Belief

 The Biblical Concept Of Belief            12-21-24

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? When the Bible says if you believe in Jesus you have eternal life, what does that entail? It simply means to think or to be persuaded that something is true.Understanding rewards requires us to understand the distinction between faith, or belief and what the Bible calls works.The majority of mainline churches of all denominations in America,teach that one must have "necessary works"or "works that follow"initial salvation.Salvation is indeed free,but the works that follow are necessary.If the works that follow are "necessary"then this logically elevates works as a condition of salvation.Two lines of thought are prevalent.One being that initial salvation is indeed free.However,if you do not begin and continue in good works, you will lose your salvation(Arminianism); or if you do not continue in good works, you were never saved in the first place(Calvinism).There are tributaries of these basic doctrines, but it boils down to those two explanations.Obedience to the Word of God is taught as a requirement to escape final condemnation.Submission,making and keeping a commitment, repentance, lifestyle change and so forth.In other words, my fundamental acceptance before God is in some way related to my conduct or lifestyle.I am making myself responsible for my salvation through my efforts or works.This is at the very center or core of all man made legalistic modes of thought.There is a rule or a set of rules that I as a believer must abide by to obtain final salvation.Legalism is guilty of two discrepancies.It tarnishes the work of the cross making it incomplete.More importantly, and perhaps of much more concern, it robs God of His Glory.If man can offer God anything for his justification, necessary works being such,God's Glory is diminished.God will not allow that.

This is an effort to redefine the simplicity of faith or belief.Look at this.

John 6:47

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." 

Is there even a hint at any of the commands mentioned above in this verse?

Well,how do we move from believe in Jesus to repentance,obedience or some such requirement? A number of ways.The one I am most familiar in my walk is the well known head versus heart.The most difficult twelve inches on earth is the distance between my head and my heart.If I did not believe something in my heart it did not matter if I believed it in my head.This was known as mental or intellectual assent.Another distinction that was and is made is the issue of dead faith.If I did not have necessary works,my faith was dead.In some circles today it is called spurious or false faith.Sometimes the word trust is used as a distinction of faith.You must place your trust in someone or something.Using those types of words and phrases clouds the simplicity of childlike faith.

To "believe in" or "believe that" about Jesus is the essence of saving faith.Look at John 20:31.This verse is the purpose statement of the Gospel of John.As far as I know, this is the only book in the New Testament that has such a purpose statement.

John 20:30-31

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

"...believe that.....by believing..."

John 8:24

 "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

 "...unless you believe..."

 

 John 16:7-9

 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;.."

 "....they do not believe in me..."

 

 On and on and on.In the Gospel of John the word "believe" is used as the only condition for eternal life about 100 times.This usage of believe or faith expands to about 250 times in the New Testament as a whole.The concepts or ideas behind the words believe and faith are the same in the Greek and the English.Both languages describe the words as "thinking something to be true."Being persuaded or confident that what ever one is believing in,one is persuaded that it is true.In this context, faith or belief is the same idea as trust.There is no distinction. 

 

 Therefore,to "believe in," "believe this," "believe that," or"believe on,"Jesus is to believe something about Him.All the different phrases refer to the same act of saving faith.Look at the 11th Chapter of John.

 

 In this passage,Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus has died.As Jesus enters the city,Martha runs to meet Him and they have an exchange.We will pick up their conversation in 25th verse.

 John 11:25-27

 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

 

 In this passage Jesus explains something about Himself that is true.He is the resurrection and the life.He then tells Martha that if she believes that, she will never die or if she does die a physical death, she will still live.Does she believe this? Look at her reply.

 ..."I believe that you are the Christ....." Now compare that with John 20:31. She believed something about Jesus was true and at that moment, she received eternal life.It was the"Christ" that could make the claim of eternal life.To believe that Jesus was the Christ was saving faith.

  

 Jesus has this eternal life in Himself.Look at this.

 John 5:26

 "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." 

 John 5:21

 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will."

