What Should We Hate?

What is your attitude regarding things that the Bible tells us are sinful and evil? Do you have different standards depending on whether it is you or somebody else doing what is contrary to God will?

Do you sometimes make excuses or overlook behavior, writings, or speech that you know offends God? Do acknowledge that we, especially Christians, should try to do better and hope that someday we will?

Surely we should want to sin less than we do. If you think you don't sin, then take a look at 1 John 1:8-11.
That passage lets us know that if we confess our sins, Jesus will forgive and cleanse us. But should we be content knowing that His sacrifice is sufficient to pay for any sin we have done or will do?

Yes, it's wonderful that Jesus paid the price for our sins and gives us the faith to believe it.  However does the wonderful grace of our Lord in forgiving us of sin give us permission to be unconcerned about things that are evil? What sort of an attitude should we have in regard to what is evil?

Psalms 97:10  O you who love the LORD, hate evil!  ESV

Now that is an interesting command. If we love the Lord we are not just to dislike and avoid evil, we are told to hate it. Oh, but that verse of Scripture is in the Old Testament. Now that the grace of our Lord Jesus has come do we have to be that passionate against evil?

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ESV

Again we see the right kind of love being written about and then followed by the command to hate evil. Abhor it. The Greek word used for abhor in this verse is very strong, and is the only time it is used in the New Testament. We are to detest evil, be revolted by it. Love honors God and people. Evil offends God and condemns people to hell.

Satan and the world wants people to think that those things the Bible identifies as "evil" are just the opinions of those who wrote the Bible a long time ago. But God divinely inspired all of Scripture, and God is altogether holy and therefore hates evil. If we love God we are also to hate evil.

Although it may be fairly easy to hate some things that are evil because they are so obviously hurtful to ourselves or people we care about, it is not so easy to hate other things that offend God. Just as we need God given grace and faith to love God and our neighbor, we also need the same to abhor evil the way He wants us to hate it.

God uses His Holy Spirit along with the hearing of the Word of God to bring us to salvation, and to grow us in faith, understanding, and obedience to His will. He does the same thing in regards to our coming to hating whatever goes against Him and His will.

Psalms 119:104  Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. ESV

Let's not be indifferent regarding what is evil or false (what is false leads people to believe and do what God knows is evil).  Let's be in prayer about our attitude to what God says is contrary to what is righteous and holy. Let's pray that God gives us and others the faith to believe and to be obedient in both loving God and others and also hating evil the way He wants us to hate it.

Outdo One Another In This...

In what should we try to outdo one another?

Many people try to outdo other people in one thing or another. Sibling rivalry is exceedingly common in families. Students at school try to get ahead by getting better grades, excelling in sports, or becoming more popular. Workers compete to get promotions. Politicians seek to get more votes to get elected.

However in the Body of Christ there is (or should be) more emphasis on loving and serving one another than competing with one another. Just like in a human body, things go much better when both eyes look in the same direction and when neither foot tries to get too far ahead of the other.

Nevertheless there is a benefit for members of the Body of Christ to compete with one another in one area. Paul wrote about it in the second half of Romans 12:10:

Romans 12:10  ...Outdo one another in showing honor.  ESV

Outdo one another in showing honor. The NIV translation renders it "Honor one another above yourselves." The Greek conveys the meaning of taking the lead in honoring others. Doing so isn't easy for us, but that never stops God from requiring it because it is what is right. It is humbling to honor others rather than seek to get others to honor us. As it happens, that is a good thing because "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

If a person is to excel in any activity he or she needs become committed to it. For believers that should mean praying for God's help, and giving thought to what God has said in Scripture that can assist them to do what is required. God doesn't expect us to depend on our own strength and determination. He knows how weak we are and knows we need Him to accomplish what He commands us to do. He even gives us the faith to believe and do what He says is true and right.

So let's give thought to God wanting us to outdo each other in showing honor. Let's think about how doing so will please our Lord. Let's consider what it will be like when the Holy Spirit enables us to do better at honoring others. Then let's do it. Then do it again. And again.

How shall we honor others in ways that please God? Well, doing things for them and with them in a humble manner. Checking Scripture for instructions on both our attitudes and actions, and not getting ourselves all puffed up when we do a few things Biblically.

Honoring others does not mean always agreeing with others about everything they say and do, but it does mean that when correcting or rebuking is necessary that it be done without a "I'm better than you are" kind of attitude.

I hope all of us in the Body of Christ will seek God's help in obeying the call to outdo one another in showing honor. Let's go to it!

Christian Unity -- God's Way to Become One

How should we seek to have Christian unity? Should Christians stop making a fuss about what this preacher or that preacher teaches? Should we overlook what the Bible says about controversial issues? Should we simply agree to disagree?  Is that the way we should become one?

