fencepostdigest

If you have never been falsely accused, some day you will be.And that always hurts deeply. However, if and when someone is falsely accused and a rebuttal is made, make certain your rebuttal is on solid and holy ground. 

But, what is holy ground? From Exodus 3:5,6 HCSB is found, ““Do not come closer,” He said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then He continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.”

The assumption is simple, the place where Moses was standing was holy. However, this is not the case for that spot became holy because of God’s presence thereon.

A church building or place of worship is not holy because we may think or speak of it as being a ‘holy place.’ That place becomes holy because God gathers His people or even one person to worship Him. Of course, He said to Jacob, “ I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said to you: You are My servant; I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10.

But there is something else we must always understand:

Deuteronomy 31:7-8,
“Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it. The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Joshua 1:8-9,
“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I am so thankful our God understands how important it is for Him to bear near because we always need Him.  And where you are worshiping Him alone, that place is Holy because of His Presence.

Jesus is Lord.

The difficulty for most Believers is to live the life Christ intended, for He said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 19:9-10 NASB. The difficulty is not found in Jesus Christ, but in the negative thinking that many who call themselves ‘Christian’ are not understanding the tools given them.

The thief as described by Jesus in this parable is Satan as prowling about as a hungry lion seeking to destroy anyone who is unwilling to follow the way of Christ. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:6-8. Believers are instructed to resist the Devil and enjoy the abundant life Christ has provided.

We know and understand that sanctification does not come by obeying laws, and stands apart from the Law. Living the right way and the correct way is more than determination to live correctly. We must come to appreciate what Paul explains in Romans chapter 8. Paul goes to great pain in his letter to the Galatian church describing the failure of the Law and the power of God’s grace.

In this we find the subject of legalism is conforming to a code of man-made ethics growing out of the Law given to Moses.The weakness of the Law is ultimately founded upon the attitudes of people attempting to live according to the standards of the God who authored it.

We will also find legalism to be judging personal behavior according to God’s standards of obedience. Jews came to believe that “I can obtain salvation simply by obeying the Law.” But, Jesus fulfilled the Law and tells those who choose to follow Him “I am the only way to the Father,” and just as God has said, be prepared “to be holy as I am holy.”

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16.

If anyone who claims to be a Follower of the Risen Christ and is somehow unable to live the abundant life is not understanding the tools provided. The New Testament is written giving every Believer guidance to live His way. To do less is to sell themselves short and to deny the Lordship of Christ. To do less is to sell yourself short of being ‘in Christ.’

Jesus is Lord.

To ask such a question is truly offensive, and to address Hell is painful to most everyone. Some will remove you from their life.

“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

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.” Revelation 20:10-15.

(An angel speaking,) “And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

(Jesus says this,) “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”  

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:10-15.

John’s revelation concerning the end of life vividly answers the question asked, “How Are You Going to Hell?” Jesus says, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19 NASB. 

Jesus is Lord.

Those who are wise among us correctly use their knowledge gained through the Person of Jesus Christ. Those who are wise will follow the invitation of the Risen Christ to follow His narrow way, “I am the Way, the Truth and Life and no man comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6. The knowledge of Christ is demonstrated in the life of every Believer whose name is found in the Lamb’s Book of Life, “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 NASB.

Often words of protest sound like this, “Do not preach to me about the Book of Life.” These statements fall from the mouths of those who are irritated because some preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has attempted to warn them of their eternity without the Savior. But yet we read in Scripture Isaiah 52:7 and quoted by the Apostle in Romans 10:15. “For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Romans 10:11-15.

Fools will rush on to Broadway where eternity in Hell awaits and only those who follow after the Risen Christ along the Narrow Way enter into eternity with Him. Jesus told His disciples to remove the dust on their feet when the Gospel is dismissed and go next door. Paul expressed concern for those in Athens who were worshiping unknown gods and was not afraid to proclaim the Gospel in difficult places, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” Romans 1:15-19.

Jesus is Lord.

Have you not heard it said, “Enough is enough?” And for certain, we have heard, “Stop!”And, I know everyone has often heard, “The guilty party did not obey the rules and incurred a stiff penalty.” Social standards are in place for the simple purpose of keeping order.

In the same way, God has also given us humans certain standards that He expects everyone to follow, but if not His justice will be applied. 

Jesus has given every person a very high standard by which to live in a dark and sinful world, but no one will be able to follow. Matthew recorded a conversation between Jesus and a very wealthy young man who claimed to have followed the entire Law of God. However Jesus pointed out that he had done okay, but he must do something he could not accomplish in order to be His disciple. He could not and walked away from Christ, grieving.