 

 Jesus has eternal life in Himself and He gives it to whom He will.In order to avail or obtain eternal life for one's self, one and only one condition is required.Indeed it is the only way that man may avail himself of the gift of God.One must come to God on His terms.Remember Cain and Able?Cain approached God with a sacrifice,but it was unacceptable.Why?It was not on the terms or conditions that God required.One last verse.

 

 Matthew 5:13

 

 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

 

 We are going to look more in Matthew when we begin talking about rewards proper.This passage,however,is relevant for our discussion about the nature of saving faith.This is one of the few times salvation is discussed in Matthew.The Gospel being a discourse to Jewish believers about the establishment of the Kingdom .But here,Jesus is talking about entering the Kingdom,not establishing it.Jesus uses a word that is somewhat misleading in the English.That word being "hard." While tribulation may be a cause,a better translation of the word would be pressed down or compressed.The way is compressed,which would result in affliction.In context though,Jesus is talking about the way of entrance being compressed.In other words,there aren't many ways,but a compressed way to enter the gate; the gate being the Kingdom of God.We will learn in John that Jesus is saying that He is the only way.

 

 What are you saying Ronnie? Just this. In order to obtain deliverance from eternal condemnation and avail ourselves of eternal life, we must come to God on His terms.Those terms being a belief in Jesus as the Son of God,the Christ,and the giver of eternal life.He paid the penalty for our sins,He was resurrected, and He has life in Himself.He gives this life to whomever He will.All He requires is that we believe.

 

 A final, comical example to grasp the concept of believing.Every time I look up,I see something that I have been told is the sky.Now,in my experience,I have also been told that the sky is blue.All these ideas or concepts have been told me since I was a child.So,today,when I look up,I see the blue sky.I BELIEVE that is the truth.I have confidence in and trust that that is the truth.Well,Ronnie what about if it is overcast?            No problem,I have already been alerted to the fact of overcast skies.I also believe that to be true.I did not do anything to ascertain those facts.I could have read them in a book if no one had ever told me.My point is this.I was not required to make any type of commitment.I did not have to get up and roll over on the floor every day,in order to enjoy the blue sky.All that was required was to believe that it was the sky and that the sky was blue.That is the essence of saving faith.Also,no matter what else I might try to add to to my belief system, any addition will never, never, ever, ever,change the fact that the sky is blue.That is what it means to believe.

 

 Now,I will be the first to say that one does not have to believe the good news of a salvation that is absolutely free and absolutely eternal.But,and in my opinion it is a big but.BUT,in order to believe that some type of works are required to avail and maintain salvation, you are going to have to harmonize the verses teaching free and eternal with those that require works.I believe the verses teaching free and eternal outnumber those that do not by about 10-1.Remember Jesus said that"scripture cannot be broken.It is a daunting task and to be truthful,I do not believe that it can be done.To harmonize those verses however,is rather easy when one allows for a doctrine of rewards.Rewards are not man's invention.They are not some theologian's effort to win an argument.No matter what persuasion you belong to,no matter what you have been taught,rewards are a Biblical truth.The problem we have is determining what the reward is.What do you mean Ronnie?Just this.The folk that believe some type of work is required, see Heaven as the reward.We believe and then we persevere and endure for our reward.....Heaven.But,my question is "How can heaven be a reward, when it requires effort as all rewards do."That is the essence of a reward.The Biblical sense of reward is a payment for service rendered.How,then,can salvation be free?If our only reward is eternal life in heaven,where is the"free gift"that Paul speaks of in Romans?

 

 How many times were you told that salvation is free but discipleship is costly? How many times have you told someone else that very same thing?I personally have been told and taught that very thing all my Christian life.Where and how did we begin to add repentance, lifestyle etc.,to the salvation side of the equation? This is my thought on that subject.We,as the church,in my generation at least, have neglected the study of God's Word.For sure we read devotionally.But,do we study the Bible?As a whole,I do not believe we do.As for me personally,I did not undertake the study of the Bible until a few years ago.I read devotionally for most of my Christian life.It took an"incident" in church to set me on the course of finding out"why I believe what I believe."My quest goes on and will continue until God takes me home.

