagine that he wants to know what she is thinking, rubs her feet at night and asks her which video she'd like him to rent. Well, he might be all that, but probably not. He is just a man. Beyond the personality she glimpsed across the picket fence is a real person with fallen places and wounds that keep him from being able to meet his wife's deepest needs too.
In the effort to make things perfect, a woman can beg her man to be like the one over there. She's hoping that if he could change, then she'd finally be whole. When the man feels like he is asked to be something he wasn't ever made to be, when he senses the pressure to meet expectations that seem unattainable, when he wants to fill but doesn't really understand how to pour, after years of talking and trying and talking some more, then the man can step back in frustration. There is a distance the woman tries to counter, so she leans in and desperately asks him for more. And he might try from miles away, but he can't. So he looks across the backyard and wonders if his neighbor's woman has these needs. Maybe a woman like her could appreciate a man like him. And his heart wanders away. And he gives up on romance with the one he has loved and the passion dies. And the heart of the woman who has expected the man to be enough dies with it.
Here's the deal ... you weren't made to be enough to fill the woman's soul. You already knew that. You are just a man and can only give as a man and interact as a man and love as a man. You were not designed to fill the depth of a woman's longings, anticipate every need and jump through every hoop. You can't. Those deep places inside of the woman were made for God.
You are a vessel. God uses you to give her a part of the filling of His holy love. But you are not the only vessel, nor are you able to fill from your own strength, nor are you the only thing she will ever need. When a woman cries out, "Do you think I'm beautiful?" the only answer that's enough comes from God. He says to her in Psalm 45:11, "the king is enthralled by your beauty" (NIV). For a woman to be filled in the depths of her soul, the love of God is required ... knowing Him ... hearing His voice ... believing that He's wild about her.
So you're off the hook. You can't ever be enough. You can't ever really answer the question attached to her soul. But you still have a responsibility. If the Holy Spirit directs you to speak words of blessing to her, then for goodness sake don't hold back. If God instructs you to pamper her, then get moving. Obey God's promptings. Through your obedience, she will taste a part of the love God has for her.
Even though you will never be enough, please keep trying. Even when the target moves, don't give up; keep aiming for her heart. Even when you are discouraged, look up and He will give you grace. This is a spiritual act of worship ... to love her well is to worship God.
Now put down these words and get in there and kiss that woman like it's the first time.
In a hundred different ways, she has asked you, "Do you think I'm beautiful?" and
in just as many ways, you've tried to tell her, "Yes, oh my goodness, yes, you are incredibly beautiful to me." She may not have asked you directly, but everything about her is wired to long for beauty ... especially to be known as beautiful. One of the questions that our Creator attached to her feminine soul is, "Do you think I'm beautiful?"The beauty that a woman longs for isn't all about body image. (Well, maybe it's a little about body image.) The deeper beauty that she longs for is about complete acceptance.
Does anyone see her flawed and sinful and still call her beautiful? Do you see the loneliness? Do you see her struggle? Do you see the unmet desires of her heart? Do you see her yearn for the life she has dreamed of? Do you see her in the middle of all that mess and still call her beautiful?
Somehow, somewhere, she got to thinking that you could answer the question attached to her soul. Maybe you did that wonderful thing that a man can do to a woman: Turned her world upside down and made her believe she couldn't take another breath without you. How cool that God planned such a ruckus when a man and a woman fall in love. He must certainly enjoy watching His created find pleasure and peace in one another. But somehow in the middle of all that, a woman can begin to believe that a man might just be all that she needs. He will answer my questions. He can heal my wounds. He can fill up the cup of my soul. He will make me whole. But she has lost sight of the design: God has made us for Himself. Eugene Peterson paraphrased Paul's words from Ephesians 1:4-5: "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) "He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son" (The Message, emphasis mine).
You and I and the woman that you love have been made by God, for God. The part of us that aches to be filled is the soul, and the soul was made for His presence. In this passage, Paul says we will not be whole, apart from the love of God. But God also made us relational. We have been made to long for the other lovers, giving and receiving love and intimacy. It's just that we have lost sight of the order. We've misunderstood the design. Wholeness comes from God, not from any other relationship or thing or feeling.
So what about the love of a man and a woman? It can be fabulous when your soul is full of the love of God. But it can be devastating when you have expected someone to fill up the dry and empty places. A woman who has known healthy love from a man is stronger and more self-assured. This covering of healthy love becomes a touchstone of sorts. A safe place to run back to. A haven to rest in. A shelter in the storm. There is someone to come to her rescue. There is someone to hold her in the night. There is someone to call her beautiful. Perfect. It might all be just perfect, except that one day the woman can wake up and look at the man who calls her beautiful and decide that he's not enough. Maybe if he'd come home in time for dinner or pick up his socks or make more money or part his hair differently ... then maybe he'd be enough to fill every longing ... then, maybe he'd make her whole. A woman can gaze across her backyard and dreamily believe that her neighbor's man could get it right. He owns his own business, can barbecue for 50, smiles a lot and brings her expensive gifts. She could imagine that he wants to know what she is thinking, rubs her feet at night and asks her which video she'd like him to rent. Well, he might be all that, but probably not. He is just a man. Beyond the personality she glimpsed across the picket fence is a real person with fallen places and wounds that keep him from being able to meet his wife's deepest needs too.
