“LITTLE MATTERS”

NOTE: The following article was written by Benjamin Franklin. This Benjamin Franklin (1812-1878) was a descendant in the fourth generation from the brother of the statesman and philosopher, Benjamin Franklin. He became a gospel preacher and preached during the time of the Restoration Movement.

It may seem strange that a human body, weighing one hundred and fifty pounds, would be disturbed by a little thorn in it, not an eighth of an inch long! But, strange as it may appear, it is a fact. And you cannot accustom the body to it by piercing the thorn in deeper and deeper, till the body will become easy and comfortable; but you can in that way produce irritation, then inflammation, then mortification, and then death. Death has been produced in this way many times. He is no friend to the body who continues to push the thorn in deeper and deeper, nor is he who would excuse him in so doing, or encourage him in it. There is but one remedy, and that is to remove the thorn. Even if you have to make the wound much larger than it is, the thorn must be removed, or the end will be death.

There are cases in which a thorn might be pierced into the flesh an inch, and produce no pain or irritation; but they are cases where there is no life in the flesh. A thorn pierced into a dead body will produce no pain or irritation. A dead body has no power to resist it, and will make no effort. This is the reason precisely that a thorn produces no irritation or pain when pierced into certain bodies. They are dead bodies. It is no indication that the body is not alive and in healthy condition, to find it resisting foreign matter, and making an effort to remove obstructions; but when it cannot do this, the body must die. It cannot live and the obstruction remain, at least, only for a short time. But who will permit even a little thorn to remain in his flesh? We care not how little it may be; it is foreign, it is irritating, and, unless removed, will produce death.

It was a little thing for Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit. Thomas Paine inquired, “What harm was there in eating an apple?” This is the watchword with all the unlawful things that people desire to do. “What harm is it?” When we worship according to Scripture we never inquire, “What harm is it?” It is not in doubt, and calls out no such inquiry. It is not under any suspicion. To worship according to Scripture is manifestly right. Why should we lag in anything in doubt, under suspicion, and repulsive to any portion of the body, when we have a divinely-prescribed worship held in no doubt?

It was a little thing for Achan to take a Babylonish garment, some silver, and a wedge of gold, and secrete them in his tent; but when he came to confess, it was not a little matter (Joshua 7:19-26). It was a little matter for Uzza to “put forth his hand to hold the ark;” but he fell dead on account of it (1 Chronicles 13:9). What became of them who offered strange fire on God's altar? “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1-2). That was a little matter; only slightly tampering with the worship; simply introducing a new element, which the Lord commanded them not, or did not command them. It is a fearful thing to tamper with the worship.

In one word: If “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward” in God's dealings with men in former ages, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:2-3)? If God allowed no departures in the typical worship, why should we assume that he will permit it in the worship typified? If everything had to be done according to the patterns given to Moses in the typical dispensation, how can any man infer that we may depart from the substance? We had better take heed now. We may not add anything, nor take any away from what the Lord gave. We may not preach any other gospel, or even pervert the gospel of Christ.

Some of the little matters now among us will be found sufficient to stop the ark of God, and cause more than three thousand to be defeated. If Moses were to address some of our men, he would say to them, as he did to Aaron, “What hath this people done to thee that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?” or as Joshua said to Achan: “Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day.” Let us hear and live.

12/26/21

“AND THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED…”

He was born in Kelvedon, Essex, to a family of clerics. His father and grandfather were Nonconformist ministers (meaning they weren’t Anglicans). At age 15, he broke with family tradition by becoming a Baptist. He attributed this conversion to a sermon heard by “chance”—when a snowstorm blew him away from his destination into a Primitive Methodist chapel. The experience forced him to re-evaluate his idea on, among other things, infant baptism. Within four months he was baptized and joined a Baptist church.

His theology, however, remained more or less Calvinist, though he liked to think of himself as a “mere Christian”. “I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist”, he once said. “I DO NOT HESITATE TO TAKE THE NAME OF BAPTIST, BUT IF I AM ASKED WHAT IS MY CREED, I REPLY, ‘IT IS JESUS CHRIST’.”