Let's look at part of a prayer that Jesus made regarding being one.

John 17:17-21  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (18)  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (19)  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (20)  I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (21)  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ESV

This prayer that Jesus made to His Father lets us know how important the Word of God is. Jesus prays that His apostles would be sanctified, set apart, in truth, and that it was His Word, God's Word, that was truth. He also prayed this for those who would believe in Christ through the word that they received from those apostles.

In the Bible we have the truth God used to set apart those He chose as His apostles to send out, and what He continues to use to set apart those He has called to be His. He didn't just pray this for those who would lead and teach the Church after He returned to Heaven. Jesus wants all who believe in Him to be sanctified by the truth that is in God's Word.

Let's not be content with snip-its of Scripture knowledge. Let's not tolerate a mixture of Bible truth and teachings that sound good but are merely the clever concoctions of men. God uses truth, His truth, to sanctify us. He uses the truth that is in His Word. Indeed, His Word is truth.

That is why expository preaching can be so effective at helping believers become more set apart for God. Expository preaching when done by those who believe God's word is truth can explain and expound upon Scripture by using Scripture to understand Scripture, along with information about the meaning of words, phrases, and the history of the people and places of the Bible.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?  Then God has called you to be sanctified by the truth that is His Word. Read Scripture. Study it. Listen to teachers and preachers who believe all of Scripture is true and seek to grow in understanding it and living it out obediently. Also pray for me that I can do the same. This is the way God wants for us to be one. There are teachings that tell of other ways we can become one but those are inventions of men. If God has called us to be His, then He wants us to do things His way, not any other way, no matter how appealing any of them may sound.

When we become one God's way, that is when the world will know Jesus was indeed sent by the Father, and therefore what Jesus taught is true.  Whatever is contrary to what Jesus and His apostles taught is false, and those who teach them are false teachers whether they know it or not. True Christian unity can only come one way. Let's seek to have that unity, become one, God's way.

Many Members -- One Body of Christ

At First Baptist Church in Weymouth we have a new senior pastor, Jeremy Garber, who does expository preaching from Scripture that instructs, exhorts, and encourages those of us who get to hear him. People are taking notes and going online to hear his sermons over again because there is so much good material in them, even when some of the content makes us uncomfortable and realize we need to seek the Lord's help to live in ways more pleasing to Him.

Pastor Garber certainly doesn't seek to entertain us with his preaching. He seeks to be faithful to God, to help us learn and live out what God has for us in His Word. He is helping us wake up spiritually to give more thought to what it means to have faith in Christ and be followers of Him.

He knows God doesn't want him to go it alone in serving and reaching out with the gospel to the people in this area. Pastor Jeremy prays for a revival in New England, and knows that true revival begins with the Spirit of God and the exposition of His perfect Word.

It is wonderful to be in a church with a pastor who has such a heart for God, His Word, and the people who God has called to be part of His Church. Such passion should be shared by all the members of the Body of Christ, not just those who preach and teach from pulpits, Bible studies, and Sunday School classrooms.

Although not all are called to be preachers, teachers, or leaders as their ministry within the church, all believers should be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks for the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15-16).

We can become better prepared to give a defense of the hope we have in the gospel with the help of other believers when we work together in the Body of Christ. God has given us different gifts and using them as He directs us through Scripture can help all of us to do what He wants us to do.

Romans 12:4-8  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,  (5)  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  (6)  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;  (7)  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  (8)  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  ESV

Jesus doesn't want us to sit back and let our pastors, elders, and deacons do all the speaking and serving in the church. He wants all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior to be active members of His Body..

When we use the gifts God has given us we can support others in the Body and also encourage them to use the gifts God has given them. We are one Body in Christ and we are members of one another. God wants us to do all He enables us to do to serve Him and each another. It is a glorious privilege to have been chosen as members of  the Body of Christ. Together we can honor Him by working together to do His will.

I am so thankful to be in a church where the leaders wholeheartedly believe in and want to obey the Word of God. And I am ever so thankful that God is making me ever more willing and eager to serve in whatever way He wants me to serve Him in the Body.

Are you a member of the Body of Christ? If not, are you ready to accept that you can't save yourself and that only the sacrifice of the sinless Jesus Christ on the Cross is sufficient to pay the price for your sins against God? If by His grace your are now or one day become a member of His Body, then I invite you to join me in seeking God's help to use whatever gifts He gives us to honor Him and serve Him and one another.

What Kind of Love Should Abound?

Philippians 1:9-11  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,  (10)  so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  (11)  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  ESV.  