In the effort to make things perfect, a woman can beg her man to be like the one over there. She's hoping that if he could change, then she'd finally be whole. When the man feels like he is asked to be something he wasn't ever made to be, when he senses the pressure to meet expectations that seem unattainable, when he wants to fill but doesn't really understand how to pour, after years of talking and trying and talking some more, then the man can step back in frustration. There is a distance the woman tries to counter, so she leans in and desperately asks him for more. And he might try from miles away, but he can't. So he looks across the backyard and wonders if his neighbor's woman has these needs. Maybe a woman like her could appreciate a man like him. And his heart wanders away. And he gives up on romance with the one he has loved and the passion dies. And the heart of the woman who has expected the man to be enough dies with it.
Here's the deal ... you weren't made to be enough to fill the woman's soul. You already knew that. You are just a man and can only give as a man and interact as a man and love as a man. You were not designed to fill the depth of a woman's longings, anticipate every need and jump through every hoop. You can't. Those deep places inside of the woman were made for God.
You are a vessel. God uses you to give her a part of the filling of His holy love. But you are not the only vessel, nor are you able to fill from your own strength, nor are you the only thing she will ever need. When a woman cries out, "Do you think I'm beautiful?" the only answer that's enough comes from God. He says to her in Psalm 45:11, "the king is enthralled by your beauty" (NIV). For a woman to be filled in the depths of her soul, the love of God is required ... knowing Him ... hearing His voice ... believing that He's wild about her.
So you're off the hook. You can't ever be enough. You can't ever really answer the question attached to her soul. But you still have a responsibility. If the Holy Spirit directs you to speak words of blessing to her, then for goodness sake don't hold back. If God instructs you to pamper her, then get moving. Obey God's promptings. Through your obedience, she will taste a part of the love God has for her.
Even though you will never be enough, please keep trying. Even when the target moves, don't give up; keep aiming for her heart. Even when you are discouraged, look up and He will give you grace. This is a spiritual act of worship ... to love her well is to worship God.
Now put down these words and get in there and kiss that woman like it's the first time.
Why Bad Things Happen
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:1-3).
One of the great problems and one of the great mysteries of life is the problem of human suffering and the problem of death. I suppose there is more pain and suffering today than there ever has been on the face of the earth-if for no other reason than the fact that there are more people than ever before. Not only is there more physical pain, but there is also more emotional and mental pain than there has ever been. "Well all right, if there is a God and if he is a loving and merciful God, how do you explain the problems of suffering a
nd death and all the tragedies that happen to people?" Why is it that these things occur? I believe any question that man can ask has a reasonable answer-at least an answer that is as consistent with God's existence as it is in opposition to God's existence. And so, in the problem of human suffering and the problem of death and tragedies-things that happen to all of us--there are answers. It is not going to be possible in this blog to give an answer to every conceivable situation that one might conjecture could occur or has occurred. But there are some things that can be said and some points that can be made that are useful and helpful in better understanding the problem of human suffering and in demonstrating that these things are not inconsistent with a loving and merciful God, such as the God we read of in the Bible.
There are some things that are obvious enough and that are simple enough to understand, that there is no need to go into great detail. So, I just want to mention them very briefly.
For instance, there are those who say there is no such thing as pain. There is a school of thought that says that pain does not really exist, that it is all in your mind, that if you experience pain, it is because you are weak or because you are psychologically not properly oriented or because you are not spiritual enough or whatever it might be--that pain is an illusion. But I doubt very sincerely if too many of us take this point of view seriously. Medically we know that the brain makes responses to a pin prick in the finger. There are very few of us that when we stick ourselves with a pin or cut ourselves do not thoroughly and completely believe that pain is real, and so I do not intend to go into this in great detail.
Although there are many things that could be said, I do not think it is necessary for us to get involved in long and protracted discussions about the things that we experience as far as pain and suffering go as a result of our own deliberate sin. In short, if you jump off a bridge you should not get too upset with God when you hit the bottom. We have examples of this in the Bible: Saul, David, Cain, Adam and Eve--individuals who suffered because of their transgressions of what God has said to do and what not to do. Certainly, in today's world we see this.
