fencepostdigest

This week has been another example of the intricate workings of our government with the process of a Supreme Court Nominee being confronted with questions about the ‘stuff’ she is made from. Some questions have been repeated in different ways and Judge Barret has answered each of the same questions with the very same answer. The revelation in general is that she is an ‘originalist,’ one who interprets the Constitution of the United States as it is written and this seems to infuriate those who are liberal-leaning politicians. Liberals are seemingly always offended by anyone who looks at something with a ‘black and white’ perspective; no matter the subject. So it is with the Word of God.

How many sermons and Bible Studies have you and I heard and attended concerning the verse from 1 Timothy 6, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” ? The example here reveals the fallacy of removing a singular text from the surrounding context to make a point. Chapter One of 1 Timothy is not specifically speaking to ‘the root of evil.’ Personally, I tend to think removing this verse of Scripture from the original context in which it is founded reduces the implication and full meaning of what Paul has written. The fact is simple, Paul is not speaking about the love of money per say and neither is he addressing ‘the root of sorts of evil.’ In order to know what this singular statement means it must be included within the original context. First of all, please read the entirety of 1 Timothy chapter 6and then study the content.

In verses 1 and 2 Paul is instructing Timothy concerning what or how Believers must adhere to the teaching of certain principles that he mentions in verse 3. The question then follows, “What principles?” By reading preceding verses and following verses we can find out. However, for our purposes here I will suggest only what we find in the verses found in Chapter 6. 

This is is a good place to refresh our thoughts and understanding about early Greek and Hebrew manuscripts because the writers did NOT use periods, question marks or any other kinds of punctuation that are used today. There were no numbered verses. All of these things were added, perhaps, in the 3rd century AD. In fact, all early texts were written in capital letters. That is correct, there were no lower case letters. This is sort of how it looked, “THISISSORTOFHOWITLOOKED.”

Returning to the subject at hand; Paul addresses the words of Christ and righteousness in verses 3-6 and the depravity of those who do not adhere to His teachings. In verse 10 Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” This verse relates directly back to every preceding verse and each of them reveals the sin of unrighteousness and the results thereof. Constructing a Bible study from verse 10 is NOT necessarily wrong, but to do so removes the purpose and meaning of what has written to Timothy concerning Believers and righteousness. And neither is Paul addressing slaves and their owners about slavery. Paul is directly addressing the necessity of Believers to follow the instructions of Jesus that results in righteousness because of the principles found in His instructions. AND this is the importance of contextual studies. The removal of a singular verse from its context can be dangerous to the original meaning and intent of God’s Word.

Jesus is Lord.

This will be a very, very short and, hopefully, concise as possible history of the Christian Church. John 3:16 is sometimes considered the capsule form of the Gospel Message. Effectively, this one statement of Jesus to His friend Nicodemus simply speaks to the manner in which anyone can become a Follower of Jesus Christ. Speaking to the history of the Church Universal there is not one statement that could encapsulate that point and I know that in no manner of writing can I achieve A Very Short History of the Church. That is simply NOT possible and I will not and cannot achieve even a short outline of the same. So, here I begin.

I will begin with the Catholic Church because they claim their beginnings with Jesus Christ and specifically with Peter as being the very first Pope. “For the first 280 years of Christian history, Christianity was banned by the Roman Empire, and Christians were terribly persecuted. This changed after the “conversion” of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine provided religious toleration with the Edict of Milan in AD 313, effectively lifting the ban on Christianity. Later, in AD 325, Constantine called the Council of Nicea in an attempt to unify Christianity. Constantine envisioned Christianity as a religion that could unite the Roman Empire, which at that time was beginning to fragment and divide. While this may have seemed to be a positive development for the Christian church, the results were anything but positive. Just as Constantine refused to fully embrace the Christian faith but continued many of his pagan beliefs and practices, so the Christian church that Constantine and his successors promoted progressively became a mixture of true Christianity and Roman paganism.” Please follow this address for the context of this quotation: https://www.gotquestions.org/origin-Catholic-church.html