Later on, he would write: “I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ’s name last forever. I look forward with pleasure, to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I HOPE THE BAPTIST NAME WILL SOON PERISH; BUT LET CHRIST’S NAME ENDURE FOREVER.”

Who was this individual? It was Charles Spurgeon. The question for your consideration is this: “Was Mr. Spurgeon right in the initial statement about the Baptist name; or the latter statement? (Quote is from Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. 1, page 168).

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

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12/11/21

THOUGHTS ON OUR WORSHIP

Moses told the children of Israel these words regarding their worship when they would live in the land of Canaan: “These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THAT WAY.” (Deuteronomy 12:1-4).

There are a number of lessons we can take from this story. We find that it DOES matter HOW God is worshiped. In the second place, we see from the worship of the Canaanites that worship can be wrong! God gave instructions to Cain and Abel, to Noah, and to Abraham regarding how He was to be worshiped. The Law of Moses had instructions for the nation of Israel to follow in their worship. Likewise God has given instructions in the New Testament as to HOW He is to be worshiped, specifically, WHAT acts of worship to render, and HOW to render those acts. While worship commands have changed down through time, one constant has remained: obedience to what God commanded.

This helps us to understand why the Lord’s death is to be observed as well as how often the Lord’s Supper is to be observed. It is why we don’t assemble on Saturday, but rather on Sunday; why animal sacrifices are NOT offered today, whereas they were commanded under the Law of Moses. This also explains other changes in worship today that differs from the worship under the Law of Moses, such as the use of instruments and dancing (Psalm 150:3-4 versus Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), along with the place of worship (John 4:20-24).

Jesus also pointed out how worship can be in vain because of error in the message. This is seen from His words in Matthew 15:8-9: “...in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Let us remember and learn why Moses gave the warning, “YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THAT WAY.”

God hasn’t left worship up to us, to decide and do as WE please. Let us respect HIS will in the matter of worship, and the spiritual blessings in Christ are ours to be enjoyed, chief of which is the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:3, 7).

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12/11/21

“THANKFUL WORSHIP”

So many of the hymns we sing are about blessings. “Count your Blessings”, “O Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, “Blessed Assurance”, “Amazing Grace”, “The Love of God”, and “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” are just a few such hymns.

This past week the national holiday of Thanksgiving was observed. Thanksgiving is special and unique for those who have responded to the gospel call. Being born anew (John 3:3-5), is in itself a blessing of blessings. Our worship is to be performed with thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). Thanksgiving is a part of our prayers (1 Corinthians 14:16; 1 Timothy 2:1). Our contributions to the gospel cause are to be with thankfulness (2 Corinthians 9:7). We abound with thanks every Sunday as we observe the Lord’s Supper because of redemption and forgiveness we have by his body and his blood (Colossians 1:14). Our fellowship with God and one another is made possible by the preaching of the gospel for which we abound with thanksgiving (Philippians 1:5; 4:15).

Although other passages could be added to these, all of them would fit the summation made by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-4: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”. For these, all who are in Christ are blessed above and beyond all others.

In view of these promises mentioned by Peter, how might God’s people thank God for them? The prophet Micah asked this same question years ago when he wrote, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” (Micah 6:6). God’s answer has resounded throughout scripture. It needs proclaimed again and again by his people today: “GOD HAS TOLD YOU O MAN!” Micah goes on to say, “…what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? The voice of the Lord cries to the city—and it is sound wisdom to fear your name. Hear the rod and of him who appointed it!” (Micah 6:6-8). In all these things which God has told us lay two paths. They are called “the way of life and the way of death” (Jeremiah 21:8); and “life and prosperity or death and adversity” (Deuteronomy 30:15). We need to choose the path of life as we thank God for His blessings, for we can follow a path of death if we don’t do as God has told us. It may seem strange that our expressions of thanksgiving could actually be sinful, but that is exactly what God has “told us” in His word. We exercise wisdom when we thank Him as He has ordained. 

We find from Romans 1:21 that in being UN-thankful, we fail to glorify God. We also fail to glorify God when we disregard what God has declared about expressing thanksgiving. As this relates to worship, many disregard God’s instructions on assembling. The rationale is that “I can worship God in my own way or on my own”. It needs to be remembered that God has decreed that His people come together to give Him thanks. This is why we read of the solemn assemblies of the children of Israel under the Law (cf. Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35; Deuteronomy 16:8). God commanded His people to come together for worship!