The people who drink alcoholic beverages can expect to have problems getting their brains to function properly in old age. They are people who can expect to have problems with liver cirrhosis and things of this kind. They can expect to have difficulties that are a result of having taken this material, this poisonous intoxicant material, into their bodies. People who smoke can expect to have problems with their lungs (emphysema, lung cancer, things of this type). The person who commits adultery can expect the consequences of that--the psychological damage, and disappointment. The person who drives too fast, uses drugs, or lies--is involved in things that naturally precipitate problems for us and they fall in the category of jumping off the bridge. I believe that if we abuse ourselves, we cannot be angry with our Creator for not stepping in and helping us avoid the consequences of these things. It would be unreasonable to expect God to stop us from hitting the bottom when we jump off a bridge. And so if we persist in taking chemicals into our body, in doing things that are contradictory to what God has told us to do, we can expect to suffer. I do not believe that it is inconsistent with the nature of God for a man to expect to suffer when he tampers with nature or when he fails to heed the situations that occur when our natural situation is abused.
When man was put upon the earth he was told to be fruitful, to replenish the earth, to subdue it. His first responsibility upon the earth (his only responsibility when he was first here) was to "care for the garden," to take care of the earth, to make sure that the earth was properly nurtured and properly supervised. The essence of that command still exists. Man still has the responsibility to take care of this beautiful creation that God has given us. Much of the suffering and tragedy man experiences is because he has not discharged this responsibility.
Man's persistence in polluting the water, for example, has caused disease and other problems which in some cases have been tragic. Man's unwise use of the land has caused floods and tornadoes that have brought great tragedy and great suffering upon man. When we violate the natural environment that God has given us, we cannot expect God to allow the consequences of this violation to occur. We know that emphysema and some of the other diseases that we have come in contact with have been, at least in some cases, caused by our violation of the air that God has given us originally in a state that did not cause these things. We have evidence that even leukemia may be related to man's indiscriminate use of nuclear energy.
Another aspect of the problem of suffering is seen when we fail to heed the warnings of nature and thus reap the consequences. I think there are many classic illustrations of this. In California, for example, there is an area near Los Angeles where the earth is under great stress, and where there are a tremendous number of cracks, or faults as they are called. Geologists have warned the builders in that area that this is a place where they need to be extremely careful not to build tall buildings and that they should not construct structures that are sensitive to earthquakes and to cracks and shifting of the earth. Yet at this time there is a building under construction to replace a hospital that was knocked down by an earthquake not too long ago. This building is suppose to be sixteen stories tall and has no earthquake provisions of any real consequence in it. It is being partially financed by the Federal Government, and is straddling the very fault that knocked down the hospital that it is replacing. Now I'd like you to think for a minute, who will get the blame when an earthquake rolls through that area, knocking down the brand new hospital and perhaps killing ten million people, including everybody in the hospital? Who is going to get the blame? Well, I will guarantee you that there will be those people who will say, "If there was a God that wouldn't have happened". And yet the warning is there. If you build your house in the mouth of a volcano, it does not seem to me that you have too much to complain about when it erupts. A surprising amount of the problems we have fall into these categories that we have briefly examined.
But on the other hand I open this discussion by reading to you a passage from the 9th chapter of John, which describes a situation that does not fall in this category. Jesus was passing by, the Bible tells us in John 9:1-3, and he saw a man who was blind from his birth, born without sight. Now his disciples asked him the typical question. They said, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" It was their conviction that the problems that the man had were a result of man's sin, which in some cases is correct. But notice what Jesus said in the third verse: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus said it was not because this man sinned or not even because his parents sinned that he was born blind. It was not sin that did it. It was not that this man abused his body; it was not that this man abused his environment; it was not that this man failed to heed the warnings of his environment. Jesus said it was that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Before we conclude I want to explain to you what I think that means.
First let us take a look at a few points that are related to this type of problem, at least in an indirect way. Let us see if we can make some sense of some of the things that you and I experience: some of the things that come our way in life that we sometimes find somewhat difficult to explain or somewhat difficult to rationalize or to work out in our own minds. There are some, for example, who suggest to us that pain is something that should not occur if there is a God. And yet, physical pain and other types of pain are absolutely necessary if we are to survive in a physical way. There was a story in Reader's Digest about a little boy in India who was born without the nerve endings of the extremities of his body connected to his brain. In simple terms, this child could not experience physical pain. Now you know, we might think that would be marvelous to never have a stubbed toe, a headache, a backache, or all the other aches and pains that bother all of us. But this is a very tragic, unpleasant story. This little boy was about 10 or 11 months old, just beginning to walk around hanging onto things, when his mother was kneading bread over on the counter and smelled the odor of burning human flesh. She turned and saw her little boy with his hands on the hot furnace in the center of the room, and the doctors were just barely able to save his hands by skin grafting. You see, that child could not know that the furnace was hot, and the natural reflex built into each of us was not operative in this child. Consequently he was not protected by experiencing normal pain. Any normal child would probably have never touched the thing, and if they had they would have jerked away immediately. They would have experienced pain. They would have screamed and would have gotten help immediately without a serious bum. But this child did not have that protection. A few months later the child came in one day and collapsed in the doorway of the hut, and when the mother picked him up she noticed his foot was badly cut and he had an obvious loss of blood. Once again his life was saved by transfusions but you see his body could not say to his brain, "You've been hurt! Get help! You need attention quickly." We need physical pain. The tragic end of the story came when the child was barely eight years old. He came in one day and laid down on the mat in the corner of the hut as is the custom in that country. The mother went over to check on him a few minutes later and found he was dead. An autopsy revealed he had died of a ruptured appendix. You see his body could not say to his brain, "You're sick. You need help. You're in trouble." Consequently, survival was not possible.