God has much to say to us about love in the Bible. The two great commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as our self. (Mark 12:30-31)  It also says that "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8)

Jesus gave His disciples the highest standard of love that could ever be given. He told them to love one another just as He had loved them. And He told that by their loving one another people would know they were His disciples.(John 13:34-34)

Although we cannot love as perfectly as Jesus, we should be so thankful for how He loved us in going to the Cross and enduring the wrath of His Father in our place that we should seek to do whatever he enables us to please Him and express love to Him and others.

Of course not everything that people call "love" is what God means by love. In the name of "love" there is adultery, fornication, and the tolerance and acceptance of many other things that offend the one true holy God. In order to love in ways that actually please God we need to see what He says in His Word.

In Paul's letter to the Philippians quoted above, he not only prayed that their love would abound more and more, but that their love would be with knowledge and discernment. Only by gaining the knowledge that God has given us in the Bible can we properly discern what expressions of love are godly and which are not.

The love that God wants us to have is not what may feel good to us. It is not necessarily what we or other people consider to be acceptable expressions of love. God's love is perfect. God's love is excellent. When He teaches and enables to love His way we can know it is excellent. Abounding more and more in loving God's way can help us be pure and blameless as we progress toward the day of Christ.

Jesus is altogether righteous. He loves purely and perfectly. We don't have to settle for loving with corrupt motives and methods. We can turn to Him and to His Word and He can fill us with the fruit of righteousness that will help our love to grow in ways that will truly be to the praise and glory of God. 

God's Gifts to Us and Our Churches

Ephesians 4:11-14  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,  (12)  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  (13)  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  (14)  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

God gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. Therefore they are gifts to us from God.

What do apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers all have in common?  A vital aspect of all their ministries involves speaking. Sometimes it is to preach the good news that God uses to bring people to repentance. Other times it to explain to believers how to grow in in their spiritually maturity. And other times it is how to avoid or get out of false teachings..

Preaching, proclaiming and teaching are all essential ministries within the church. Service to those in need is also crucial and of course should not be neglected. But without evangelizing there would be no church because God has decreed that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). And after we come to saving faith in Jesus God wants us to grow in the knowledge of Him, His holiness, and His will. Without godly preaching we remain spiritual babies and are susceptible to all manner of deceptions.

Prior to the coming of Jesus in the flesh, God used prophets to exhort the people of their day and give us much of the Bible. Jesus chose certain men, including Paul, as His apostles, or ambassadors, and gave them the power to proclaim the gospel and help raise up His Church. Later the church also sent out some who they referred to as apostles, who apparently served in ways like those we call missionaries today. Evangelists then and now are gifted by God to share the gospel of repentance from sin and the salvation that only Christ provides by He death on the Cross.

Pastors (shepherds) and teachers are particularly essential in ministering to the local church. Pastors usually are gifted to both preach and teach to their flocks, but also to counsel, comfort, and at times confront individuals within their congregation. Teachers are gifted to help people understand God's Word, but may not be gifted to care for others in the same way that pastors are apt to be.

Not everybody who calls themselves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are actually gifted and called to be such. Some people portray themselves as such because they have good intentions but God does not grant them them what is needed to serve in those ways. Other people are actually false prophets and false teachers, and their motives are self serving.

Churches who have shepherds and teachers who are truly called and gifted by God should be exceedingly thankful that God has so blessed them. Leaders like that will help them learn more about how holy God is and how we can have lives that are pleasing to Him.

I am so thankful to be in a church where those who serve as elders are men who seek to meet the Biblical standards of elders including that an elder "...must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:9 ESV

The church now also has a pastor to serve as a senior elder for all in the church. From his preaching it is evident to us that he is called, gifted, and has been and intends to continue to diligent to study, prepare, and present what God wants us to know so we can grow in spiritual maturity. I gladly respect him and will support him in whatever ways I can, as I am sure many others in our church will. One passage of Scripture that comes to mind as I ponder how blessed we are to have this man as our senior pastor is the following.

1 Timothy 5:17-18  Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.  (18)  For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

What Kind of Rut Are You In?

Are you in a rut? That question is generally used in a negative way. It conveys the idea that you are doing the same thing over and over such that you are stuck doing it, locked into it. That sure sounds boring, doesn't it?

What is a rut? Well, if you are on a road that has ruts in it, they were most likely formed by wheels going down that road for years, eventually forming the grooves. I used to spend summers at the place my grandparents had on Cape Cod and there was a long driveway which went from the road, around the house, and back to the road. It was an old piece of property and the ruts in that driveway were certainly formed by wagon wheels. The cars my grandparents family used on that driveway made those ruts deeper and harder.

Ruts can tend to keep a wagon or other vehicle restricted to going in the direction of the ruts, rather than to one side or the other. Deep ruts in a road can make it difficult to turn and go off in some other way. Of course if the direction of the ruts leads to where you want to go then that can be a good thing. You are less apt to go off and end up in the wrong place.