 

 Well Ronnie doesn't doctrine divide? Yes,it does.And sometimes it is humbling and even painful to be shown that I am wrong in certain of my beliefs.Joseph Garlington wrote a book many years ago entitled"Right or Reconciled."I read it and it was a great book.His book however dealt more with relationships than doctrine.While there is great truth in that title as it relates human interaction;when it comes to sharing and teaching what God's Word says,I would rather be right than reconciled.Remember the Apostle James words.Teachers will receive the stricter judgment.So,with that said,read this post carefully.We must grasp this idea of belief for the doctrine of rewards to make any sense.We must be able to recognize when verses are talking about justification(salvation)and sanctification(discipleship).On the next post, we will begin looking at the concepts and doctrines of Biblical rewards.Hope you will still be interested.

 

 All we must do is believe.

 

 God Bless.

 

  

  

Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon On The Mount                       12-17-24

In our study of rewards we will begin with one of the most quoted and read passages of Scripture in the Bible.The passage's relevance is discovered when we find out just what Jesus was teaching. Is this a passage about salvation? As the Phillipian jailer asked Paul,"What must I do to be saved?"Could Paul have answered by directing him to this passage? No,he could not have.This passage has nothing to do with going to heaven.Let's take a look.A chronology of sorts is significant for our understanding of this teaching.

According to Matthew 4:12-17,Mark 1:14-15,and probably Luke 3:20 Jesus began His public ministry after John the Baptist was arrested.

Matt 4:12-17

"Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum........ 

..........From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:14-15

"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

In John's Gospel Jesus gives two discourses about personal salvation early on.(John 3:1-21 and 4:1-26)These two discourses took place before the Sermon on The Mount.We can determine this by the references in John 3:24 and 4:1,which show that John the Baptist was still active.If you consult a harmony of the Gospels you will see that Jesus spent a good deal of time with His disciples before He launched His public ministry.This is significant,for Jesus spent much of that time indoctrinating the disciples about the truths of salvation and eternal life.We know this by the references in John 1:35-51 and John 2:11 that speak to the disciples already being believers.They are with Him as He evangelizes Sychar in John 4.

OK Ronnie so what?Just this.There is no good reason that the disciples shoulder would have construed the sermon as being a pathway to eternal life. This sermon was not a discourse on what was required to enter the Kingdom of God.They were already believers.So what was the Sermon all about.It was a message about the true righteousness of God.It was an explanation of what kind of righteousness God required to enter His Kingdom based on one's merit. In other words what were the works that God requires if we are to go to heaven on our own goodness.Look at Chapter 5:20.

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This is the basis for the entire sermon.In first century Israel there was a fervor that the Messiah was soon to come.People were asking what kind of righteousness would the Messiah be looking for?What was required to enter the Kingdom?The Pharisees of the day taught a righteousness based on observance of the Law.That is why we read about the controversies on Sabbath keeping, blasphemy, adultery, eating with sinners, on and on and on.Religion dependent on outward observence, rather than inward conformity.

Jesus comes along and says 'OK you want to know what kind of law righteousness God requires?I will show you.'The "righteous demands" of the Law and Prophets."

Jesus had a dual audience here a crowd of followers and the disciples.

Probably most were believers,but it is assumed some were not.At any rate these chapters describe what salvation and eternal life would look like if it were based on human merit.This is what First Century Judaism looked like.Pharaisacal righteousness.This same question confronts 21st Century people.Do we require works for justification? Repentance,turning from sin, lifestyle change? Going to church, tithing....?If we do, then these chapters are a tiny sampling...a small taste of the demands of the Law.Every jot and every tittle must be observed.If you violate the tiniest command you are guilty in all,ALL points.Let's look at just a few examples of what this means.This is the type of righteousness that"exceeds"the Pharisees.This will get you into heaven based on your goodness.

Jesus picked out 6 commandments of the Mosaic Law and contrasted them with the Pharisees notion of righteousness.Look at Matthew 5:21-47.