The writer says in Psalm 139:14, "I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Indeed this physical body that I live in, ugly as it may be on the outside, is a marvelous machine--and if properly cared for might run as long as a hundred years without a valve job or a new transmission or even a change in oil. (Some of us may sometimes feel like we need a new transmission, but the fact of the matter is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.) Physical pain is a part of being fearfully and wonderfully made; physical pain is that which protects us and enables us to survive in the environment in which we live.
I would like to suggest to you further that this same type of thing is true in the emotional sense. What kind of man would it be who could not experience guilt and sympathy and compassion and who could not relate to the needs of fellow human beings? We have had some famous people who were like this. They wear names like Hitler, Mussolini and Eichman--men who could watch innocent women and children by the tens of thousands walk to their death in the gas chamber and apparently not be moved. These men apparently were not able to feel sympathy or compassion or guilt in any way.
If you are a young man dating a young woman who cannot be moved by the saddest of human experiences (if she can watch the saddest movie and a tear does not come to her eye; if she can hear of the greatest plight of human beings and if she can observe the suffering and pain of others and not be moved) you had better think very seriously about what kind of a wife this girl is going to be. Is she going to be able to relate to your needs? Is she going to relate to your feelings? Is she going to have compassion for what you need in life? And when you fail, is she going to be sympathetic and understanding? Is she going to be a "helpmeet", or is she going to be "millstone" dragging you down, one who has no capacity to relate to you and to help you when you need help?
Perhaps even a greater need is the reverse direction. If you are a young lady dating a young man and if this young man somehow has the distorted, perverted idea that masculine strength depends on not being sensitive and not being able to relate to the needs of other human beings, you had better think very seriously about what kind of husband this man is going to be. If he can watch the saddest movie and not be moved and if he can watch the greatest tragedy of human life and not be disturbed, you can be sure he is going to be a husband who is totally unable to relate to you in the difficult business of being a woman and the more difficult business of being a mother. Do you really believe he is going to feel for your needs and be sympathetic to your problems? Is he really going to be helpful to you when you need help?
I am convinced that one of the greatest tragedies of our society today is the fact that somehow we have equated the ability to be sympathetic, the ability to be compassionate, the ability to relate to the needs of our fellow human beings as weakness--when, in fact, it is a sign of strength.
Sometime ago, I read about a little girl who lived went to a shopping center to get some cokes for some friends of hers. She was brutally attacked by a man in the parking lot of that shopping enter. Before the evening was finished she had been stabbed 24 times, and she died. Why did no one meet her needs? How could a young lady possibly be stabbed mercilessly for thirty minutes in a New York street with 1100 young men in the near vicinity and have nobody move to help her? Why is it that we have somehow equated the ability of a man to be sympathetic, to be compassionate, to be helpful, to be understanding, to relate to the needs of his fellow human beings as a sign of weakness? I would suggest to you that any third grade weakling can turn his back on the needs of those who are suffering and who need help. Anybody can refuse to help and refuse to relate to the needs of others. A man of strength is a man who can stand above a cold impersonal city and with tears in his eyes say, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, and ye would not!"
There is a man of strength; there is a man who was not afraid to get involved; there is a man who paid with his life for his ability to relate to the needs of other people; and there was the Son of God--Jesus Christ! We need to get over this idea that somehow the man who can do this--the man who can be sympathetic and compassionate, who can move into people's lives and try to help them--is a weak man. In fact, just the opposite is true.
I am also convinced that one of our great problems in this area of pain and suffering and death is brought on by ignorance. And I suppose that this is true of death more than anything else. Ignorance has caused us to throw away one of the great blessings that we have in being a Christian. In fact, is it not a marvelous thing that when those we love are no longer able to exist realistically in a physical way that they do not have to go on suffering. God has provided a means by which the spirit can be separated from the body and the physical pain that we endure now fades into insignificance. It is interesting to me that the apostles rarely used the term death to describe the end of life. They talked about being "asleep in Jesus," about being "absent from the body," about being "at home with God," and so forth. I have known people who when they lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a father, a child, a brother or a sister, have somehow seemed to quit living themselves. They atrophy and are no longer able to be happy, useful, and productive. This is a great tragedy. As a Christian we ought to be able to look at life much more positively because of death. As an atheist, as a disbeliever, as one alienated from God, a person has to look at life with all of its problems, with all of its suffering, with all of the pain, with all of the terrible things that one has to endure as the absolute best that he is ever going to experience. And yet, if we are wearing Christ, if we are a part of Jesus, we can look at life with all of its joy, with all of its beauty, with all of the wonderful things that we all enjoy as the absolute worst that we are ever going to have to endure. Can't we see that the difference is as different as left and right, as black and white, as night and day? If there was no other reason for us to believe in God but this one, it would be a compelling reason. Ignorance is one of the great curses of man. Ignorance of death is one of the great curses of the Christian.