Are you in a rut that isn't good for you? Or are you in a rut that helps you get to where you ought to be, and where God wants you to be? What kind of a rut are you in?  Hopefully you are in a rut that helps you to be what God wants you to be, to develop the character He wants you to have.

Psalm 119:9 has something to say about this. It starts with a question: "How can a young man keep his way pure?"  The word translated "way" is the Hebrew word for rut. So there is a rut that we should want to be in. A rut that can help us have the pure way of living that pleases God. Being in God's Word can help us get in and stay in that rut.

Psalms 119:9-16  Beth. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.  (10)  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!  (11)  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  (12)  Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!  (13)  With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.  (14)  In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.  (15)  I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.  (16)  I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. ESV

Obedience - Is It Really Necessary?

The title of this blog is Biblically Speaking - Who's the Boss. The implication is that we each have a boss. Maybe we consider ourselves our own boss. Or maybe our employer at work. Or maybe our spouse.Or maybe we accept that God is our boss.

Having a boss means that somebody tells us what to do and then we're expected to obey what we've been told.

In the Bible we certainly find that God tells us what to do. For example there are those Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law that He gave to Moses to give to the people. But even though God's Law was good, was it supposed to be the way for us to earn God's accepance by keeping it?  After all, when we were children we earned approval from our parents when we obeyed their rules, and on the job we earn the approval of our boss when we obey them. But no, obeying God's Law does not make us acceptable to Him.

Galatians 3:10-11  For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."  (11)  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."  ESV

Nobody is able to perfectly keep all the Law all the time. Even the first commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength has never been fully obeyed by anyone except Jesus. Since we don't keep all of the Law all of the time then we are all under a curse. We're all guilty. We're all sinners.

Thankfully the God who gave the Law with all its commandments, even knowing we could not use it to earn acceptance before Him, also gave a way to be forgiven for our sins against Him. There was only one way that we could ever be acceptable to Him. His only begotten son had to suffer and die in our place.

Galatians 2:21  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Christ was crucified and endured the wrath of His Father for our sins because there was no other way for us to be judged righteous. The Law helps us know what sinners we are and how much we need the one perfect sinless sacrifice that Jesus made. If we think we can earn our own salvation by something we do, such as keeping some rules or commandments, then we insult Jesus for what He did for us. We think (and He knows our thoughts) that we don't need His sacrifice.

However, if our keeping God's commandments cannot earn our salvation, and Jesus' death on the cross paid for our sins, then does that mean we no longer have to bother ourselves with obeying what God has commanded?

Sadly, that seems to be the attitude of many who call themselves Christians. They don't want to struggle with desires that are contrary to commands in the Bible, so they give in to them, telling themselves that it's OK with God since the price for those sins has already been paid.

But is obeying what God commands only about trying to earn our salvation? If that was true then why did Jesus always (and I do mean always) obey His Father's commandments?  Why? Because He loved His Father.

That is why we are to obey God the Father and Jesus the Son of God.

John 15:10  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  ESV

If we love Him we will keep His commandments. (John 14:15) That is a far greater reason to keep His commandments than doing it to try to earn salvation (which is impossible anyway). We should seek to know His commandments even better by learning what is in His Word. We should read and study Scripture. We should avail ourselves of good preaching and teaching. We should become ever more obedient doers of the Word and not just hearers.

Obeying what God commands in His Word is not about being under the Law. It is about loving God. Do you love God? Do you love Jesus?

What Kind of Preaching Do You Want to Hear?

       2 Timothy 4:1-6   I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.    ESV

Paul's second letter to Timothy was his final epistle that was included in Scripture. He was once again a prisoner and the time of his departure from this life had come. It would now be up to Timothy and others to continue the work of preaching and teaching that he had been doing for years.

His charge to Timothy needs to be understood by all who are called to preach the Word of God, whether they are pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries or others. Even those who aren't called or gifted to teach need to know this charge so they can avoid teachers who don't adhere to it, and encourage those who do.

The charge Paul made is not to be taken lightly. Paul makes it clear that he is doing so in presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead.

The Word of God is to be preached. It is to be done so when it is convenient to so and also when it is out of season, not convenient, not popular, or even hazardous to those proclaiming it. The preaching is not in order to entertain, draw crowds, or make money. The purpose of the preaching is to reprove, rebuke, and exhort and it is done with patience and teaching.

The preaching needs to be with patience because many people won't like what God has for us in the Bible. And the preaching needs to me more than just telling people, even believers, to stop doing and believing things that are contrary to Scripture, they need to be taught what the Bible actually says and not what they might think that it says. They also need to be taught why what God says in His Word is what they need to believe and do. (Even if the reason is simply because the God who made heaven and earth says so.)