Personally, I am a Southern Baptist, but the SBC is NOT “THE Church.” Primarily, I am a Baptist NOT because I was born into a Baptist family. I became a Southern Baptist because I became a member of the First Baptist Church of Lubbock, Texas only after I became a baptized Believer in Jesus Christ. I did not become a member of said local church because I professed my faith in Jesus Christ and followed Him in baptism. I first was a member of the Body of Christ as a Christian and then became a member of the FBC of Lubbock when that body voted to accept me as a member. With that the following quote makes sense to me, “The term Christian Church when used as a proper noun usually refers to the whole Christian religious tradition throughout history. When used in this way the term does not refer to a particular “Christian church”. However, some Christian groups do not accept this definition instead considering only their own churches to be the one true church. Although some Christians identify the Christian Church with a visible structure, others understand it as an invisible reality not identified with any earthly structure, and others equate it with particular groups that share certain essential elements of doctrine and practice, though divided on other points of doctrine and government. The Greek term ἐκκλησία, which is transliterated as “ecclesia”, generally meant an “assembly”, but in most English translations of the New Testament is usually translated as “church”. This term appears in two verses of the Gospel of Matthew, twenty-four verses of the Acts of the Apostles, fifty-eight verses of the Pauline Epistles, two verses of the Letter to the Hebrews, one verse of the Epistle of James, three verses of the Third Epistle of John, and nineteen verses of the Book of Revelation. In total, ἐκκλησία appears in the New Testament text 114 times, although not every instance is a technical reference to the church.” https://www.definitions.net/definition/christian+church.

Personally, I am acquainted with many, many people whose religious backgrounds I somewhat understand and others I do not. And there some folks with whom I am friends and others that I am only acquainted with whose religious backgrounds are questionable to me. My guess is that most of these do not agree with the another, and that is the reason the other exists. Not all Baptists agree with one another on some things and I suppose not all Catholics agree, either. However, the same historical forces have formed the Body of Christ in principle and not necessarily in particular understanding of practice.

There are some basic principles that every denomination or faith group will agree upon and there are only some: 1. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ. 2. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 3. The burial of Jesus Christ. 4. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 5. The Coming of the Holy Spirit. From these 5 principles and facts the many, many faith groups may or may not agree. 

Like I said, this would be brief and not nearly complete. In fact, my guess is that many will have their own thoughts and concerns about the history of the Church. But I hope that everyone will agree upon this: Jesus Christ is Lord.

For the 50+ years that I have been studying God’s Word the intensity of ‘Contextual Study’ has grown from one year to the next. Upon entering Louisiana College in the Spring of 1969 the idea of ‘context’ was introduced in biblical studies and from that moment until this writing my understanding of purpose and intent of the contextual rendering of God’s Word has never ceased to amaze my heart and mind. 

Over these many decades I have observed far too many teachers standing in a pulpit or in a Sunday School setting literally destroy the intent, purpose AND the integrity of Scripture. I have found it difficult to sometimes listen to some preachers on the radio and television as they dismantle the meaning of a particular text because they have obviously removed their stated text from the environment in which it was originally presented. Jesus, Paul, Peter and others simply did not mean what these well-intentioned men and sometimes women are sometimes saying. “Hogwash!!” Have you ever heard that statement? 

God’s Word is always infallible, inerrant and does not change for anyone…EVER!! And no one can overestimate the importance of remaining within the confines of those words. Many may not like these words to be used while describing Scripture because the Word of God does not use them in describing itself. However, the argument is simple, “God did not give to us an imperfect message concerning Himself.” The inspired writer does say this, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions, and the Lord delivered me from them all. Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:10-17 NET2. These 8 verses point to the necessity of context that captures the purpose and intent of the infallible and inerrant Word of God.

“Isaiah 7:14. This verse has seen a great deal of discussion in the history of interpretation. The text of the verse from the NET Bible is as follows:

‘Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.’