I am sure all of you have heard lessons from one time or another of the value of pain and suffering in people's lives. I think that it would be important for us here to make just a comment along these lines, even though it is a point you have undoubtedly heard. I think perhaps the best illustration that I have heard is a very old story but one that illustrates the point very well. There were five brothers out west somewhere who at one time had attended the services of the Church, but had become indifferent because of lack of involvement. They were not in attendance, not faithful, and were completely inactive. The story goes that at one time the oldest brother, John, was out behind the barn and he got bit on the arm by a rattlesnake. Of course the other brothers were greatly concerned. They called the elders and the preacher and anybody else they could get to pray for John. They made all kinds of promises of the things they were going to do. It was not too long until John began to recover. As he recovered, he reflected upon his condition and his rejection of God and his lack of involvement and the fact that he had not been faithful to the Lord. So he turned away from the kind of life he had been living, and he came to God. He got involved in the work program of the Church, and became a very active, very dedicated Christian. The story goes that one Sunday the preacher, in the process of a prayer, said, "Lord send us four more rattlesnakes that we may reach John's four brothers."
I am sure that no preacher would want to bring that kind of pain and suffering into a man's life, but the fact of the matter is that sometimes it takes pain, sometimes it takes suffering, sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us realize that we need God.
Pain humbles us. Somebody has said, "Humility is a funny thing. Just when you think you have it, you've lost it." Certainly that is true in 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul said, "...lest I should be exalted above measure.... there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." The apostle Paul apparently had a problem. The pain and suffering (the thorn in the flesh, whatever it was) helped Paul. It helped him overcome any sense of egotism that might have been part of his life. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us realize we are not self-sufficient. Sometimes it takes a disease to make us realize that no matter how much money we have, no matter how vocal we are, no matter how many friends we have, no matter what our situation in life might be, that sometimes there is no one who can help us but God. "...Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).
The last point that I wish to make in our discussion is probably the most important point--a point that I think each of us needs to think about very, very seriously and understand very completely--especially as far as the Christian's situation connected with pain and suffering is concerned. The point deals most precisely with the passage of Scripture from John 9:1-3. Every now and then, I will discuss this subject with someone who will say, "Well, if God were real and if everything was as you say it is, then certainly Christians following God's system would not have to experience pain and suffering." I think if we consider that point of view for a few minutes we see that obviously this is not a realistic position for a number of reasons.
First of all, if becoming a Christian would automatically unravel all the various problems that confront a person in life, then we would have people flocking to religion to get away from their problems. The way it is, there are some people using religion as an escape mechanism when that is not what God intended. God wants us to serve him because we love him, not out of fear. It would be unreal and unrealistic for us to really believe that somehow being a Christian ought to exempt us from the problems that other people have to endure.
But I think even far more fundamental and far more important than this is the fact that if Christians did not suffer, they would be totally and completely incapable of doing what they were put here to do. God intends for his followers to communicate with the world, to bring Jesus Christ into the lives of people. You cannot communicate with a man unless you are enduring or have endured some of the same things that he has endured. As a matter of fact, I believe that the bad experiences that you and I have to put up with and that we all undergo from time to time are actually talents. They are actually things that enable us to communicate with our fellow man and meet his needs.
One of the great problems and one of the great mysteries of life is the problem of human suffering and the problem of death. I suppose there is more pain and suffering today than there ever has been on the face of the earth-if for no other reason than the fact that there are more people than ever before. Not only is there more physical pain, but there is also more emotional and mental pain than there has ever been. "Well all right, if there is a God and if he is a loving and merciful God, how do you explain the problems of suffering a
nd death and all the tragedies that happen to people?" Why is it that these things occur? I believe any question that man can ask has a reasonable answer-at least an answer that is as consistent with God's existence as it is in opposition to God's existence. And so, in the problem of human suffering and the problem of death and tragedies-things that happen to all of us--there are answers. It is not going to be possible in this blog to give an answer to every conceivable situation that one might conjecture could occur or has occurred. But there are some things that can be said and some points that can be made that are useful and helpful in better understanding the problem of human suffering and in demonstrating that these things are not inconsistent with a loving and merciful God, such as the God we read of in the Bible.There are some things that are obvious enough and that are simple enough to understand, that there is no need to go into great detail. So, I just want to mention them very briefly.