There are multitudes of false teachings that become quite popular because they suit the passions, pride and desires of people. Listening to those kind of teachings catches people's attention and they want more of it. They'll gladly wander off to the churches, conferences, and rallies where such things are being proclaimed. They read the books and watch TV shows that promote them. They let themselves become convinced that the stuff that is tickling their ears is from God.

But even though people will turn away from the truth, we need to heed what Paul wrote to Timothy. We are to be sober minded, endure suffering, and do the work of an evangelist. The word evangelist means "messenger of good." The work of bringing the message of good it to to covey was is truly good, which is the actual truth of the Word of God. Good is not what merely sounds good as told by clever talkers and writers. Good is that God says is good.

Are you called by God to preach or teach? Then take your calling very seriously. Carefully study Scripture so you convey it to others as clearly and effectively as the Spirit of God enables you. Are you called to learn godly Biblical teaching? Then see to it that you study Scripture as best you can and be sure you listen to those who preach and teach it just as God inspired it to be written.

I'm now going to a church where the new pastor's sermons do not entertain me. They don't make me feel comfortable. They are not fun. But they are wonderfully Bible based, explaining Scripture passages with other Scripture passages. They make me want to take more notes and also to hear the recording of them again. And they encourage me to spend more time reading and studying God's Word. They help me to want to understand and live out the Word of God. That's the kind of preaching I want to hear. How about you?

 

Called Saints and Called to be Saints

Called saints and called to be saints. What kind of a title is that for a blog post?

In my previous blog post I commented on how those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord should be His disciples. Disciple is the the term used extensively to refer to believers in the Gospels and book of Acts in the New Testament. But there is another term used for believers multitudes of times in the epistles and book of Revelation. What term is that? It is the word saint.

The word saint as used in the Bible does not have the same meaning as how many, if not most, people use it today. The inspired writers of Scripture used the word "saints" to refer to all who believed in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Today it is common to only call certain people saints if they have been officially designated that by a particular religious leader or group, or if it is believed by many that those persons are exceptionally better than most other people.

To get God's perspective on what it means to be a saint it is essential that we look to the Bible and see what He has to say about the subject.

1 Corinthians 1:2  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:  ESV

The letter to the church in Corinth was necessary because they were a really messed up bunch of people. Yes, they had heard the gospel and believed that Jesus had died for their sins and rose from the dead and that He was their Savior and Lord. Nevertheless they were flagrantly sinning and believing false teachings.

The Greek word translated here "saints" means "holy one" which refers to their belonging to God for His holy purposes. All who truly believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord belong to Him, and are forgiven and accepted based on what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. They are "sanctified (made holy - set apart for God) in Christ Jesus."

Scripture refers to believers as saints because of who Jesus is and what He did. But Scripture does not stop there. Yes, we belong to God. Yes we are sanctified in Christ Jesus. But God also commands us to change our wrong attitudes and actions so we will live out being holy as He is holy.

Many call themselves Christians, even those who have concluded that since Jesus paid the price for their sins then they are now free to go on sinning as much as they want. What a wretched attitude! Jesus had to endure the wrath of His Father because of His hatred for sin. Shall we not seek God's help to avoid what He hates and embrace living each day the way He wants us to live?

We who call ourselves Christians need to remind ourselves that it is a term only used once in the Bible (Acts 11:26), and although it is an acceptable term for we who believe in and follow Christ, perhaps when we do use it we should give thought to our being called saints, holy ones, who are called and commanded to be holy as God is holy.

Whose Disciple are You?

Whose Disciple Are You? That is a question we should all ask ourselves.

A disciple is a student who not only learns from a teacher but also seeks to live out what is learned. The Pharisees had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples. And, of course, Jesus had them, both those He called to follow Him, and others who chose on their own to follow Him for a time until they no longer liked what He was teaching.

Many of us call ourselves Christians which implies we identify ourselves with Christ, But how much time do we actually spend learning what what Jesus wants His followers to know and do?

Matthew 28:16-20  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.   (17)  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Jesus said to make disciples and teach them to observe all that He had commanded them. That is what disciples are supposed to do. Learning a little about Jesus is not the same as learning to observe all that He commanded. To do that takes time and diligent effort.

How much time do you and I spend learning what Jesus wants us to know and do? Is it an hour or so in church once a week and maybe a handful of minutes on the other days of the week?

Another question to should ask ourselves is how much time do we spend watching TV, movies, and reading printed and online materials for entertainment purposes. How expert do we become and playing games, socializing, and learning how to tell jokes, or interesting stories or news items? Are we more disciples of those things than we are of Jesus?

And when we do learn what is called Christian things from books or other media, do we check Scripture carefully to make sure they line up with what is actually inspired by the Spirit of God? Or do we allow ourselves to become disciples of false teachers because what they say tickles our ears?