1)Murder as opposed to anger.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

2)Adultery as opposed to lust.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

3)Divorce

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."(Ladies this has a dual application (smile))

4)Oaths

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn."

In those days if you made a promise to God or man it had to be fulfilled.Every word that came out of your mouth while making this oath to God OR man had to be performed.Else you became a lawbreaker, condemned to damnation.

5)Retaliation

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil."

In a word non resistance.

60 Love your enemies

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

If you violated just one time any to the above mentioned commandments you were doomed.Now,add the Law in it's totality,613 separate commandments required of God.You were liable to judgment if you violated just one. Wait there's more.Not only did the Law require outward ceremonial observance,it required INWARD conformity.What do you mean Ronnie? In verses 3 though 12 of Matthew 5,Jesus introduces the idea of character.These Beatitudes show that God's righteous requirements were also character based.Not only were you responsible for your behavior, you were also to have purity of heart and motive ALL the time.If you missed the mark in the area of character, you were a lawbreaker.One single impure thought or motive....lawbreaker.Total,absolute purity and perfection in thought and deed.Does this give us a clue about how hopeless the human condition truly is? You see..if there were any way that we as humans could atone,God would have done it.There was no such way.Only the cross would suffice.With that understanding of the righteousness and Glory of God,do you see the insanity of telling an unbeliever that they must stop doing something,or start doing something to keep from going to hell? It happens every day.Most of the time it has to do with sins that are obvious.Rarely are folks told that they have to stop being angry with their brother or sister.Even more rare is anyone told that they have to be perfect in thought and deed.And if that is not enough, we teach that salvation is free, but one must have good works to maintain it.Or worse yet,one is told that if they don't continue in good works until they die, then they were never saved in the first place.That may sound ludicrous and it contradicts every passage in the New Testament that speaks to salvation being a free gift; and that eternal life being just that..eternal.Neverending,everlasting.As I said in my first post...NO HUMAN WORK WILL SATISFY GOD'S REQUIREMENT FOR JUSTIFICATION,SALVATION.Either in the present tense of the unbeliever's life or in the future tense of the new believer's life.Not initial repentance, not confession of sin or remorse of any type, not asking Jesus into your heart, praying the sinner's prayer, quitting any of the multitude of sins that pervades our entire being,NOTHING.

God requires only one condition to be delivered from hell, the lake of fire.ONE AND ONLY ONE.What is that Ronnie. BELIEF. PERIOD. Here are a few samples.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 5:24

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Revelation 22:17 (One of the last sayings of the risen King)

"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

Well,Ronnie if the Sermon on the Mount isn't about getting into heaven, what is it about? Glad you asked. This beloved passage introduces us, among other things,to the vast body of Old and New Testament Scripture concerning the doctrine of future, eternal rewards.

If you don't get anything out of this entire post, please get this.

Salvation is a free gift of God requiring only a belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.In the nest post we are going to take a look at the Biblical concept of belief.What does it mean to believe in Jesus?What does it mean to have faith in Jesus?Once we get that settled, we will look into the details of this doctrine of rewards.

All we must do is believe.

God Bless

In A Courtroom

In  a Courtroom.                                                              10-5-21

Have you ever noticed the legal language used in the Gospel of John? It is used throughout the Gospel in differing circumstances. The noun judge or the verb to judge is used 14 times in the Gospel. The verb “to prosecute,to condemn”are used.”Penal servitude,” a Greek word that Paul uses in Romans is in the Gospel of John. Words such as eyewitness,testimony, testify,witness appear multiple times in the Gospel. There is a reason for all of this legal imagery. This Gospel is written for the purpose of bringing people to faith in Jesus.

