It is truly the most wonderful time of year as we celebrate our Savior’s first advent. While family getting together, good food and presents are wonderful, remembering the real reason for Christmas is crucial for us as believers. My prayer for us all this year is that we will take the time to remember why Christ came. The following is a list that comes directly from scripture that tells us reasons why Jesus came to earth. Every one of the following passages uses some form of the phrase “He came” to describe the great mission of Christmas. Meditate on His great purpose for coming into the world.

1. He came to fulfill the Law of God and thus become righteousness for all who believe. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” Jesus came not to overthrow or destroy God’s Law, or to render it useless. Rather He came to fulfill it so that He could not only model righteousness for His followers, but become a righteousness that could be imputed to His followers by faith (2 Cor 5:21).
2. He came as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 says clearly that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came to give His life as a payment for those who were enslaved to sin, death and the devil. God pays a ransom to Himself and redeems us out of slavery and puts us into the Father’s house as sons. All of this was made possible through the Son’s coming into the world.
3. He came to call sinners to repentance. In Luke 5:31-32 Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt 9:13, Mark 2:17). Based on the ransom that Jesus would pay, He came to “call” sinners to believe in Him. He came to redeem those that the “Father had given him.”
4. He came to serve, NOT to be served. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus came to serve His people. It is His service toward us that makes us His children. He died on the cross to make us His children. This is why good works do nothing to contribute to our salvation. Our salvation is solely dependent on Christ alone. If we do not allow Him to serve us, he will have no part with us. (Jn 13:8).
5. He came to give sight to the morally blind. In John 9:39, Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see.” Jesus came to open people’s eyes so that they can see the light and walk in it. Because sinners are lost, their eyes are blind spiritually. Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind. (2 Cor 4:4)
6. Christ came to divide households. In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus surprisingly said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.” The point of this word is not that God loves division and strife. The point is that strife and division caused by true allegiance to Jesus is inevitable when true followers trust in Jesus. The coming of Jesus is certainly going to bring about a great division even among family. (Luke 2:34)
7. He came to save from divine condemnation. John 3:17-18 says, “For God sent not the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already.” (Matt 18:11, Lk 9:56, Jn 12:47). God sent His Son to save us from just condemnation and the wrath of God. Christmas is God sending His Son into the world to save us from Himself and the just wrath that we deserved.
8. He came to give us eternal life. Titus 2:11 says that “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.” (Jn 3:16, Jn 10:10). Eternal life is the promise that is guaranteed by Christ’s coming. This is not a verse that promotes universalism. The coming of Jesus did not guarantee the salvation of every man without distinction. But rather Jesus came to “save His people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). Jesus came that He might give His people, those who believe in him, eternal life.
9. He came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 says, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus came and was clothed with humanity and born of a virgin so that he could be a destroyer. The works of the devil are certainly sin. Jesus appeared in order to “take away sins” (1 John 3:5). Jesus came in order to provide forgiveness to sinners and to empower them to live holy lives.
10. Jesus came to glorify His Father in heaven. In John 12:27, in the last hours of His life, Jesus said, “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” Jesus came to this earth in order to bring glory to God. His life, and death were the plan all along in order to accomplish this great purpose.

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the “holiday.” Don’t make it simply a holiday, meditate on these things so that this time of year will truly be a “Merry Christmas” where Christ is at the center of it all.

From my family to yours, “Merry Christmas!”
~ Pastor Tim Gibson

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/baby-jesus NULL.png)Rightfully so, every parent believes their own children are unique and amazing! In those first few moments after birth, parents dream with high expectations and hopes that their children will have success and make a positive impact in the world. Can you imagine how Mary felt when the great angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her about the greatness of her child? This is what the angel told Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary was confused because she was a virgin, and the angel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:26-35)

The angel said to Mary that her son was going to be “great.” The angel was telling Mary that her son was going to be extraordinary, wonderful, splendid, magnificent, noble, distinguishable, eminent, and powerful. Jesus was going to be someone who was set apart from all the rest. The word “great” was used of John the Baptist but was qualified as “being in God’s sight” (Luke 1:15). Jesus’ greatness would be unqualified; He would be great in and of himself. His greatness was intrinsic to His very nature. This baby was going to be unlike any other baby every born!

Gabriel tells Mary exactly who and what the child was going to be like. The description is extraordinary. The angel gives six amazing characteristics of this Christmas child.