In the psalms we find repeated mention of God’s people assembling:

~ “I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.” (Psalm 66:13-14).

 ~ “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:1-2).

~ “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4).

God has ordained for the church to assemble for worship today. We find examples of the church assembling in the New Testament: (1 Corinthians 11:17-18, 24, 33; 14:23, 26; Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). The singing we read of in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 cannot teach and admonish one another apart from being assembled together. This why we find in Hebrews 10:25 these words: “…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Let us express our thankfulness to God in the greatest way possible: doing what the Lord requires.

12/5/21

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“GOOD WORKS”

 

The role of good works as they relate to salvation has been one of the most debated topics in the Bible. This is true as it relates to the conversion of a sinner and in our life after conversion as followers of Christ. Our friends and neighbors in denominational churches are taught that man cannot be saved by good works. In support of this, passages such as Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16, and Ephesians 2:8-9 are cited. These are usually countered with the text from James 2:18-26 which stress that faith apart from works does not save.

In Luke 7 we find an interesting situation of someone who engaged in a good work, yet in doing so, acted out of faith. We can learn about the role of good works and of faith from this story of a woman who washed Jesus’ feet. Jesus had accepted an invitation to dine with Simon, a Pharisee. While reclined at the table, a woman came and washed Jesus’ feet, dried them with her hair, then anointed his feet with a costly perfume. Simon then deemed Jesus’ acceptance of these acts as proof that He was no prophet, for this woman was a sinner. His reasoning was that if Jesus was a prophet He would not have allowed a sinner to approach him.

It is interesting that Simon did not condemn her for what she did. He is more focused upon his disappointment with Jesus. Jesus knows Simon’s thoughts. He speaks to Simon of two people, both of which owed debts that they couldn’t pay. These two debtors represented Simon and the woman. Jesus presents these two debtors’ situation to Simon in such a way that Simon’s answer is actually a self-incrimination. After Simon gives his answer, Jesus contrasts Simon’s behavior with the woman’s. Her treatment of Jesus was summed up by Jesus in verse 47 as ‘loving much’. Her forgiveness of her sins was her reward. Yet in verse 50 Jesus said that she had been saved by her faith.

Clearly this sinner woman’s acts of love were good works. Just as clear was the fact that they were acts of faith. Faith and good works harmonize just as is the case with Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:18-26. The apostle Paul described this in Galatians 5:6 as faith that worked through love. Remember also the many passages from the pen of John on Jesus’ teaching of how our love toward Him is to be expressed in obedience (cf. John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6). God had commanded that His Son be heard (John 17:5). Moses had repeatedly stated this (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19).  This sinner woman acted in faith. She acted out of love for Jesus. Her love was based upon faith in what Jesus had said of himself. When he said that he was God’s son, she believed that he was God. 

However as we look at Simon, what do we see? Why did he invite Jesus to his home? How might we determine his motives? In answer to this, consider what Jesus revealed to us from the story he told Simon of the two debtors. What had Simon not done TO Jesus in his treatment OF Jesus? Remember Simon’s reaction to Jesus’ accepting this woman in addition to his own answer to Jesus’ question. What does all this reveal about Simon? What was Simon’s belief in Jesus as a prophet based upon? Did Simon do any good works FOR JESUS? Would you conclude that he was a disciple? If not, what would you conclude about him? 

What of you and I? Are we more like Simon than we are like this sinner woman? What is our view of our self? If we are as Simon, we invite Jesus into our lives to judge him. Our decision to follow him is based on whether he acts in accordance with our wisdom. Our good works are not done out of any concern about our own debt nor our inability to pay it. We do good works to be seen (Matthew 6:1). In reality, we are attempting to pay our own debt by these good works.  

If we are as this woman, the good works that we do are based upon a broken heart, burdened by our own sinfulness. We act out of love for him, believing that he paid our debt. Our good works are with a view to glorifying him, not ourselves. We seek to do all things by faith in his words.