John 20:31

“but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

That is the purpose statement of the Gospel of John. To bring people who are unbelieving and condemned,to a saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. In order to accomplish this purpose,John employs courtroom language to make unbelievers aware that they indeed are in a legal proceeding when salvation from hell is the subject. Now,John does not elaborate on this courtroom setting,but the Apostle Paul certainly does in Romans. Paul portrays God as a judge before whom the whole world stands accused. Not only accused but condemned with no remedy save one. There is much to be said about the futility of offering anything to God as payment for sin in His courtroom. The perfect nature and character of a Holy God render any attempt (see repentance,turning from sin,prayer,praise,worship and all other human attempts at satisfying Him) laughable. In this courtroom,where the standard is total perfection and holiness,we as human beings stand as Paul somewhere says “without God and without hope.”

Yet in the midst of our pitiable state,the Gospel of John,as do other Books of the Bible,hold out hope, But,especially the Gospel of John. Using courtroom language to draw our eyes to the hopeless state we exist in,John points us to the Messiah, the Son of God,who has the gift of eternal life. And what must we do to obtain this gift and be declared not guilty and righteous before a perfect God? Ninety nine times John tells us what to do in his Gospel. Ninety nine times. Believe. Believe.Ninety nine times.That is the totality of our responsibility toward a perfect God to escape eternal condemnation. 

Think about this.Just what is it that you,me,or anyone else can offer God for our justification? Anything? NOTHING. God makes the rules in His courtroom and He says the ONLY thing I can do is BELIEVE. Nothing else will or can satisfy. Not only that. For believing in Jesus the Messiah we receive eternal life,never to be lost. That is a far cry from what we as humans try to add to His requirement because of our pride. But,He will not allow it. No boasting about ANYTHING in His presence.

That dear brothers and sisters is why they call the Gospel ,Good News. Good news to the drug addict,the alcoholic,the prostitute…….but also good news to the doctor,lawyer,bus driver and the self righteous. Good news to all of humanity.

All we must do is believe.

God Bless

rewards

The Doctrine of Rewards 11-16-24

Have you ever been confused about something you read in the Bible? Even worse, have you ever read a verse or verses that seemed to contradict what another verse or passage said? Well,welcome to my world.(smile)I have read and still read passages that seem to contradict.Indeed that don't fit my human understanding.But,that can't be. How do you know that Ronnie?What makes you so self assured? Well,it has nothing to do with me.It is because Jesus said so.Yep.Jesus the Lord Himself said Scripture could not be broken.Where did He say that Ronnie? Look here.

John 10:34-35 34 "Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken"

Without trying to get into the meaning of this verse(Psalms 82:6). When Jesus used that word "broken" He was saying that Scripture could not be set aside.He was stating the doctrine of inerrancy.He was saying that there were no mistakes in Scripture.He was saying that Scripture was not contradictory.Indeed,Scripture actually interprets itself.There are no contradictions.Well,Ronnie you sure fooled me cause it seems to me that there are all kinds of confusing verses.Yeah I know it is confusing.Here is a clue to the solution.Read the Bible in context and read it literally.I hope to show you how that works in practical usage.Now,that being said, shortly into this study I am going to give you a list of verses that seem to contradict. Just bear with me and you will see. I once spoke with a homeless person and told him that all he had to do to go to heaven was believe in Jesus.As he sat there thinking about what I had said, he replied to me that no one had ever told him that.He said that all he had ever heard was how he needed to stop sinning and start going to church.He needed to do this and that, stop this and that,on and on.I told him that what he had heard was NOT the Gospel of salvation, and shared with him again the message of simple faith.Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.The conversation ended and he went on his way and I,mine. I don't know if he came to a saving faith or not.That chance encounter long ago is a prime directive for sharing this study.Look at this verse.

1 Corinthians 9:27 24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

In this verse Paul entertains the possibility that he might fail as a Christian. Many today teach this verse as if Paul were saying that it was possible for him to lose his salvation.This is encouraged by the KJV use of the word"castaway." In Romans however, he states that God will justify all that He called, using the past tense.Look.

Romans 8:29-30 29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

Do you see the use of the past tense?If He called you,He justified you,He glorified you.If He justified you,He glorified you.All past tense.The only action that is missing is sanctification.The gradual process of being conformed into the image of His Son.More on that later.Much more!