Fully God: The first and most important quality of this amazing Christmas Child is that He was going to be the “son of the Most High.” Gabriel was telling Mary that Jesus was going to be God in human flesh. This perplexed Mary because she was still a virgin. But the Angel told her not to worry, but that she would conceive when the Holy Spirit would come upon her, so that her child would not just be a man child, but actually a God-child. While Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, he was not the biological father of Jesus. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The “Most High” is a title given to God who in His sovereignty and majesty rules over nations, and is sovereign over the whole earth (Deut 32:8, Ps 18:3, 47:2). This amazing child born of a woman would be none other than the very Son of God, equal in essence to God Most High!

Fully Man: While Jesus was fully God, the angel said that Mary would “bear a son.” This child who was going to be born was also fully human. The virgin birth of Jesus allowed Jesus not only to be God, but also to be fully human. This incarnation of God in human flesh is truly a mystery in which Jesus was fully man and at the same time fully God. The theological term for the union of both the humanity and divinity of Jesus is called the hypostatic union of Christ’s natures, which the early church recognized in the Athanasian Creed.

Sinless: The third amazing characteristic of Jesus is that he would be sinless. Even though Jesus was born of a human woman, the angel said He would be a “holy offspring.” The angel was telling Mary that her Son was going to be perfect, without sin. Jesus would be the only child ever born of a woman who was without a sinful nature. Because of the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden, every human being is born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12, 19). But this child, being born of a virgin, was born without a sinful nature. He was born not of a human seed, but the divine seed, so that the sin nature was not passed on to Jesus (Heb 4:15). Can you imagine Mary’s thoughts as the angel told her these amazing things?

Sovereign King: Fourth, this child was going to be given the “throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” This child was going to be a King, just as God had prophesied a thousand years earlier (2 Sam 7:11-16). Even the wise men, God-fearing Magi from the east who grew up under the tutelage of Daniel’s teaching (Daniel 9:24-26) came to Herod and said they had come to “worship the King” (Matt 2:1-6). This child was going to have a kingdom that would last forever. This Kingdom of Jesus began as the throne of Israel, but will one day become a universal throne in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev 21:1-8).

Savior of His People: Fifth, the angel said that the baby was to be named Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, the angel said he was to be named Jesus because “He will save His people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua which means “to deliver; or to rescue.” Jesus was born in order to save not from worldly disaster, but from sin (Eph 2:8-9, Acts 4:12).

Determiner of Destinies: The last shocking quality of this amazing Christmas Child is that he was “appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Luke 2:33-34). Simply stated, every person’s destiny will be determined on how they respond to this amazing child. God appointed Him to be the determiner (Acts 17:31, John 5:27). Those who believe and trust in Jesus will be granted eternal life (John 3:16). Those who disbelieve and reject Him will not be given eternal life (1 John 5:12). This child who was born over 2000 years ago continues to be the one who determines every person’s eternal fate.

This Christmas Child is truly amazing! There has never been a child born like Him. Since all of these qualities are indeed true of Jesus Christ, then we must bow before Him and worship Him. When the wise men and the shepherds found Jesus, they bowed before Him. They recognized Him to be the Son of God. They recognized their own sinful condition and worshiped Jesus as King. While there are many today who will not bow before Christ, there is a day coming when “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11). But for those who willingly bow before Jesus today, Jesus becomes a Savior for them. This is truly the greatest Christmas gift ever given. “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 3:16). If you will trust in Jesus to save you from your sins, He will save you and grant you eternal life.

After three years of ministry, Jesus purposefully began moving toward Jerusalem in order that the plan of God could be fulfilled, namely to go to the cross. To put it another way, Jesus knew that His “hour had come” (John 13:1). The hour that was planned before the foundation of the world had finally arrived for Jesus. He knew that He was about to drink the “cup” of God’s wrath poured out on Him for sinners on the cross. As Jesus moves into the Garden of Gethsemane the morning of His arrest, the Apostle John makes a marvelous statement. In John 18:4, John writes, “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward.” John recognized that Jesus had a divine knowledge. The events that were about to happen to Jesus were not unknown to Him. Being God, Jesus knew the future. All the events that were about to happen to Him were predetermined in eternity past. Being in the eternal counsel with God, all the events that were about to happen to Him were established.

This foreknowledge of Jesus is revealed clearly in the Gospels. Matthew records for us that Jesus predicted the details of His trial, flogging, crucifixion and even resurrection. In fact, Jesus tells His disciples four times that He was going to Jerusalem and that the Son of Man would be “delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they [would] condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he [would] be raised on the third day” (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19, 26:1-2).