Jesus did many good works (John 10:32). These were evidence that he was one with the Father. As we seek to be one with Christ, our good works will be our evidence. In this way we will fulfill the words of Peter: “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

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“JESUS CALLS US O’ER THE TUMULT”

One day a preacher was talking to a man who was supposed to be a Christian. The man told the preacher that he went to church services “most of the time” and seemed to think this put him in good standing with God. Many people fall into that same category. They assemble every now and then, yet consider themselves faithful to God.

But consider a few things that we might put into that same perspective and then see what conclusions we might draw...

~ What if a husband was faithful to his wife [or a wife faithful to her husband] MOST of the time?

~ What if your car started MOST of the time?

~ What if your heart beat MOST of the time?

~ What if your children obeyed you MOST of the time?

~ What if you received your paycheck MOST of the time?

 

What are your conclusions about these things? Would that husband or wife be considered faithful? Would you be satisfied with that car? Would you worry about your heart? Would you agree that these represent examples of being faithful? If not, then why should one think he could please God by being faithful SOME of the time? Jesus calls for commitment (Matthew 16:24). This commitment is not PART-time. (Luke 9:23). He asks us to count the cost and follow Him. (Luke 14:26-33). He said that once we put our hand to the plow we are not to look back (Luke 9:62). Jesus calls us, saying, ‘Christian, follow Me’, faithfully.

10/12/21

WHAT IS WRITTEN” versus “BIBLICAL SILENCE”

 

There are some people who are of the belief that we cannot “understand” truth as revealed in the scriptures. Let us consider what the Bible itself declares on this matter as well as considering the implications and dangers of such a conviction.

First of all, think of what such logic implies about the nature of God. David declared of God in Psalm 145:17, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” (cf. Nehemiah 9:8, 33). Similarly, Moses wrote of God, “…all His ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). In view of these acknowledgements, how just and righteous would GOD be to place my salvation upon “that which is written” and then give me “that which is written” (the Bible) knowing all the while that I could not understand it? The word ‘understand’ occurs about 300 times in the Bible. Paul wrote, “Wherefore… understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). Did Paul speak of an impossibility? He also said that those who read his epistle could understand what he knew of “the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).

If it were true that truth in the Bible could not be understood, only one of two reasons would explain why. Either GOD did not want us to understand it (verses just given prove otherwise), or He was not able to make His words understandable. Who would dare accuse God of the latter? Therefore, in addressing the question of whether it was God’s desire for man to understand His will, consider two texts: 

2 Peter 3:9:  ^“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:4: “…who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

In view of the fact that God desires all to come to repentance and come to the knowledge of the truth, would anyone conclude that God purposefully spoke so as to NOT be understood on these matters? The Bible declares that God’s word is truth and that truth can be understood (John 17:17; 8:31-32; 7:17).

Consider also that if it were true that truth could not be understood, wherefore should truth even exist? Without truth, what consequences would we face? If truth did not exist, nothing could be labeled as error. If this were true, there could be no such thing as sin. If all this were true, then Jesus died for naught!

If truth can be understood at all, it can be understood alike. There can be only one correct understanding of the word of GOD. Anything other than this is a “misunderstanding.” “To understand” means to comprehend the meaning of; to receive the correct meaning of words and signs. There is a rule of logic that says two things cannot differ on the same subject and both be right. For example, if I tell you my phone number is 283-3634 and two weeks later you try to call me by calling 283-3436 stating that “I understood you to say…”; no, you did not understand me to say; you MIS-understood me to say 283-3436.

We can agree “on what is written”. Many times the reality is that our disagreements are not over what God’s word says, rather what God’s word doesn’t say.

Note these examples.

1. Exodus 3:1-3. GOD spoke to Moses out of a “bush that burned with fire”. We can agree it was a “burning bush”, but never agree on what kind of a bush it was that burned. The Bible is silent on the “kind” of bush it was.

2. John 3:1-2. We can all agree that Nicodemus came to Christ “by night”. However we can never agree on “why” he came by night. Unity can be found on the clear statement “by night”. Morning and noon are ruled out. Again, the Bible is silent on Nicodemus’ reason.

3. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. We can agree Paul had a thorn in the flesh. We will never be united on what it was because the Bible is silent on that!