This is not a study on salvation.However,in this introduction it is imperative that we answer two questions.Maybe you can't answer these questions due to what you have been taught.I have seen people in church videos, during a question and answer session, literally break down.Standing in a sanctuary, in tears because they didn't know the answer to those questions for their personal lives.Beenin church for years and did not know whether they were saved at that particular moment.Why? Because of contradictory teaching from the pulpit due to doctrinal error.If you are one of those,I hope this study will clear your thinking and provide for you the assurance of your salvation.Here they are.

1( Is salvation from hell(justification) a gift.Is it free of charge?

2)Is the gift of salvation from hell eternal.Is it neverending?To put it another way.Is it possible to lose your salvation due to lifestyle,apostasy?

The author believes the answer to the above two questions is in the affirmative.Yes,God's gift of salvation from the lake of fire is free of merit.We as human beings can't do anything to earn it.NOTHING.All we must do is believe in Jesus. The author also believes that at the precise moment of believing,the person believing is granted eternal life.Eternal life in the present tense at the very moment of belief.The author also believes that this life which is eternal can never be lost for ANY reason.Neither can it be taken away or given back. If any of those conditions were true, the life given would cease to be eternal.

Dwell on these questions.Think and pray about them.If you are unsure,I believe this study will provide the answers to both of those questions.In addition, the study will look at the issue of accountability we as Christians face at the Bema Judgment.We will do this by focusing on several different threads or concepts found in Scripture.Judgment,Kingdom,Distinctions,Inheritance,The Sermon on the Mount,Characteristics of what the Bible calls "overcomes"and, of course the title of the study,REWARDS.It isn't as lengthy as it seems but it will take several parts to do it justice.Hope you enjoy it.More than that,I hope it will clear up any confusion you may have about the harmony of Scripture;and I hope it will lay to rest any fears you have about your eternal destiny.

God Bless.

Look Away From Yourself.         06-23-23

My thoughts of late have focused on a note to myself that I wrote in my Bible.lThe note was written in the 6 th chapter of Matthew and stated simply that I should  “look away from myself.” I do not remember the time or the occasion that sparked that note. That said,that note has much relevance to the Christian walk.

In my early Christian upbringing, I heard many sermons that spoke to this concept, especially from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

However, over time these words about seeking the Kingdom of God took on a different perspective,that with the luxury of hindsight, we’re not the intent of the original. The message devolved into seek the kingdom of Ronnie. Not that the descent was that obvious or blunt. It never is. Sin has a pervasiveness that is supremely subtle. You hardly notice until one day you are in it’s clutches. Feelin’ me here?

Was this slide a blatant appeal to unbridled materialism? I don’t think so.I followed the precepts of God. But, the message became less and less about God. The message became about establishing the Kingdom of God and enjoying the blessings of that Kingdom. Serve God not because He IS God. No, serve Him for the blessings He bestows. This subtlety  

planted the seed for the message of a great majority of the church today, especially the mega church movement.

The command of Jesus was not to establish the Kingdom was it? Rather, it was about preaching the Gospel. I remember the early days of my Christian walk.Preaching the Gospel,telling someone about Jesus was the ONLY message. To preach the Gospel, to evangelize the lost world, “ to preach the Gospel to every creature,” was the focus. Jesus said that when He returned, then He would establish His kingdom.  Somehow, the church now believes that it has been tasked with establishing that kingdom.”Kingdom Now” as it is teaches. I was taught a form of that message coming up. It was a message that in my opinion focused more,though not exclusively, on the blessings rather than the righteousness of God.

Over time the focus on blessing led to a self centeredness,resulting in materialism and a pursuit of a “ victorious life.” If I serve God, my life will be victorious. I will have a wholeness with God meeting all my needs. That is the message of Kingdom Now.

Almost always that leads to a self centered, man centered view of what it means to serve God. The concepts of sacrifice and service to others get lost in the shuffle. Don’t get me wrong. No one twisted my arm. I willingly followed that line.