Open Theism
The classic theological position of God’s knowledge is that He is omniscient, that God is perfect in knowledge. The Apostle John says that God “knows all things” (1 John 3:20). Elihu said that God is the one “who is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16). So, this means that God knows Himself (1 Cor 2:10-11). It means that God knows everything that happens, and everything that is in existence (Heb 4:13). It also means that God knows the future, so that God can say, “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient time things not yet done” (Is 46:9-10). Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matt 6:8) and even knows the number of “hairs on your head” (Matt 10:30).

One of the most dangerous heresies of our day that has been developed in the late 20th and 21st century is a doctrine known as “Open Theism” (also known as Openness Theology” or even “Free Will Theology.”). Clark Pinnock was perhaps the movement’s leading advocate in the 1990’s. In short, Open Theism argues that “God’s foreknowledge of future events is limited and that God sometimes changes his mind in the face of unforeseen circumstances brought about by his creatures. They posit that God has left the future open; even he does not know the future exhaustively, because the future has not yet happened. Therefore, there is nothing about it that can be known” (“Is Open Theism Still a Factor 10 years after ETS vote (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/is-open-theism-still-a-factor-10-years-after-ets-vote/)”, Jeff Robinson, TGC. This is a great article.).

Open Theism can easily be refuted by simply examining what the Bible says about the true nature of God. To reject the classical position that God knows all things including all future events is a dangerous slippery slope that the evangelical Church must fight against. Open Theism undermines the sovereignty and majesty of God. The God of Open Theism is NOT the God of the Bible but a god of people’s own imagination. The theology of this false doctrine is an attempt to make God be more like man!

It should be noted that the doctrine of Open Theism makes several points that are attractive to the natural man. For example, advocates make it clear that a god who is participating in history appears to be more loving than a god who dictates history. It is easier to swallow an idea of a god who is interactive rather than determinative in this world. By being open or receptive to allowing human decisions and actions to contribute to how history unfolds, God is depicted as being more loving rather than providentially dictating history. Second, advocates of Open Theism believe that by limiting God’s knowledge, God is alleviated from being the one to blame for tragic events or even evil in the world. Again, in Open Theism, God appears more loving to humanity, because in His limited knowledge, God only reacts to evil with love and support, rather than being the one who actually causes tragic events.

Classical Orthodoxy
It is a dangerous thing to stray away from the orthodox position of the Church concerning the nature of God unless there is ample evidence in Scripture to warrant such a radical shift. As evangelicals who are committed to the Word of God, we must never formulate a view of God that is simply from our imagination or what makes us feel good.  Instead we must allow the Word of God to show us who and what God is like. The Open Theism position doesn’t stand the test of Scripture. Scripture is clear that God is sovereign and providentially in control of all things. Unlike the Deist position that believes God put the earth in motion and then set it aside to be governed by fate and chance, the orthodox position believes that “God sits in the heavens and does what He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). Divine providence assumes that God is governing with wisdom, love and care for all things in the universe. The Scripture is clear that God is sovereignly in control of the universe as a whole (Ps 103:19), the physical world (Matt 5:45), the affairs of nations (Ps 66:7), human destiny (Acts 17:24-31, Gal 1:15), human successes and failures (Luke 1:52), and the protection of His people (Ps 4:8). The Heidelberg Catechism (Question 27) clearly defines the providence of God:

“The almighty and everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.”

There are many stories in Scripture that point to the providence of God being worked out in history. Joseph clearly understood that all of the bad things that happened to him were being orchestrated by God (Genesis 50:15-21). Judas Iscariot is another example of the fulfillment of God’s plan (Luke 22:22, John 17:12). It is clear that God is working “all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).

Response: Guard & Glorify
What shall be our response to the fact that Jesus “knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward?” First, we must guard against allowing our hearts to gravitate to an aberrant theology that relegates God to manlike character. Be on guard and exercise extreme caution and discernment when you read books that may be popular even among so called Christians. Evil and suffering in the world are difficult questions to address, but changing our view of God is not the answer. Avoid books written by Open Theism advocates (Clark Pinnock, Richard Rice) who challenge the orthodox view of God.