4. John 8:1-8. This scripture explicitly states that Jesus “wrote on the ground”. On this we can all be united. WHAT did Jesus write? We do not know. The Bible does not say.

We either accept by faith the inspired record on these matters or we reject it. But if we accept it, we are in agreement. That upon which the Bible is silent cannot be the basis of faith (Romans 10:17). The basis for our faith must be the same basis for our unity. That basis is not God’s silence, but His words. God’s silence serves only as a basis for our opinions. Opinions are as our noses; everyone has one. The Bible does not demand unity on our opinions.

There is no authority in God’s “silence” because silence provides no precedent that can be bound or basis for agreement. GOD does not require unity where there is no authority. Let us remember: what GOD’S word teaches GOD approves, and what GOD’S word is silent on GOD rejects.

10/2/21

REMEMBERING: WHY?

 

‘Remember’, ‘take heed’, ‘recall’, ‘keep’, and ‘forget not’; all of these share something in common in the scriptures. They are all used in connection with God’s covenants in the Bible. God remembered certain things and God wanted man to likewise remember the same things. For this reason, God revealed His will to man through His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7; Genesis 18:17; John 15:15). Remembering God’s will is for the purpose of obeying God’s will (cf. Numbers 15:38-40; Ecclesiastes 12:13; James 1:25).

God always remembered His covenants. To Noah God said, “I will remember my covenant…and the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis 9:15-16). 

God remembered His covenants with the patriarchs (Exodus 32:13), with Israel (Jeremiah 31:32), and with David (Jeremiah 33:21). These covenants were made with a view to fulfilling His eternal purpose, which was to redeem man from his sins by the blood of Christ.

This is seen from the prophecy of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, who at John’s birth said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” (Luke 1:68-75).

The apostle Peter stated that God had indeed fulfilled His eternal purpose: “what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18). Peter went on to connect all the covenants from Abraham, Israel, and David to this eternal purpose that was fulfilled in Jesus, saying, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:19-26).

Notice also from Peter’s words above, what was said in regard to man’s response to this fulfillment. “Repent and turn back…” (Acts 3:19). The phrase ‘turn back’ means to return unto God (cf. Acts 26:20). In doing so, they would again obey the covenant terms. In the Bible, whenever man was to ‘remember’ or ‘forget not’ God’s covenant, man was to obey. Conversely, to forget was to transgress (James 4:17).

God rested on the seventh day, and commanded Israel to remember why. To remember was done by an observance of resting. The reason God rested is stated in Exodus 31:17. God blessed this day and made it holy (Exodus 20:11). Israel was commanded to remember (rest) on this day, thereby keeping it holy. The benefit was stated by both Moses and Ezekiel: “so that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12).

The covenant through Moses had many ‘remembrance’ clauses. Chief among these was the remembrance of their sins. Animal sacrifices were for this purpose (Hebrews 10:1-3), reminding them that only God sanctifies (Hebrews 9:9: 10:4; Romans 8:3). Yet they were to ‘remember’ with an act of obedience – sacrificing an animal…exactly as specified (Exodus 12:5). God would indeed sanctify at the right time (Romans 5:6). God foresaw the need and predetermined to sanctify them and us (i.e., Jew and Gentile) through Jesus (Acts 2:23; Ephesians 1:5).

God prepared Jesus a body, that Jesus might do His Father’s will (Hebrews 10:5). His body was prepared to bear our sins. We are sanctified by His blood (Hebrews 13:12). We ‘remember’ as we follow His example. In remembering these things, let us be thankful that our sins and iniquities are remembered no more (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).

9/19/21

“GOD—RIGHTEOUS AND JUST IS HE”

Of God, Moses said: “…all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and just is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4). When God informed Abraham of the judgment purposed for Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham replied, “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:25). God did indeed act justly, punishing only the guilty. Such righteousness was even recognized by wicked monarchs such as Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:37). 

There are many times wherein God demonstrated that He was just and righteous in how He dealt with humanity. God was not merely consistent in His dealings, He always acted in accordance with His word whereby He forewarned of His intentions. His word was the basis for His actions. Never once did God act contrary to His word. In this we also have proof that God was just and righteous.