I want to do better at being a disciple of Jesus Christ. I know Christ is ready and willing to help each of us do that. I believe that is why He concluded His commission to those 11 disciples who were to go out and make disciples of all nations with the promise that He would be with them always, to the end of the age.

The gift of faith that God gives us in the finished work of Christ on the cross is what provides us with salvation. In gratitude we now ought learn all that God wants us to learn from His Word so we can please Him in all He has for us to do. Then we'll be the kind of disciples God wants us to be.

Can We Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Us?

In Paul's letter to the Philippians he wrote

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ESV

What a wonderful statement. Does that mean that all Christians can apply that statement to ourselves and expect to accomplish just about anything we can imagine? Does it mean there are no limits to how much success, wealth, and health we can achieve?

Of course to get God's perspective on any particular verse of Scripture it can help a great deal if we look at it in the context of where it is written. Before we quote any Bible passage we ought to check to see what leads up to it. Here is a bit more of Philippians chapter 4:

Philippians 4:12-13  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  (13)  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  ESV

Paul made it clear that he was not proclaiming health and wealth for himself or other Christians. In serving God he said there were times when he had abounded, yet other times when he's been brought to very humble lows. There were times when his physical and other needs had been met abundantly, and other times when he'd gone hungry and done without.

Paul was fully convinced that God worked all things together for good for those who were called according to God's purpose (Romans 8:28). Therefore if Paul found himself in prison chained to guards 24 hours a day, then he accepted it as an opportunity to share the gospel with those guards. If Paul found himself free to roam and visit new towns, he thanked God for the opportunity to tell others of Jesus and see God raise up new churches.

It seems clear that when Paul wrote that he could do all things through Him who strengthened him, he was saying that with the help of God he could and would serve him during times of pain as well as times of comfort.

Let us always seek to understand every Scripture verse in its proper context. No one has the right to change what God meant when He inspired it to be written down for believers to read and heed.

Want to Know How to Fix Church Problems?

Want to fix problems in your church? Well, if your church has problems and you care about your church then of course you want solutions to whatever is going wrong.

As it so happens, God also wants problems in churches to be fixed. After all, they are His churches, because they are part of His Church of which His Son Jesus Christ is the head. So He's seen to that there are things written in His Word on how to deal with those difficulties.

The following video by Phil Johnson can be a good start towards resolving church problems when things are going in the wrong direction. If you care about the condition of your church I encourage you to watch it and share it with others.

Church Growth the Biblical Way

Is there a Biblical way to promote Church Growth? There certainly should  be. After all, the early church grew rather well based on the preaching and teaching of the apostles. The miracles were good for getting people's attention but it was what they said that the Holy Spirit used to bring people to both faith and spiritual growth in Christ.

Today I watched the following video about Church Growth and if that's something that interests you I urge you to give it look. It also has some good insights in how men can be the spiritual leaders in their homes, even if they came to Lord much later than their wives did.  Take a look and listen.

Jesus Found Guilty for Telling the Truth

Mark 14:60-64  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"  (61)  But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  (62)  And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." (63)  And the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need?  (64)  You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.

Angels had told Mary about her giving birth to Jesus even though she'd never been with a man. An angel also told Joseph in a dream about His birth. Then, when He was born more angels appeared to certain shepherds, who then went and saw the baby Jesus.

This Jesus grew to manhood and then for 3 and a half years demonstrated who He was by His words and miraculous deeds. This was God come in the flesh. He was therefore both the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was the long awaited Messiah. Some people believed in Him. Others did not. He didn't fit what many people expected the Messiah would be like, and rather than accept that they were wrong, they decided Jesus was an imposter.

Jesus was arrested and tried during the night. His prosecutors brought forward their hand picked witnesses, but their testimonies conflicted with one another. So the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"

Jesus knew He who He was. He also knew that if he answered truthfully that He would be crucified to suffer not only physically by the hands of men, but also in a far more severe way that we can't even comprehend. Jesus knew that while on that cross His Father would consider Him guilty of all our sins that ever had or would be committed. For a time while on that cross Jesus would be forsaken by God. I don't know how that is possible. But it happened. Jesus endured that to provide redemption for us, not so we would go on doing what we like, but so that we could become true worshipers of God.

So Jesus answered the high priest, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." 

The high priest was enraged. He tore his garments, declared Jesus a blasphemer and demanded a verdict, which was immediately given as guilty and deserving of death. Because Jesus told the truth He was declared by men to be unworthy to live.

So Jesus was tortured and tormented and nailed to a cross. As He hung there, many stood by watching Him suffer, and some mocked Him. This was the One who had made everything that has been made (John 1:3) now nailed to a tree, barely able to breathe. 