For instance, there are those who say there is no such thing as pain. There is a school of thought that says that pain does not really exist, that it is all in your mind, that if you experience pain, it is because you are weak or because you are psychologically not properly oriented or because you are not spiritual enough or whatever it might be--that pain is an illusion. But I doubt very sincerely if too many of us take this point of view seriously. Medically we know that the brain makes responses to a pin prick in the finger. There are very few of us that when we stick ourselves with a pin or cut ourselves do not thoroughly and completely believe that pain is real, and so I do not intend to go into this in great detail.
Although there are many things that could be said, I do not think it is necessary for us to get involved in long and protracted discussions about the things that we experience as far as pain and suffering go as a result of our own deliberate sin. In short, if you jump off a bridge you should not get too upset with God when you hit the bottom. We have examples of this in the Bible: Saul, David, Cain, Adam and Eve--individuals who suffered because of their transgressions of what God has said to do and what not to do. Certainly, in today's world we see this.
The people who drink alcoholic beverages can expect to have problems getting their brains to function properly in old age. They are people who can expect to have problems with liver cirrhosis and things of this kind. They can expect to have difficulties that are a result of having taken this material, this poisonous intoxicant material, into their bodies. People who smoke can expect to have problems with their lungs (emphysema, lung cancer, things of this type). The person who commits adultery can expect the consequences of that--the psychological damage, and disappointment. The person who drives too fast, uses drugs, or lies--is involved in things that naturally precipitate problems for us and they fall in the category of jumping off the bridge. I believe that if we abuse ourselves, we cannot be angry with our Creator for not stepping in and helping us avoid the consequences of these things. It would be unreasonable to expect God to stop us from hitting the bottom when we jump off a bridge. And so if we persist in taking chemicals into our body, in doing things that are contradictory to what God has told us to do, we can expect to suffer. I do not believe that it is inconsistent with the nature of God for a man to expect to suffer when he tampers with nature or when he fails to heed the situations that occur when our natural situation is abused.
When man was put upon the earth he was told to be fruitful, to replenish the earth, to subdue it. His first responsibility upon the earth (his only responsibility when he was first here) was to "care for the garden," to take care of the earth, to make sure that the earth was properly nurtured and properly supervised. The essence of that command still exists. Man still has the responsibility to take care of this beautiful creation that God has given us. Much of the suffering and tragedy man experiences is because he has not discharged this responsibility.
Man's persistence in polluting the water, for example, has caused disease and other problems which in some cases have been tragic. Man's unwise use of the land has caused floods and tornadoes that have brought great tragedy and great suffering upon man. When we violate the natural environment that God has given us, we cannot expect God to allow the consequences of this violation to occur. We know that emphysema and some of the other diseases that we have come in contact with have been, at least in some cases, caused by our violation of the air that God has given us originally in a state that did not cause these things. We have evidence that even leukemia may be related to man's indiscriminate use of nuclear energy.
Another aspect of the problem of suffering is seen when we fail to heed the warnings of nature and thus reap the consequences. I think there are many classic illustrations of this. In California, for example, there is an area near Los Angeles where the earth is under great stress, and where there are a tremendous number of cracks, or faults as they are called. Geologists have warned the builders in that area that this is a place where they need to be extremely careful not to build tall buildings and that they should not construct structures that are sensitive to earthquakes and to cracks and shifting of the earth. Yet at this time there is a building under construction to replace a hospital that was knocked down by an earthquake not too long ago. This building is suppose to be sixteen stories tall and has no earthquake provisions of any real consequence in it. It is being partially financed by the Federal Government, and is straddling the very fault that knocked down the hospital that it is replacing. Now I'd like you to think for a minute, who will get the blame when an earthquake rolls through that area, knocking down the brand new hospital and perhaps killing ten million people, including everybody in the hospital? Who is going to get the blame? Well, I will guarantee you that there will be those people who will say, "If there was a God that wouldn't have happened". And yet the warning is there. If you build your house in the mouth of a volcano, it does not seem to me that you have too much to complain about when it erupts. A surprising amount of the problems we have fall into these categories that we have briefly examined.
But on the other hand I open this discussion by reading to you a passage from the 9th chapter of John, which describes a situation that does not fall in this category. Jesus was passing by, the Bible tells us in John 9:1-3, and he saw a man who was blind from his birth, born without sight. Now his disciples asked him the typical question. They said, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" It was their conviction that the problems that the man had were a result of man's sin, which in some cases is correct. But notice what Jesus said in the third verse: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus said it was not because this man sinned or not even because his parents sinned that he was born blind. It was not sin that did it. It was not that this man abused his body; it was not that this man abused his environment; it was not that this man failed to heed the warnings of his environment. Jesus said it was that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Before we conclude I want to explain to you what I think that means.