The most visible issue surrounding this verse is the translation of the Hebrew word עַלְמָה (’almah). The NET Bible uses the phrase “young woman,” while many translations use the word “virgin.” The arguments center upon two main points: the actual meaning of the term as it is used in Hebrew, and the use of this verse in the New Testament. There is a great deal of debate about the actual meaning of the Hebrew word. However, in the New Testament when this verse is cited in Matthew 1:23 the Greek word παρθένος (parqenos) is used, and this word can mean nothing but “virgin.” Therefore, many people see Isaiah 7:14 as a prophecy about the virgin birth with Matthew 1:23 serving as a “divine commentary” on the Isaiah passage which establishes its meaning. The interplay of these issues makes a resolution quite complex. It is the opinion of the translators and editors that the Hebrew word used in Isaiah 7:14 means “young woman” and actually carries no connotations of sexual experience, so the grammatical context of the verse in the Old Testament is in our opinion fairly straightforward. Neither does the historical context of Isaiah 7:14 point to any connection with the birth of the Messiah: in its original historical context, this verse was pointing to a sign for King Ahaz that the alliance between Syria and Israel which was threatening the land of Judah would come to nothing. The theological context of Isaiah 7:14 is also limited: it is a presentation of God’s divine power to show himself strong on behalf of his people. The role or birth of the Messiah does not come into view here. So the historical and theological contexts of the verse support the grammatical: the word עַלְמָה (’almah) means “young woman” and should be translated as such. Within the book of Isaiah itself, however, the author begins to develop the theological context of this verse, and this provides a connection to the use of the passage in Matthew. In Isaiah 8:9-10 the prophet delivers an announcement of future victory over Israel’s enemies; the special child Immanuel, alluded to in the last line of v. 10, is a guarantee that the covenant promises of God will result in future greatness. The child mentioned in Isaiah 7:14 is a pledge of God’s presence during the time of Ahaz, but he also is a promise of God’s presence in the future when he gives his people victory over all their enemies. This theological development progresses even further when another child is promised in Isaiah 9:6-7 who will be a perfect ruler over Israel, manifesting God’s presence perfectly and ultimately among his people. The New Testament author draws from this development and uses the original passage in Isaiah to make the connection between the child originally promised and the child who would be the ultimate fulfillment of that initial promise. The use of Isaiah 7:14 in Matthew 1:23 draws upon the theological development present in the book of Isaiah, but it does not change the meaning of Isaiah 7:14 in its original context.” https://bible.org/netbible/index.htm?pre.htm.

The enormous purpose and intent of contextual rendering of God’s Word must not be ignored. Jesus is Lord.

“Who am I in Christ?”

How often have you asked yourself concerning this personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Paul writes this in 2 Corinthians 5:116-19, “16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.” There are two Greek words that are rendered as “new” in the NT. (νέος) neos, defined as being “something that has just been made, but there are already many others in existence just like it.” However, the word used by Paul is the word (καινος) kainos and means, “something just made which is unlike anything else in existence.” Obviously, the Holy Spirit tells us that in Christ we are made a new creation, just as God created all things new in the beginning, from nothing. In the very same manner God creates our new spirits from nothing. He does not simply recreate or clean up our old selves; He creates an entirely new person. For in Romans 6:1-11 we find, “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” We now are alive with Christ and dead to our old self…’brand new’ as it were. Death to the old man, the sinful nature simply means what death is, cessation of life to the old man…he has been crucified, it is dead. Some tell us that there is but  a mere separation from it. However, if we honestly look at the crucifixion of the old man and the new birth of the Christian with Christ literally means  an end of the domination of sin over life. This new spiritual relationship has begun in the Risen Christ and indwelling Holy Spirit. The sin nature has been crucified by God’s grace through faith in Him. This spiritual crucifixion with Christ  provides the new resurrection with Him to a new life. 

The sin nature of the old man before faith in Christ is now dead because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and the Believer is freed from the bondage of sin to live a life pleasing to God because of righteousness. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” Ephesians 2:1-5.

In Christ Believers are made “partakers of the divine nature” as seen in 2 Peter 1:3-9, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.” God Himself sent the promised His Holy Spirit to set up residence in our physical and spiritual bodies as His Temple. We now know that all Believers are in Christ and He is eternally in us.

What does all of this mean? 

The sin nature has been defeated, is dead and is replaced by a new life in Christ by grace through faith in Him. The Holy Spirit now resides in the body of the new Believer as this body of flesh and spirit is now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  The presence of that former resident sin–greed, jealousy, immorality, selfishness, anger, malice, or whatever it might be–is displaced by the faith of the new Believer having been raised with Christ to a new life in the likeness of His resurrection. We are found to be new creations and a new Resident now lives in us as well, “Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. 2 Corinthians 6:19-20.

In Christ, we are regenerated, renewed,born again, and this new creation is spiritually minded, whereas the old nature that was killed and replaced was driven by sin. The new nature is in an eternal relationship with God by grace and through faith in Jesus Christ. This new creation will obey His instructions and is completely involved in His ministry to humanity. The old nature is not able to accomplish or willing to move toward those things. The old nature is dead and cannot be revived. The old man was killed and the new spiritual man is now made alive in Christ. What we know is that this new creature is indwelt by the promised Holy Spirit who provides the new Believer a holy nature and a life that is totally opposite to that of the old and now dead man. What is so difficult to understand that the old life is now dead and buried, and the new man is now raised “to walk in newness of life” with Jesus?