 Then came mid afternoon, about the sixth hour. And something changed. Darkness covered the whole land. Apparently those who had been taunting Jesus became quiet. This wasn't part of their plan for dealing with Jesus. Later, when the priests and other Jews who were at the cross returned to the Temple they learned what the priests still at the Temple already knew. The curtain shielding the entrance to the Holy Place had miraculously been torn in half from top to bottom

Luk 23:44-48  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,  (45)  while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  (46)  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.  (47)  Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"  (48)  And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. (ESV)

The centurion and those with him were awed. He knew this was no ordinary man that he had crucified. He praised God. He knew something extraordinary had taken place. They not only realized that He was innocent, but in Matthew 27:54 we read that they also said "Truly, this was the Son of God."

When that time of darkness covering the land ended, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit!"  Doing so was another miracle in and of itself, because a crucified man can barely breathe, yet one it was at that time Jesus cried out with a loud voice to commit His spirit to the Father, then breathed His last.

I am posting this on my blog on the day we call Good Friday, so it is suitable that we take time to think about what Jesus did that day. He chose to endure what He went through that day. It was worse than we can imagine. But unless He endured the wrath of God we all would have to endure it for all eternity. We're all sinners whether we admit it or not. We need to admit that, repent of it, thank God for the acceptable sacrifice that was made by Jesus, and acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and Lord every day forevermore.

Roles of Men and Women in Church Then and Now

Ever heard of a church that has done away with calling anybody an elder? I just heard of one that has done that. The church does have a pastor who is a man who does the preaching on most Sundays. That church also has a woman referred to as a minister who does a variety of things, including preach to the congregation on a Sunday about once every six weeks. This church used to have a board of deacons made up of men and women that functioned exactly like what other churches call their board of elders. (A very long time ago thier board of deacons consisted only of men.)  But now they no longer use the terms elder or deacon but instead has a group of men and women who help lead the church.

Convenient. If those in that group of church leaders helping to serve the church along with the pastor and minister aren't called elders then surely they can't be doing anything contrary to the Bible, can they? When Paul wrote those pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus it's quite clear that godly upright men were to be appointed as elders, but he didn't say anything about a group of church leaders that weren't called either elders or deacons, so such a group could be without any gender limitations, and that would be fine with God, wouldn't it?

After all, other churches actually include women not only as elders but also as pastors. Things change. This is a new time and culture, and women are so much more educated now so the church has to change, too, right?

Sometimes change is indeed not only appropriate but also necessary. After the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for our sins there was no longer any need for the sacrifice of animals which only demonstrated the seriousness of sinning against God but could never atone for anyone's sins.

But do new times and different cultures dictate ignoring what is written about the roles men and women are to have in the Church?

In addition to the passages describing the kind of men who could become elders (1 Tim 3:1-11, Titus 1:5-9), Paul also wrote the following.

(1 Tim 2:11-14) Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. ESV

The first reason Paul gives for women not teaching or exercising authority over men was that Adam was formed first, then Eve. Did God have to do it that way? Was He unable to to have formed Eve first and then Adam? No, of course not. But it was God who chose to make man and then woman and to do so in that order. We need to acknowledge that God is God and has the right and authority to do whatever He does and to command us to do whatever He wants us to do.

The death of Jesus on the Cross pays the penalty for our sins, but it does not negate the relationship of God to us as our Lord Whom we are to obey.

The second point that Paul made in this passage was that Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Does this mean that men can't be deceived? Certainly not. Eve listened to, believed, and did what the deceiver convinced her to do. Adam then went along with it and joined her in what she was doing even though he knew it was against what God had told him. Today when women refrain from teaching or having authority over men hopefully both will be reminded of both how God made man and women and how they lost the relationship they had with God, one another, and the creation.

OK, but what about the wording in this passage where Paul writes "I do not permit a woman to..."  Could that mean that this was simply Paul's rule, not God's? Maybe he had a low regard for women. Or because of the times and cultures back then that it was right for then but not for now?

Well, let's take a look at another passage:

(1Co 14:33-38)  For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,  the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?  If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. ESV

Look at that again. Paul states that the things he is writing are a command of the Lord. Did you get that? A command of the Lord.

As the Creator of everything including us, and as our one and only Savior who suffered and died that our sins could righteously be forgiven, our Lord can not only teach us what He wants us to know but also command us to do obey what He tells us to do or not do.

Scripture does address the issue of the roles of men and women in marriage and in the church. Do you think you know better than God?  Want to that explain that to Him?

Is Right Teaching a Numbers Game?

Is it likely that the discernment of two people would be more accurate than the discernment of 15 consultants and 99% of the membership of a church? Well, based on that wording, it would seem unlikely that the vast majority would apt to correct and the one or two who came to perceive things differently.