First let us take a look at a few points that are related to this type of problem, at least in an indirect way. Let us see if we can make some sense of some of the things that you and I experience: some of the things that come our way in life that we sometimes find somewhat difficult to explain or somewhat difficult to rationalize or to work out in our own minds. There are some, for example, who suggest to us that pain is something that should not occur if there is a God. And yet, physical pain and other types of pain are absolutely necessary if we are to survive in a physical way. There was a story in Reader's Digest about a little boy in India who was born without the nerve endings of the extremities of his body connected to his brain. In simple terms, this child could not experience physical pain. Now you know, we might think that would be marvelous to never have a stubbed toe, a headache, a backache, or all the other aches and pains that bother all of us. But this is a very tragic, unpleasant story. This little boy was about 10 or 11 months old, just beginning to walk around hanging onto things, when his mother was kneading bread over on the counter and smelled the odor of burning human flesh. She turned and saw her little boy with his hands on the hot furnace in the center of the room, and the doctors were just barely able to save his hands by skin grafting. You see, that child could not know that the furnace was hot, and the natural reflex built into each of us was not operative in this child. Consequently he was not protected by experiencing normal pain. Any normal child would probably have never touched the thing, and if they had they would have jerked away immediately. They would have experienced pain. They would have screamed and would have gotten help immediately without a serious bum. But this child did not have that protection. A few months later the child came in one day and collapsed in the doorway of the hut, and when the mother picked him up she noticed his foot was badly cut and he had an obvious loss of blood. Once again his life was saved by transfusions but you see his body could not say to his brain, "You've been hurt! Get help! You need attention quickly." We need physical pain. The tragic end of the story came when the child was barely eight years old. He came in one day and laid down on the mat in the corner of the hut as is the custom in that country. The mother went over to check on him a few minutes later and found he was dead. An autopsy revealed he had died of a ruptured appendix. You see his body could not say to his brain, "You're sick. You need help. You're in trouble." Consequently, survival was not possible.
The writer says in Psalm 139:14, "I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Indeed this physical body that I live in, ugly as it may be on the outside, is a marvelous machine--and if properly cared for might run as long as a hundred years without a valve job or a new transmission or even a change in oil. (Some of us may sometimes feel like we need a new transmission, but the fact of the matter is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.) Physical pain is a part of being fearfully and wonderfully made; physical pain is that which protects us and enables us to survive in the environment in which we live.
I would like to suggest to you further that this same type of thing is true in the emotional sense. What kind of man would it be who could not experience guilt and sympathy and compassion and who could not relate to the needs of fellow human beings? We have had some famous people who were like this. They wear names like Hitler, Mussolini and Eichman--men who could watch innocent women and children by the tens of thousands walk to their death in the gas chamber and apparently not be moved. These men apparently were not able to feel sympathy or compassion or guilt in any way.
If you are a young man dating a young woman who cannot be moved by the saddest of human experiences (if she can watch the saddest movie and a tear does not come to her eye; if she can hear of the greatest plight of human beings and if she can observe the suffering and pain of others and not be moved) you had better think very seriously about what kind of a wife this girl is going to be. Is she going to be able to relate to your needs? Is she going to relate to your feelings? Is she going to have compassion for what you need in life? And when you fail, is she going to be sympathetic and understanding? Is she going to be a "helpmeet", or is she going to be "millstone" dragging you down, one who has no capacity to relate to you and to help you when you need help?
Perhaps even a greater need is the reverse direction. If you are a young lady dating a young man and if this young man somehow has the distorted, perverted idea that masculine strength depends on not being sensitive and not being able to relate to the needs of other human beings, you had better think very seriously about what kind of husband this man is going to be. If he can watch the saddest movie and not be moved and if he can watch the greatest tragedy of human life and not be disturbed, you can be sure he is going to be a husband who is totally unable to relate to you in the difficult business of being a woman and the more difficult business of being a mother. Do you really believe he is going to feel for your needs and be sympathetic to your problems? Is he really going to be helpful to you when you need help?
I am convinced that one of the greatest tragedies of our society today is the fact that somehow we have equated the ability to be sympathetic, the ability to be compassionate, the ability to relate to the needs of our fellow human beings as weakness--when, in fact, it is a sign of strength.
Sometime ago, I read about a little girl who lived went to a shopping center to get some cokes for some friends of hers. She was brutally attacked by a man in the parking lot of that shopping enter. Before the evening was finished she had been stabbed 24 times, and she died. Why did no one meet her needs? How could a young lady possibly be stabbed mercilessly for thirty minutes in a New York street with 1100 young men in the near vicinity and have nobody move to help her? Why is it that we have somehow equated the ability of a man to be sympathetic, to be compassionate, to be helpful, to be understanding, to relate to the needs of his fellow human beings as a sign of weakness? I would suggest to you that any third grade weakling can turn his back on the needs of those who are suffering and who need help. Anybody can refuse to help and refuse to relate to the needs of others. A man of strength is a man who can stand above a cold impersonal city and with tears in his eyes say, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, and ye would not!"