Believers functionally are united with Christ and are no longer slaves to sin as Paul notes in Romans 6:5 and 6 and are made alive with Him as he expresses in Ephesians 2:5. Going a bit further these new creature are conformed to His image and are free from condemnation and no longer walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit as is revealed in Romans chapter 8. The truly remarkable result is that all Believers are also members of the Body of Christ, the Church, His Bride.  

Finally, I will ask, “Why do so many Believers refuse to accept that the old man remains and is alive and well in their lives when the Holy Spirit resides within? And is God so impotent that He cannot overcome evil?” The very One who spoke the world as we understand it into existence, parted the Red Sea and raised His Son from the grave and now His Spirit lives within the life of every Believer. How is it that the old nature still occupies the life of the Believer…?

I think we need to review once again what Paul has written, “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:7-11.

Jesus is Lord!!

“Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each one will carry his own load. 6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” Galatians 6:1-10.

Sometimes life becomes emotionally difficult and the Believer begins to understand that God must be in control. If He is NOT, everything may be too difficult. When difficulty comes the Christ-follower must continue to stay the course on the narrow path that has been designated by the Lord who calls. Paul also writes, “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. 3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:1-8. 

Reading from the Apostle we discover something very, very important about living faith in Jesus Christ and that is endurance in not growing weary in that which God has instructed. Recalling faithful men and women who have preceded me in ministry and in death as Believers there is a common denominator to be found in each one: the ability to remain focused upon for cross, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” Romans 1:16-17.

Seven decades God has given me opportunity after opportunity to follow His call. And what I have learned is simple, we must accomplish what He has called us to do in the time He has allowed. I have no statistics in front of me, but many have not had 7 decades, but I have known a few who have died very young and others did not until well into their 90’s. God has, indeed, blessed me. And like Paul, I have made the best of those opportunities to share the Message of Christ of countless numbers of people; some in very remote places and in difficult places, and some of those encounters were places not so difficult nor remote. Oh, and there have been some terrible mistakes that I have made along the way, too, and I fear that I was not as faithful as I may have been in some of those places. However, God has continued to encourage me to stay the course and He has remained faithful to not simply encourage me, but to empower and protect me along the way. 

While I have written these words about me and have found strength from the Word of God, I would encourage everyone who may read these words to honestly reflect upon what the Father has accomplished through you because you have been His instrument along life’s way. 

Jesus is Lord!!

“See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were appalled at You— His appearance was so disfigured that He did not look like a man, and His form did not resemble a human being— 15 so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him, For they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard.

Chapter 53  1 Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him. 4 Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses,and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have” turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 52:13-53:6.

“Preacher, you have said things we have never heard before.” The old man said to me. At first I was sort of bewildered and startled as well because this church was 125 years in existence. I studied what my sermons had been, the texts I had used for sermons…the whole 9 yards. My questions had been things like, “How are going to get to Heaven?” “Is Hell a real place?” “Is being saved too difficult?” “How do you express your Spiritual Gift?” “Does a Christian go directly to Heaven upon death?” “Does God really speak to us?” And the list goes on and on and on, but I found an answer for this man’s statement. His query had to do with the fact that in a small church of 40 or so people not many can stop coming and not be noticed. Those who had left were disturbed about the difficult statements that God was making because of the work of the Holy Spirit. The message of Christ was true and powerful and just as Isaiah 53:1 asks, “Who has believed what we have heard?” and my question then became, “Who has believed what I have proclaimed about the Risen Savior, the Son of God?” The answer is simple, “Not as many as we might think, and fewer than we would like.” 

What we discover from these few verses found in Isaiah that speak prophetically concerning the death of Jesus Christ is that people in high places will not speak about Him and common folks will not accept His words and reject Him, and most will turn away from Him. What we know is that most people simply do not read the Bible and, therefore, do not know of Him nor know Him as Savior and Lord. With that we should not be so surprised by we see and hear about the evil that is going on in our Nation and world at large.

What makes the present situation so important is what we find in Paul’s statement in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” Paul indicates that what we are witnessing right now across our Nation is a display of  “the tactics of the Devil.” There are forces at work in cities and in our Nation’s Capital that find foundation in demonic activity, that is, of the Devil. Believers must be aware of this come November 3rd that is the day of the General Election. The future of America and the freedoms provided in our Constitution are at stake on that day. For this reason and others we can know that this is most likely the most important election to date in American history.