But right sound Biblical doctrine is not a numbers game. Instead it is what does Scripture actually say. Again and again God has raised up men like Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets and had them preach and teach what He wanted His people to believe and live by. Sometimes the people would obey for a season and then stray into believing other things.

Then God sent His very own Son, who was and is the way, truth, and life. Jesus in addition to being one and only sacrifice that can redeem us, taught his disciples what He wanted them to teach others. He also directly taught Paul. Those apostles taught others, and what they taught was the sound teaching that God wants His church to know and obey.

But individuals and entire churches would listen to other teachings and believe them. Paul had to both write to those churches and go to them to correct the errors that kept creeping into the churches.

Paul also spent years teaching individuals like Timothy and Titus to be able to teach correctly and straighten out errors that had infiltrated the churches.

However, as generations went by, error crept in and false doctrines came to permeate the Church. But in His mercy God brought along men who took the time to study Scripture and see how far what was by then the accepted teachings in the Church had caused it drift away from what is in God's Word.

The great reformers in the history of the Church were able to be used by God to help people get out of the mire of deception they were in by diligent study of Scripture and then preaching it. Most often they would go through books of the Bible verse by verse since God had a purpose both in what He said and how He said it in Scripture. They always used Scripture to explain Scripture. They also took the time to investigate the meanings of words and phrases in the original languages and what was being referred to in the time God had it written, believing that what God meant when He inspired its writing He still meant.

Even what is written in the Old Testament means the same thing now as it meant them. But how it was understood by the priests and teachers in their time had to change when God Himself came in the flesh and clarified what such things as sacrificing animals was a foreshadow of. Jesus was the actual Lamb of God to take away the sins of world. And many of the teachings of those who taught the Law of God were wrong. Not because there was anything wrong with the wording of Scripture, but those who were teaching it were in error. They were false teachers and didn't know it.

To teach what is right takes careful study of God's Word. We always have to go back to Scripture and read it in context, and read entire books of the Bible, and as much as possible learn about what it says in the original languages and historic context. Getting deceived is easy. Entire churches and even denominations have started with a strong clear understanding of Scripture and over time became swallowed up in deceptions that had them compromising into religiosity and worldliness.

Let us remember:

(2 Tim 3:16-17)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ESV

Right teaching is not a numbers game. It is a proper understanding of Scripture. If you'd like to grow in your understanding of Scripture you should take the time to study it. One place you could do that for free is with the online resources of the Masters Seminary where John MacArthur is president. Here is a link to the resources page:

http://www.theologicalresources.org/the-masters-seminary/tms-resources/

On that resource page you can access the free courses by clicking the link below the Online Lectures paragraph.

Let's study God's Word so we continue to learn what God wants us to know, believe and obey.

What Should be Taught? Who Should Teach?

2Tinothy 2:1-2:   You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (ESV)

This second letter to Timothy was written not long before Paul's death. These instructions were of crucial importance. Paul had taught Timothy for years and knew it was essential that Timothy not only teach what he'd learned from Paul to others, but to teach them to men who would then teach others.

Who taught Paul? Jesus. (Galatians 1:11-22) Paul then taught others who became believers in and followers of Jesus. But not everybody who was taught by Paul remained content with what he and the other writers of Scripture had to say. Some neglected certain aspects of the teachings, and others added other non-Biblical teachings to what they believed. Much of what Paul wrote in his letters to the churches was necessary to correct false teachings.

Since Paul knew it was unlikely that he would be around much longer to teach sound doctrine, he urged Timothy to pass on these teachings to men who would be faithful to teach others also.

The teaching of Scripture, including what God had Paul write, is what God wants us to know and live by. Jesus is our Savior and Lord. Salvation comes from hearing and believing that we're sinners and cannot save ourselves, but thankfully Jesus is the Son of God who came in the flesh to suffer and die for our sins, and that sacrifice was acceptable as was demonstrated by His resurrection never to die again.

Jesus is also our Lord. And we're to be His disciples and taught to observe all His commands. (Matt. 28:19-20)

Jesus taught His chosen apostles including Paul. Timothy learned from Paul. Then Timothy was to teach men who could be trusted to teach others. That example needs to be followed today. There has to be men who will take the time to study Scripture diligently to seek to understand what our Lord meant when He taught it and inspired it to be written.

Paul's instruction to Timothy is not to be taken lightly. Then and now God wants what is in Scripture to be taught clearly, effectively, and extensively. Take a look at the content of Paul's letters. There is so much in them that God wants us to know. But take care that Scripture is understood and taught as it was intended when God inspired it to be written.

(2 Peter 3:15-17)  ...Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. ESV

What should be taught? All of Scripture, especially the writings of the New Testament because they help us understand even what is in the Old Testament. Who should teach? Men who will be faithful to teach what God  had Paul and the other writers of  Scripture teach in their inspired writings.