It no longer in my life was “ Give us this day our daily bread.” It was about meeting the mortgage and the car payments.Without even recognizing the change, well to be honest I was not concerned about the change. Smile. When the focus is always on self, whether in blessing or problems, the slide is almost imperceptible. Hence, the call to “ look away from me” becomes offensive, even noxious. It is the first step to debauchery. Pride in one’s self and life is the mother of all sin. It leads to self centeredness,and if not checked, to self exaltation. At which time, God will put a stop to it. In His own time and way. The clarion call to me and indeed all people is to look away from ourselves and seek God and His righteousness. That plays out differently in all of our lives doesn’t it? Well anyway that’s my take today.

All we must do is believe.

God Bless.

Lost Your Faith? 09-29-23

I was reading in John the other day and I came across this. verse.

John 2:24-25

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Now,I have read a couple of accounts about this passage. Some people think that this is the initial conversion of Thomas. This is when Thomas initially got saved. Others believe that Thomas actually lost his faith here. The second explanation seems right to me. The Scriptures only call out one who never believed,and that was Judas. He was never in the camp from the beginning. At any rate,what caught my eye was the fact that Thomas said,”I will never believe.” I personally think that he lost his faith. He was not a doubting Thomas,no,he was an apostate Thomas. Because Jesus had been crucified,Thomas was blown out of the water. He was devastated.He had followed Jesus for three or so years,had witnessed miracle after miracle. Had heard the words of life coming directly from Jesus Himself. I don’t know how many miracles Thomas actually saw,but one would have been enough!If I had seen a man feed multiple thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish,that would have been enough for me. Ya feelin me here? Much less the man at the pool,or walking on the water,or what about Lazarus? I’m just sayin’ 

So this man Thomas,who has seen Jesus do all these miracles,has heard the words of life issuing forth from His lips,all of a sudden is no longer a believer.Look again at Thomas’ last words. “I will never believe.” Everything was going along fine in Thomas’s world and all of a sudden,in a flash….He was gone. Who was gone Ronnie? Jesus was gone. Not only was He gone,but the circumstances of His going were horrible.He,Thomas,(you and me)had finally found what he had been looking for,the Messiah.And now,in a flash,his Messiah had been crucified,was dead and buried.The shock and awe were devastating. Thomas had had enough,he was NEVER going to believe. 

I imagine that during those three years,Thomas had told many people about Jesus. I imagine that he had spoken many times to family and friends. I would suppose that he had told them that Jesus was the Messiah,he had more than likely told them that Jesus would heal them of their sickness,or that He would protect them from the storms of life. Isn’t that what we do brothers and sisters? Thomas was no different from us. Thomas wasn’t having to walk by faith,he was an eyewitness to what was happening.Yet,when it all came crashing down,he had lapsed into unbelief. Why? Well,I can’t say,but I imagine one reason was pain. Whaddya mean Ronnie?Well,everything that he had told people now appeared to be a lie.Messiah? Protector? Healer? I can hear the people asking those questions of Thomas right now. Maybe even Thomas was questioning himself at this point. “I will never believe.”

The pain of loss was more than he wanted to or even could endure.His faith had been destroyed.

You ever feel like that? You have told someone that Jesus will do this or that and it didn’t work out the way you said it would.You have believed God for something and it didn’t come to pass. You have been hurt. You have thought it is all a lie. You just don’t want to expose yourself like that again,not even to God.You have made yourself vulnerable and have gotten the proverbial 2x4 upside your head.You have told yourself “never again.” Perhaps you gave someone hope and they got the 2x4. Whatever,the circumstance,you have been crushed and have lost your faith. Oh maybe you still believe in God. You know enough about Him to know he is real; but you just don’t want to trust Him like you once did.And you don’t. Well,let me tell you something.I have been right where you are. And as Ringo Starr once said,”you know it ain’t easy.” 