But, there is more. My question, “Who has believed our proclamation?” is just as important, too. The first answer is, “Too few.” The second answer might be, “Do I know of someone who has NOT believed?” Time is not on the side of those who have not believed this, we know. Just a thought.

Jesus is Lord.

The identity of Jesus of Nazareth has been a source of study for many centuries. He claimed himself to be the Son of God and equal with God. This is the reason His enemies sought His death.

This identity of Jesus is revealed in the Bible that records the Source of all Truth as we understand it. Interesting enough, it seems that this Truth is seen, taught and distributed as relative to not simply situations, but also how history seems to have influenced racial culture as well. Truth seems not to be absolute across racial lines although the Bible is quite clear that Truth as revealed by God’s Word is absolute and NOT relative.

What the Bible tells us about truth is this: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:12-13, NASB. Wait, there is more, “Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:5-6. And Paul writes, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

“But wait a minute,” many may say, “I do not believe the Bible to  be100% accurate.” And this is a fact of record, not everyone believes or even thinks that the Bible is true, inerrant and inspired of God. This is the Great Wall of Divide that separates many in America and around the world. 

Not all evangelical church-goers are Chrisitian, either. I know this is true simply because of the doctrinal statements of so many denominations or faith groups. Sadly, as I pointed out earlier, these statements are also driven by political, racial, and history as well. One can choose from either of these and find that religious beliefs are deeply influenced by each. 

No matter, there will be a moment in history to come that will be defined by God Himself and that is clearly spoken of in the Bible. Not one human being will be able to deny the Truth at that moment for God will have judged us at that moment. John records this in Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” 

As I wrote earlier, some of this is my opinion only, but that which comes from God’s Word is God’s Truth. America’s religious and political values are deeply divided: some are correct, but many are not. Do with it as you might, but Jesus remains Lord.

I have often said that people who live in sin and on a daily basis practice a certain lifestyle(s) will go to Hell, a Devil’s Hell. This NOT a so-called badge that I wear with distinction for many before me and some today continue to use the same words of caution. However, in doing so, there are some who have ‘disowned’ me because I am too exclusive or harsh. I can say this much, I stand in very, very good company.

Jesus said this, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!” Luke 6:46-49.

And in Luke 13:24-30 we find this, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!’ But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. They will come from east and west, from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God. Note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Jesus’ disciple Matthew recorded His words, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.  Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!” Matthew 7:13-23.

Isaiah is a powerful book in the Old Testament that is replete with words from God that offer hope and speak of His wrath, but read this and follow with the remainder of the 34 th and chapter 35, “You nations, come here and listen; you peoples, pay attention! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that comes from it.  The Lord is angry with all the nations— furious with all their armies. He will set them apart for destruction, giving them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will flow with their blood. All the heavenly bodies will dissolve. The skies will roll up like a scroll, and their stars will all wither as leaves wither on the vine, and foliage on the fig tree.” Isaiah 34:1-3.

The gate to heaven is exclusive for it has but a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ and He is the only way to the Father, John 14:6. The wide gate is inclusive of all who deny the Son of God. This narrow path allows for human secularism and all the religions accepting those who practice immoral behaviors and many are going down this pathway.

“What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:1-11.

I have always been puzzled as I have listened to well-meaning and sincere people who sit in a Bible study class and say, “I am a sinner.” And seem to do so with great pride and enthusiasm. My question is simple, “Why do people who claim to know Christ and to be Christians say this?” It seems that they are in denial of Jesus Christ and we find this in 1 John 3:7-10, “Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works. Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.” One more time, Christians, Followers of the Christ, do sin, but they do NOT practice sin on a daily basis. For this reason John writes, “Everyone who is born of God does not sin…”

Have a blessed day for Jesus is Lord.

Did you know; Do you know that ‘to believe God and leaving the results to Him’ is the very most difficult act faced by anyone? And, perhaps, the single most difficult fact concerning God is this: His foreknowledge allows Him to ‘see’ what you and I are doing in ‘present time’ before what we are presently doing takes place. God has already ‘been there’ and ‘done that.’ As I write this, God has already read the result. All of this is true because He IS God. 