“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26 NASB.

Jesus presented a difficult question that the rich man could not answer when He required the man to sell all, give the proceeds to the poor and “Follow Me.” In the old covenant, the law with its requirements is the powerful reminder of God’s presence which Jesus sets before the rich man. The obedience to the Law is God’s commandment and requirement,and Paul writes,  “This he could not do because, “For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me. So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.” Romans 7:15-23. 

Until we read the Damascus Road event when Saul meets Jesus in a vision, the Apostle, before he became an Apostle, wrestles with the problem of battling with sin living in his body because of the Law. 

The rich man could not follow the command of Christ because he absolutely hated doing what the Law had already required of him. He discovered just how wretched of a person he was. Paul describes himself in the same way and asks and answers, “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” Romans 7:24b-25. Paul speaks of his unredeemed state and understands his only answer is found in Jesus Christ the crucified and risen Son of God. Before being redeemed, Saul was a Pharisee and quite loyal to the Sanhedrin as one who was actively persecuting the Way. He was obedient to the Law and the instructions given by the Jewish leaders. His actions caused him a great deal of headache because he obviously was in conflict with the Holy Spirit convicting him of sin, judgment and righteousness.

He was redeemed by Jesus before He arrived in Damascus and his written account in Romans chapters 4-6 clearly explains the transition of faith in the Risen Christ. The conflict he describes in chapter 7 should help to see the results from God’s justice, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4.

Jesus is Lord.

Remaining in the Lord in the biblical context is cultivating a deep, continuous, and active relationship with Jesus Christ the Risen Lord. This is far more than a moment of expressed faith or baptism. Remaining in Christ indicates that we are connected to Him each moment of every day and drawing strength and guidance from Him. This means we are to rely by faith in Jesus as He shapes our thoughts, actions, and intents. In this we have victory in Jesus.

From John 1:12-13 we find this, “But to all who did receive Him,He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” HCSB. Because salvation comes directly from the heart of God being the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we can understand that the crucifixion of the Son and His definitive resurrection provides us with daily victory over temptation and spiritual death.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” John 15:1-5. 

Remaining in Christ is the result of faith being demonstrated, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed even though he did not know where he was going. And oftentimes God calls us to places we know nothing about, but upon arrival we then learn about cultures and languages. He teaches us to remain in Him. He is not absent from us.

When God calls someone to serve Him, His provision for service is always evident. He cares for us in every possible way even though we may not understand momentarily. There will often be conflicts coming from many directions that, indeed, bring physical and emotional harm, but His Spirit is always present. For this reason we find meaning in these words of Paul, “When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

When we walk through dark and difficult times we are confident that Jesus is present…all of the time. Victory belongs to the Believer.

Jesus is Lord.

For James Leo Garrett, Southern Baptists needed to reclaim their evangelical identity through their rediscovery of “the authority of the Bible being the Christ-centered proclamation of the gospel being the witness by word and witness by life. This is what I have observed for all of my journey as one who was called by God to be an evangel in faith and practice.

I further believe it necessary to hold to the supernatural claims of the inerrant Word of God. The Bible is God’s revelation of himself through men moved by the Holy Spirit as they recorded what God said to them.

Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the divine and eternal Son of God providing many miracles before being crucified as the Savior of the world. He was then buried and rose again from the dead three days later just as He said He would. 

He afterward appeared many times to his disciples and ascended to the right hand of the Father. This same Jesus will come again in person just as He ascended from the Mount of Olives. 

What I learned at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is what I hold to at this very moment, “We are not with nor for those who would have a ‘scrapbook Bible.’ We take Christ’s endorsement of the Old Testament and receive the New Testament as Paul, the Holy Spirit, and the Fathers have handed it down to us. We believe it is God-breathed, and binding upon conscience and conduct, and is our only ultimate and infallible authority touching life and destiny.” – L.R. Scarborough.

I passionately stand with thousands of Southwesteners who have stood and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ across our world who will agree, “With this Christ, who left the fold so that he might find the lost sheep and bring her home to the heaven where divine love awaits her with open arms! With this Holy Spirit, who alone convicts and regenerates the sinner by faith. Our founders were not culture warriors against the world but militant evangelists going after the lost. They pursued the world to win it to a living faith in a living Lord.”  – Malcolm B. Yarness III. And I would argue, this continues to be the passion of Southwestern Seminary.

Jesus remains Lord.