In times like those you just have to keep on holding on.Brother Mushegan used to say,” you have to tie a knot in the rope and hold on!” Sometimes it can take a while. I imagine those eight days that Thomas endured were the longest of his life. What eight days Ronnie?Take note that Thomas was not with the disciples when they saw the resurrected Jesus for the first time.I don’t know why he wasn’t there. I can imagine why. But,the fact is he wasn’t there.He didn’t believe when they told him they had seen the Lord.Eight very long days.But…….

John 20:26-29

“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

Eight days later,Jesus appeared to Thomas and restored his lost faith.But,here is what we,you and I need to notice. Thomas was back with the group. He had been devastated when Jesus was dead and buried. He may have even left the group. He certainly lost his faith. But,eight days later he was there with the disciples when Jesus showed up. What made Thomas go back and rejoin the disciples. I don’know the circumstances. All I know is that through the disappointment and destruction of Cavalry,Thomas somehow found the strength and courage to press on,even when he had lost his faith. Those were eight very long days,I assure you.

Have you been disappointed in God? Even devastated? Maybe to the point of a loss of trust or even unbelief. Well,brother or sister,you are not alone. Why don’t you go to God one more time. You got nothing to lose do you? He’s there waiting for you.

John 10:17-30

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

All we must do is believe.

God Bless.

Amos 8:4-6.              8-4-23

Came across this verse today in Amos.

Amos 8:4-6

“Hear this, you who trample on the needy

and bring the poor of the land to an end,

saying, “When will the new moon be over,

that we may sell grain?

And the Sabbath,

that we may offer wheat for sale,

that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great

and deal deceitfully with false balances,

that we may buy the poor for silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals

and sell the chaff of the wheat?”

Walking around the grocery store(Kroger of course)in shock and awe about the falling food prices that are not falling,I noticed,once again,a ploy by the food powers that be. What is that Ronnie? Have you noticed the trend over the past few years of manufacturers reducing the size of the product you buy? What was once a box of 32 oz.cereal is now 28 oz. What was a pound of something or other is now 14 oz. Price is same or maybe a few cents higher,but you don’t get as much.Then,over time the price begins a slow,almost imperceptible rise. Soon, with barely a whisper,the price is now considerably higher,AND for LESS product!The blame,according to the powers that be is always assigned to this or that reason.Lately,in our day,it is called supply chain disruption or inflation,you know….whatever! Lol. Well,if you have noticed that happening you are perceptive.But,if you think this is a new scam being perpetrated on the people,think again. The same thing went on in Biblical times.

Amos was a contemporary of Isaiah in 8th century Israel. Amos was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom,Israel,along with Hosea. Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom,Judah.A common motif that led to the downfall of both Israel and Judah was oppression. Usually economic. This was not the root cause of the downfall,just one of many results of the sin of the people. You will be astonished if you study these prophets,of the parallelism of Israel with our own country,America.It truly is fascinating if not scary at times.I’m getting off point.

Look at the verse again.

…” that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great..”

Substitute bushel for ephah. Making the ephah, or bushel “small” was a way of reducing by dishonest scales the amount of product.Hmmmm…

Back in that day money was measured by weight not quantity. The shekel if I remember was about 2/5 of an ounce. By requiring more weight for less product,you were making the bushel smaller while making the shekel greater. See any similarities? Why you ask? Read further.

By dealing deceitfully with false balances,they could “ buy the poor for silver…” Oppression pure and simple.

I wrote this with a purpose. Remember the study on rewards that I promised. Well,I am almost ready and this is a common motif in the doctrine of rewards. First,and most important,this doctrine is going to harmonize the message of the Gospel.The benefit to us is to keep us from inadvertently preaching a wrong or false Gospel,due to poor teaching that we may have received. The second is a motivation for holy living. Kingdom Now theology is the primary message being preached today in the church. It focuses on having it now. Be whole.Seek God to meet your needs.All about us in the present. The Bible I believe puts off a great many of these rewards into the future. The coming kingdom if you will. Some call it “ pie in the sky religion.” Well,I have been persuaded that that may be an apt description. We will leave that discussion for rewards. Anyway,saw this verse today and thought I would write about it.

All and I mean ALL we must do is believe.

God Bless.