As you are now ‘smoking this in your pipe,’ I want to suggest what may be the most difficult face that each of us face each and every day. Manley Beasley said this, “Faith is acting as if it is so in order for it to be so because with God it already is so.” The ‘it’ is not so important as is the act of faith relating to ‘it.’ “Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. There is more to this than meets the eye for, “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” Romans 10:14-17. Hold on for one more thing, “But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” Ephesians 2:4-10. Herein we find that saving faith is a gift of God extended to one who is seeking Christ. I know the arguments pro and con here, but this is what Paul writes. Faith is, indeed, a gift from God provided to those who are motivated by the Holy Spirit to seek Jesus Christ in salvation. 

For this reason alone, exercising faith toward God is a difficult, no, an impossible task for anyone who does not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We find this statement to be true also, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26. Without faith our actions are merely human activities, but with God-given faith all things are possible BECAUSE this is a gift of God and mere humans are truly powerless without faith. Spiritually lost humans cannot exercise faith. Many tangents are made here most tangents are not of God…do not forget that, either.

Lost souls become saved souls because of faith given by God and “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.” Hebrews 11:1-3. What every Believer in Jesus Christ understands is this, we are fully able to understand God even though we do not fully understand Him at every turn because He allows us to grasp only those things He desires. He is God and we are His instruments of His grace only. 

This most difficult task of functioning in faith now leads to this, “ For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,” but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest!” Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience. So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day. Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:4-11.

We are able to see many things within this passage, but one idea clearly stands out that points us to another “Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.”  Believers must remain obedient to the Word of God just as Jesus taught us to remain in Him by obeying His instructions. We fully comprehend that an entire generation of Israel did not enter into the Promised Land because of disobedience toward Yahweh. They disobeyed the Law, but we also know they were not yet born-again nor were they under the law of God’s grace…this changed everything. Today, Followers of Jesus Christ are born-again and are under His grace. I agree with Paul, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39. (Please read Romans 8:18-39 in order to keep vv. 38-39 within Paul’s context.) Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is kept by that grace.

This Sabbath Rest is made possible by God’s grace for those who are obedient by faith in Him. This rest provides the Believer the ability to be comforted by the Holy Spirit for those moments in time that a sin is committed by a Follower of Jesus Christ. We rest in Him by faith. The joy of knowing Jesus Christ comes from His act of forgiveness at the Cross for when we do sin we are able to rest in Him, too. His grace is sufficient in all things in blessings and in forgiveness. By remaining obedient we experience His grace.

Jesus is Lord.

After choosing to follow Christ for salvation, ‘then what?’ There are life choices; all sorts of choices that must be made and within the directions of the Master. Remember that you are now a slave of righteousness and free from the grasp of sin unless unwise, selfish and foolish choices are made. However, there is one thing certain, the Believer will not, cannot live in sin. “Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 HCSB.

Everyone who entertains the idea of ‘becoming a Christian’ most often does not wish to do the hard things that are involved because they are spiritually blind to what they find. Most of us hear just what we want to hear and the silence toward truth is deafening. The reason is simple: “there is absolutely no darkness in Him.” Furthermore, there is absolute separation from that darkness when anyone chooses to follow Jesus Christ.

“Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000? If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple. Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!” Luke 14:25-35. The key to this statement from our Lord may not be what most think for it has nothing to do with the word ‘hate,’ but rather the key to the passage is, “calculate the cost.” 

Becoming a Disciple or Follower of Jesus Christ is quite expensive even though the gift of salvation is absolutely free…it is absolutely ‘priceless’ for it is free and without obligation for Christ bought every Believer with the price of sacrifice at the Cross. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. Salvation is God’s gift extended to everyone who is willing to believe in the finished work of Jesus at the Cross for everlasting life. These willing souls were “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” And for these reasons and more Jesus said this to His Disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14. (Please read all of Matthew chapter 7 for the contextual relevance of Jesus’ statement here.)

The choice to follow Jesus Christ in salvation is not meant to be easy, no, not at all. The consistent trail toward Heaven is filled with perceptual difficulties that are incomparable to anyone’s imagination. False doctrines have resulted because too many have decided to make the pathway to Jesus and toward Heaven an easy escape from life’s realities. Sin has been softened and liveable and acceptable at many levels, AND moral absolutes have been put aside. There is no bigger lie than saying that a Believer, a Follower of Jesus Christ is able to live in sin and go to Heaven.

The choice to follow Christ is replete with difficulties beyond imagination, but is filled with unbelievable possibilities found only in Him. Jesus said this, “So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:7-10.

The choice to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is THE wise choice to be made, but must be understood as being the choice of spiritual endeavors complete with losses and victories that lead to spiritual sanctification. Hold on, the Ride of Your Life has only just begun.

Jesus is Lord.