When God purposed to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, God revealed His intentions beforehand to Abraham (Genesis 18:17). Examples of God forewarning abound. We find it in the pre-flood warnings given to Noah (Genesis 6:13, 17). Noah was shown mercy and favor from God because God was just and righteous. God never once said that He would punish an obedient person. As Abraham, Moses, and Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged, God never once punished the righteous with the wicked. God spoke to Noah words of salvation that Noah and his family might be saved from the impending destruction upon the world of the ungodly (Genesis 6:14-16, 18-21). Noah, by faith, obeyed those words (Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7). 

Who would dare accuse God of giving Noah commands that were impossible to understand? Why give Noah any words if those words could not be understood? God spoke His will to man solely in order that man might know and follow His will. When it comes to the revelation of His will to us in the Bible, consider this: How fair and just would GOD be to place my salvation upon that which is written and then give me that which is written (the Bible) knowing all the while that I could not understand it?

The apostle Paul affirmed that the things God revealed to Him could be understood. Speaking of himself and of the other apostles in Ephesians 1:9-10, Paul said, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” Could the apostles understand this great plan of God? Certainly so! Paul then says in Ephesians 3:3-4, “that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly.  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ…”. Here Paul speaks of his own insight and of how those to whom he wrote could understand. 

Paul speaks further of the just-ness and righteousness of God in declaring that it was God’s desire for man to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Truth, of course, is contained in God’s revelation to man.

In view of this would God have revealed His will in such a way that it was impossible to comprehend?

What are your thoughts about this matter? Do you believe that the Bible CANNOT be understood, or do you believe it CAN? We can agree on what is written. That brings us to another matter which needs addressed. If we can understand and agree, why is there so much disagreement surrounding what the Bible teaches?

The disagreement is not in reference to the teachings in the Bible, but over matters that are not taught or found in the Bible. We can agree on what is written, but we disagree when we focus on what the Bible does NOT say. Here are two examples:

1. Exodus 3:1-3. GOD spoke to Moses out of a ‘bush that burned with fire’. We know it was a ‘burning bush’, and there is no reason for anything but unity on what is revealed. Anything beyond that will be speculation and opinion. Speculations are to be avoided, as they promote division (1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:14, 23; Titus 3:9).

2. John 8:1-8. This scripture explicitly states that Jesus “wrote on the ground”. What did He write? We do not know because the Bible does not say. On this we can all be united. Unity comes from ‘that which is written’. We will never agree on that which is NOT written. That which IS written is the standard for unity. Let us put our faith in it alone (Romans 10:17). Let us not make, nor use such careless statements as to the capability of understanding God’s word as an excuse to NOT put forth the effort to TRY.

9/12/21

“IS IT NOTHING TO YOU?”

In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah expresses a series of laments. First and foremost of these laments are those over God’s chosen people Israel. Because they have sinned grievously, God has punished them severely. Jeremiah asks this question in chapter 1:12: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?  Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.”

The reaction of the people during Jeremiah’s day over this should have been as Jeremiah’s: grief and mourning. Sin had been committed for a long period of time by those who professed with pride their status as God’s chosen. Yet the very God who had chosen them, had now punished them. Jeremiah said, “the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her wrongdoings…” (Lamentations 1:5). Society’s reaction was to hiss and taunt, as if it was nothing to them. Jeremiah said, “The adversaries saw her, they laughed at her ruin.” (Lamentations 1:7). We see in their reaction, the same attitude that Cain held toward his brother Abel, when he asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

In this, we see that what was true in Jeremiah’s day was true in Adam’s day. It is still true today. Things that ought to be important are nothing to society as they pass through this life. Many are unconcerned about the prevalence of religious division. Rather than mourn the perversion of the one true gospel (Galatians 1:6-9); many rejoice the availability of a church of one’s choice. When things of eternal consequence are ‘nothing’, it is cause for mourning. Our religious neighbors speak with ridicule of the church that Christ built (Matthew 16:18). They speak derogatory of those who advocate unity apart from diversity (John 17:20-21). These things mean ‘nothing’ to many people. What about you dear reader? Do you regard yourself as a Christian? Are religious divisions and perversions of the gospel of no concern to you? It should be. Jeremiah mourned over the sins of God’s people. He mourned over the fact that no one cared. Jeremiah recognized what many fail to acknowledge…this was God’s doing. He said, God had afflicted him (1:12). God’s justice had been exercised because of sin. This was to bring about repentance from sin. For those who did, God would be merciful and heal. 

