“WHAT IF…SUPPOSE…?”

“What if (suppose) a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” (Acts 23:9).

Often, such statements (questions) as ‘suppose’ or ‘what if’ are uttered in response to a text in the Bible. Such words are sometimes genuine inquiries about the text, while at other times, they are put forth as an ‘exception-to-the-rule’ response, suggesting that God’s commands have exceptions.

 

In Acts 23:1-9, we read the account of the apostle Paul before the council and the high priest, Ananias. When Paul states that he is called in question over the “hope and resurrection of the dead”, a great dissention arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees.  In v. 9 we read, “…some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?”

 

What if…? The scribes of the Pharisees, upon hearing that Paul mentioned the ‘hope of the resurrection of the dead’, began arguing heatedly with the Sadducees for they (i.e., the Pharisees) held the same belief as Paul. Their belief in regard to the resurrection would be valid only IF it came from God. What if it did? The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the most significant event relative to man. It is the foundation of our hope; the reason for which we assemble, worship, study, refuse to be ‘of’ the world while in the world, support the preaching of the gospel, love our neighbors, and love each other as brethren. Simply put, there is meaning to our lives because of the resurrection. We don’t just imagine a fictitious thing we call heaven; we have credible proof of it - - - the resurrection!

‘What if’ the basis of our belief is from God? If so, then our convictions would be so strong that we would defend them with our life! As Jesus’ example was, so also will ours be. We will die in defense of God’s word. Our life will be a living sacrifice. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the god and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2). 

‘What if’ God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… (John 3:16)? We should not begin with ‘do I believe this’, but first settle in our minds, IS IT FROM GOD? Is it true? Did it indeed happen? What proof do I have that this His Son WAS given in love for me? That proof is an empty grave…the resurrection from the dead! It is no surprise that efforts to deny the resurrection began immediately (Matthew 28:11-15), and denial continued thereafter (1 Corinthians 15:12). It continues to the present. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof of God’s promise to judge the world by Him (Acts 17:31).

The reason for denying Jesus’ resurrection has never changed, nor ever will. Do you know what the reason is? Think for a few moments on your answer. Are you struggling with the question? How does it make you feel as you give thought and meditation on your answer? There is a purpose for asking all these questions (it is not just to stall or frustrate you.) If you are uncomfortable with dwelling on the reality of the resurrection, it reveals that doubt and fear exists in your mind about it. You see, the resurrection compels you; obligates you; and indebts you to OBEY Christ. In order to obey Christ, you must cease your life of sin. Herein lies the struggle and the condemnation. The reality of the resurrection calls upon each of us to cease sacrificing the eternal on the altar of the immediate. Moses understood this (Hebrews 11:25).

What about you? How does the resurrection affect you? Does it give you joy or anxiety? Do you look forward to Jesus’ return? What if there is a day of Judgment? Is it from God? What effect do the following words of Peter have on your heart: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12)? Your attitude toward the return of Jesus speaks volumes. Remember, you will never turn from a sin you don’t hate (James 1:14).

 

“INVIGORATED”

The word ‘invigorated’ literally translated, means “to put life or energy into”. That which makes the difference between being spiritually ‘dead’ and spiritually ‘alive’ is God’s word. We know this from Jesus’ teachings. After Jesus had been working some great miracles, we find that many followed Him because of the miracles (John 6:2). Later, Jesus challenged them because it was apparent they were there only for physical food (vv. 24-33). He challenged them to seek the spiritual food He offered, but many would turn away later when this spiritual food could not be ‘swallowed’ (vv. 41-66). In their rejection of this spiritual food, they forfeited eternal life.

After these had turned away, Jesus said to those remaining, “It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life” (v. 63). The source of spiritual invigoration – life and energy – came from the Spirit and the words of Jesus Christ! When Jesus then asked His closest disciples if they, too, would turn away (v. 67), Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (v. 68). The twelve understood that Jesus’ words were the source of their spiritual life.

Those words spoken by Jesus, as well as the words taught by the Holy Spirit, (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 3:3-6), are the ONLY source of spiritual life. Cornelius feared God and prayed always. God answered his prayer with a vision, telling him to send for Simon, who would speak “words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house” (Acts 11:14). Those words were by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Cornelius, although devout (Acts 10:2), was still spiritually dead in his sins until he exercised his faith in those words. His obedience of faith resulted in spiritual life from spiritual death for him and his household. That is what spiritual invigoration is…life from death.

We must all recognize that, outside of Christ, we are spiritually dead (cf. Ephesians 2:1). Our spiritual life comes from Christ through His teachings. The gospel message declares God’s righteousness, which is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16-17). God has revealed the process of justification in the gospel. Man was not responsible for it, nor did it originate with man, for man could not have provided it. It was God’s plan for making men righteous. Paul refers to it as the ‘LAW OF FAITH’ (Romans 3:27). Paul also called it the ‘law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:2). James referred to it as the ‘law of liberty’ (James 1:25; 2:12). It is simply referring to the provisions God has put in place whereby man may be reconciled to Him.

But what about after our spiritual birth? Despite the fact that some teach a ‘once saved, always saved’ plan of salvation, that is not God’s ‘law of faith’. Faith must be nurtured; else it will die. Just as we need to continually eat physical food to remain alive physically, we must also continually feed on spiritual food to remain alive spiritually. Peter’s admonition to newborn disciples was that they, “…desire the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation” (1 Peter 2:2 - ASV). This emphasizes the need for PROPER diet. We recognize this in the physical realm. Proper diet and proper exercise are essentials to physical wellness. Both must continue. No one can eat just once and expect that to last 60 or 70 years. Why would anyone think he can grow without spiritual nourishment? The same physical problems which would arise from physical malnutrition will also arise from spiritual malnutrition.

To be spiritually strong, we must continually feed on God’s word and then continually exercise our faith in obedience to those words (cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26). When we continue to ignore our spiritual hunger, we become weak. As our spiritual strength weakens, our resistance to fleshly lusts is unable to resist the urge to satisfy those lusts. It is inevitable that we will sin. “…each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

We must exercise ourselves for the purpose of becoming godly, not ungodly (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Spiritual malnutrition is an inevitable result from any doctrine that does not agree with the words of Jesus (1 Timothy 6:3-6). The reason given by Paul was that one’s godliness will become discontented from feeding on a diet of ‘un-sound’ doctrine. Those who are not content with living godly, view the keeping of God’s words as a weariness (Isaiah 43:22; Micah 6:3 Malachi 1:13; 3:14). 

Remember, only Jesus’ words can provide you  with life abundantly (John 10:10).  

“JESUS AND AUTHORITY”

 

EVEN JESUS DID NOT PRESUME TO ACT WITHOUT AUTHORITY

How important is the subject of AUTHORITY in the realm of religion? We can see its importance from the consequences associated with acting without God’s authority. “A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:28-31).

The rulers among the Jews understood that one may not act without authority. “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”(Matthew 21:23-27).

Inasmuch as He was “born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4), not even Jesus was exempt from the necessity of having authority for what He did. Jesus used three methods to establish authority for His teaching and practice.

First, He taught what His Father had commanded Him to teach. “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” (John 12:48-50).

Second, He did what He had seen His Father do. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work. For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.” (John 5:17-19).

Third, He taught what was implied, though not explicitly stated, in the Law. “On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother; in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And after them all, the woman died. In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.” (Matthew 22:23-33).

Let us remember the words of He who possesses all authority: “Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit? The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.” (Luke 6:39-40).

9/9/22