There is a man of strength; there is a man who was not afraid to get involved; there is a man who paid with his life for his ability to relate to the needs of other people; and there was the Son of God--Jesus Christ! We need to get over this idea that somehow the man who can do this--the man who can be sympathetic and compassionate, who can move into people's lives and try to help them--is a weak man. In fact, just the opposite is true.
I am also convinced that one of our great problems in this area of pain and suffering and death is brought on by ignorance. And I suppose that this is true of death more than anything else. Ignorance has caused us to throw away one of the great blessings that we have in being a Christian. In fact, is it not a marvelous thing that when those we love are no longer able to exist realistically in a physical way that they do not have to go on suffering. God has provided a means by which the spirit can be separated from the body and the physical pain that we endure now fades into insignificance. It is interesting to me that the apostles rarely used the term death to describe the end of life. They talked about being "asleep in Jesus," about being "absent from the body," about being "at home with God," and so forth. I have known people who when they lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a father, a child, a brother or a sister, have somehow seemed to quit living themselves. They atrophy and are no longer able to be happy, useful, and productive. This is a great tragedy. As a Christian we ought to be able to look at life much more positively because of death. As an atheist, as a disbeliever, as one alienated from God, a person has to look at life with all of its problems, with all of its suffering, with all of the pain, with all of the terrible things that one has to endure as the absolute best that he is ever going to experience. And yet, if we are wearing Christ, if we are a part of Jesus, we can look at life with all of its joy, with all of its beauty, with all of the wonderful things that we all enjoy as the absolute worst that we are ever going to have to endure. Can't we see that the difference is as different as left and right, as black and white, as night and day? If there was no other reason for us to believe in God but this one, it would be a compelling reason. Ignorance is one of the great curses of man. Ignorance of death is one of the great curses of the Christian.
I am sure all of you have heard lessons from one time or another of the value of pain and suffering in people's lives. I think that it would be important for us here to make just a comment along these lines, even though it is a point you have undoubtedly heard. I think perhaps the best illustration that I have heard is a very old story but one that illustrates the point very well. There were five brothers out west somewhere who at one time had attended the services of the Church, but had become indifferent because of lack of involvement. They were not in attendance, not faithful, and were completely inactive. The story goes that at one time the oldest brother, John, was out behind the barn and he got bit on the arm by a rattlesnake. Of course the other brothers were greatly concerned. They called the elders and the preacher and anybody else they could get to pray for John. They made all kinds of promises of the things they were going to do. It was not too long until John began to recover. As he recovered, he reflected upon his condition and his rejection of God and his lack of involvement and the fact that he had not been faithful to the Lord. So he turned away from the kind of life he had been living, and he came to God. He got involved in the work program of the Church, and became a very active, very dedicated Christian. The story goes that one Sunday the preacher, in the process of a prayer, said, "Lord send us four more rattlesnakes that we may reach John's four brothers."
I am sure that no preacher would want to bring that kind of pain and suffering into a man's life, but the fact of the matter is that sometimes it takes pain, sometimes it takes suffering, sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us realize that we need God.
Pain humbles us. Somebody has said, "Humility is a funny thing. Just when you think you have it, you've lost it." Certainly that is true in 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul said, "...lest I should be exalted above measure.... there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." The apostle Paul apparently had a problem. The pain and suffering (the thorn in the flesh, whatever it was) helped Paul. It helped him overcome any sense of egotism that might have been part of his life. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us realize we are not self-sufficient. Sometimes it takes a disease to make us realize that no matter how much money we have, no matter how vocal we are, no matter how many friends we have, no matter what our situation in life might be, that sometimes there is no one who can help us but God. "...Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8).
The last point that I wish to make in our discussion is probably the most important point--a point that I think each of us needs to think about very, very seriously and understand very completely--especially as far as the Christian's situation connected with pain and suffering is concerned. The point deals most precisely with the passage of Scripture from John 9:1-3. Every now and then, I will discuss this subject with someone who will say, "Well, if God were real and if everything was as you say it is, then certainly Christians following God's system would not have to experience pain and suffering." I think if we consider that point of view for a few minutes we see that obviously this is not a realistic position for a number of reasons.
First of all, if becoming a Christian would automatically unravel all the various problems that confront a person in life, then we would have people flocking to religion to get away from their problems. The way it is, there are some people using religion as an escape mechanism when that is not what God intended. God wants us to serve him because we love him, not out of fear. It would be unreal and unrealistic for us to really believe that somehow being a Christian ought to exempt us from the problems that other people have to endure.
But I think even far more fundamental and far more important than this is the fact that if Christians did not suffer, they would be totally and completely incapable of doing what they were put here to do. God intends for his followers to communicate with the world, to bring Jesus Christ into the lives of people. You cannot communicate with a man unless you are enduring or have endured some of the same things that he has endured. As a matter of fact, I believe that the bad experiences that you and I have to put up with and that we all undergo from time to time are actually talents. They are actually things that enable us to communicate with our fellow man and meet his needs.
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