Have you been afflicted by God? How have you reacted? With bitterness or with sorrow? An unconcerned attitude toward these matters has eternal consequences. Christians are to be “fervent in spirit” (Romans 12:11); “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14); “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58); and to “stand fast in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Yet, there are those who are unconcerned in regard to their responsibilities toward God and toward one another. Why is it that there is a lack of concern among the people of God with regard to these two responsibilities?  First, let us consider the responsibilities as brethren.

The apostle Paul identified some brethren as ‘strong’ and others as ‘weak’ (Romans 15:1). Judgments must be made by brethren toward one another. Paul also distinguished between those ‘in’ Christ and those ‘outside’ of Christ as those ‘within’ and those ‘without’ (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). In either case, judgments must be made by all based upon righteousness (John 7:24). Jude also recognized the differences in spiritual maturity of brethren in his epistle. He wrote, “And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23). Righteous judgment requires wisdom. In our ‘consideration’ of one another, let us remember this: “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). We have all been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The value of a soul thus created is of greater value than the world in which we live and all that is therein (Mark 8:36-37). 

So likewise, we need to remember these principles in the relationships we sustain with brethren and with those of the world. All souls are of equal value in God’s sight. Let not this truth mean ‘nothing’ to us. The salvation of a soul is greater than gaining the whole world. The gospel must go forth in word and in deed by Christians. Our support of the gospel should not be taken lightly either. Does our contribution reflect that the gospel is of no value or of great value to the saving of a soul? The Bible declares that it alone is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16-17). Does the purity and integrity of the gospel matter to you?

9/5/21

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“THAT YE MAY KNOW…AND FEAR”

 

There are many warnings in the bible against altering God’s message. A few such passages are Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19. Perversion of God’s word can occur in many ways. The word can be perverted in the manner in which the serpent did in Genesis 3:4 when the word ‘not’ was added to God’s message to Adam. The prophet Balaam perverted the message of God in a more subtle manner when he gave counsel as to how God’s people could bring God’s wrath upon themselves through disobedience (Revelation 2:14). Yet another way of perversion is seen from the example of the old prophet at Bethel in 1 Kings 13 who lied about receiving a message from God that resulted in the death of a younger prophet. A common thread in all these examples was that of impure motives. Impure motives are not always behind the perversion of God’s message. It often occurs through simple neglect and carelessness. It is unintentional, yet the damage is just as great.

In Joshua 4:4-7 the people are about to enter the Promised Land. They cross the parted waters of the Jordan and the Lord directs the people after they have crossed with these words: “Then Joshua called the twelve  men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them, ‘Cross over before the ark of the Lord your GOD into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, “What do these stones mean to you?”  Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when it crossed over the Jordan, the water of the Jordan were cut off.  And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever”.

In Joshua 3:10 and 4:24, we have the significance for these procedures stated by Joshua: “Hereby ye shall know that the living GOD is among you...that all the peoples of the earth may know that hand of Jehovah that it is mighty; that ye may fear Jehovah your GOD forever”.

God wanted the men to take time to make a memorial, for the purpose of drawing their children’s attention and questions.  When the children asked, “What do these stones mean to you”, God wanted the grownups to take the time to answer the question with wisdom and knowledge. The significance of these stones needed to be passed down to future generations. If not, the worship of God would lose significance. Carelessness in teaching is also a form of perversion. It is mishandling God’s word. It will reap what it has sown— disrespect toward God. 

The greatest opportunity for the parent to teach the child about the SIGNIFICANCE of serving God comes from the child’s questions. A careful reply will remain in the mind of the child throughout his life. It will be the determining factor in times of decisions about obedience or disobedience to God’s will. Be prepared to answer with diligence so the child will “know…and fear” God. Remember, the time is opportune THEN. To delay or defer an answer is to lose that opportunity. It may never come again. The reply needs to bring out the significance of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice. Don’t diminish the significance of God’s will with a careless answer.

Let us return to the story of the twelve stones. How would the children’s worship be affected if, over time, the story was carelessly related?  What if, instead of stating the proper reason for the stones, another version was told? Then, to spread it out further, what if those children who had been told the ‘altered’ story, related only what they had been told?  What if this kept happening over a period of generations…?  For instance, let’s say that a child was told that some river other than the Jordan, or a number of stones other than twelve were used; perhaps more or less than twelve men were involved, or something other than the ark of the covenant was involved.  What would happen to the significance of the event?  What if the story, in years to come was like this: “A long time ago, Joshua had some of the people get some rocks out of a river and erect an altar like they did when they crossed the Red Sea years earlier. I forget exactly where they are, and why they did this, but it had something to do with how they worshiped back then. That is why we have an altar today in our worship, because that’s the way mom and dad and grandma and grandpa did.” I believe the effect would be obvious. 

However, consider the effect on a child nurtured “… in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

8/21/21

“PREPARING THE CHILD’S HEART”

 

I want to share with you a typical situation found in many homes. It describes the life of a grandfather, a father, and his son. It tells of a problem faced by many. The purpose is to show from the scriptures how to deal with such problems in our life.

The story is a phone conversation between a man and a preacher. The man on the phone was a Christian. It seems he had attended services and Bible classes as a youth. His parents had taught him the truth and made sure he was present whenever the church assembled. As a youth his tender heart was touched by the gospel and he obeyed it. He was eager to serve the Lord and grow closer to him. But, sadly, soon that enthusiasm waned. As he grew older as a teen and then a young adult, the pleasures of this world enticed him and, as Demas, he forsook the Lord because he developed a love for this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

While in apostasy, he married and started a family. A son came along. A son whom he loved and who was his pride and joy. A son upon whom he rained blessings and gifts. There was nothing he would not give or do for him. Nothing, that is, except what his parents had done for him – “bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

After his son had finished college and went out on his own, he said his mother, the son's grandmother, became ill and needed special care. She moved in with her son so he could attend to her needs. She, in spite of her infirmities, was determined to remain faithful to the Lord. She asked her son to take her to the services of the local church. He did. Worried about her well-being while there, he decided that instead of just taking her, he would go with her to make sure she would be all right. Surely, he thought, he could endure it for her sake.

He felt uncomfortable sitting there. Yes he had sat in pews many times but that had been long ago. He had not frequented a church building since before he was married. Yet, in a strange way, there was a familiarity and a feeling of belonging. At each service he grew more interested in what was going on, more comfortable with his surroundings but more uncomfortable with himself. He finally realized he needed to come back to the Lord. He, to the surprise and joy of his elderly mother, answered the invitation and, with tears, penitently told the preacher how sorry he was for his years of neglect. Prayer was offered and he was restored to his Lord and Savior.

How wonderful he felt. “How great to get my life back on track,” he thought. He sensed a peace that he had not experienced in years. He now attended services with glee. He avariciously read his Bible daily. He started telling everyone about what he had done, how it had made him feel and how they could have that same joy and peace that he was experiencing. He told his son what had happened and invited him to come to services.

But the son would have nothing to do with it. He had his own life now. He had the responsibilities of job and family and he had neither time for nor interest in such things. His father was heartbroken. He repeatedly tried to get his son interested in his spirituality all to no avail. Finally his son let him know very plainly that he did not want to discuss the matter again.

So that is why his father called me. His son lives in our city and he thought maybe, just maybe, I might be able to do what he could not -- get his son to listen to his need for the gospel and Christ. I knew that the years when his son could have been easily touched by the gospel were past. They were the formative years when he was under his father's control when his father neglected to teach him the ways of the Lord and set a proper example before him. Yes, the gospel still has its power to convert but not in a heart that is hardened to it or in a person who sees no need for it. The father agonizes over the lost opportunities he had to teach his son as his godly parents had taught him.

Parents, remember that when you neglect your service as Christians, you are impacting the lives of your children. Do not let your neglect contribute to your children being lost. Do not let this sad story be repeated in the story of your life. Please read at this time Psalm 78:3-8.

8/14/21