Second, we must bask in the glory of our God, and the fact that He is in total control. We may not understand all of the details surrounding the providence of God and how God still allows us to make decisions in life. But we must surrender to God and allow Him to be God in the world. This is His world. And seeing what Scripture says about God should cause us to worship Him, just as Paul did at the end of Romans 11 when He wrote:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)

It is true that God loves the entire world. But just as every parent has an attraction and special love for their own children, Jesus also has a special love for “those whom the Father has given him.” It is apparent that the Father has given “love gifts” to His Son (Jn 17:6,11). These gifts were possessed by the Father in eternity past (Eph 1:4), but given to the Son for Him to save. Jesus has a special love for those who have “believed” in Him. In fact, He doesn’t pray for the world, but prays for believers alone. Jesus has an incredible love for His own sheep who have been called out of the world and this love is the basis for every believer’s safety in the world.

While we are left in the world, and may experience every potential harm (Acts 14:22), Jesus prays for us (John 17). The High Priestly prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for His disciples (v. 6-19), and for every believer in the Church age (v. 20-26) was one of the most thrilling prayers ever prayed. And the content of that prayer is certainly the content of Christ’s prayer for us even now as He sits at the right hand of the Father “interceding for us” (Rom 8:34). We often forget that the ministry of Jesus extends beyond the atoning work that He accomplished on the cross. For sure the major earthly atoning and forgiving work of the cross was the central focus of His love toward us. But we must never forget that Jesus’ ministry continues for us in heaven as He prays for us! John 17 gives us an indication of exactly what Jesus is praying for us right now!

Prayer for Glory: We often wonder why we are not taken straight to heaven once we are saved. Jesus certainly wants us to be with Him, and that is His ultimate goal (Jn 17:24), but He specifically leaves us here knowing that “[He] is glorified in [us]” (Jn 17:10). The purpose of saving us is that we might magnify the glory of Jesus to the world. Jesus leaves us in the world with the task of telling others the truth of the Gospel (2 Cor 5:18-21). Paul said that we are to live “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15). We are to be the light of the world set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matt 6:14). Jesus is praying for us right now that we would glorify Him.

Prayer to be Kept: While on the earth, Jesus promised that the will of the Father who sent Him was that He would “lose nothing of all that He [had] given [him], but raise it up on the last day” (Jn 6:39). When He prayed in the garden, He prayed to the Father specifically that those whom the Father had given Him would be “kept” (Jn 17:11). While Jesus was with the disciples on the earth He “kept” them and “guarded” them so that none of them were lost, except for Judas, which was prophesied according to the Word of God (Ps 41:9, Ps 109). Currently Jesus is praying for all of us that we would be preserved in our faith. He is praying that we would not be lost. And we can be sure of this, that the Father hears His prayers and answers Him. Yes we will have tribulation in the world, but we can have assurance that we will be saved in the end because Jesus is praying for us!

Prayer for Joy: Furthermore, Jesus is praying right now that we have His “joy fulfilled in us” (Jn 17:13). This joy transcends the pains and difficulties of this life. This joy is much bigger than happiness that is tied to the circumstances of our lives. This joy is given to us by the Holy Spirit and is a supernatural gift. It is a joy that is rooted in hope! This hope looks forward to the promises that will be ours in heaven, where we will receive not only eternal life, but an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Prayer for Protection from the Evil One: Not only is our soul protected by Jesus, but Jesus is praying for us specifically that we would be protected from the evil one (17:15). The evil one is certainly Satan and his demons. When Peter was on the earth, Jesus reminded him that Satan demanded to “sift him like wheat.” But Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail (Luke 22:31-32). Satan has no authority or power of his own, but has to be granted permission to do anything. Satan is simply a pawn in the hands of the omnipotent Father who does what He is told. Satan’s number one goal is to destroy our faith. He only attacks our health, wealth, and possessions in order for us to lose faith. This was his goal with Job (Job 1-2). But we can have confidence that we will stand firm against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:11), because Jesus is praying for us even now.

Prayer to be Sanctified: The last prayer that Jesus prayed for us in the garden was a prayer for sanctification. He prayed, “sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth” (Jn 17:17). To be sanctified means 1) to be “set apart for God as a peculiar people and for God’s service.” As the special people given to Jesus, we have been set apart and taken out from the world. To sanctify also means 2) to be made holy (Lev 19:2). So, Jesus’ prayer for us is that we would be taken out of the world and be purified, cleansed, and made to look like Jesus. Unlike justification which happens in a moment, sanctification is a life-long process. And the primary means for that sanctification is the Word of God. It is the Word of God that is able to train us for all godliness.

Remember Whose We Are
So then we are safe in this world because we are “love gifts” given to Jesus by the Father. The Father loves us as much as Jesus loves us. They have no intention of losing any of us who are true believers. Jesus gloriously finished His earthly task and currently continues with his heavenly ministry of prayer for all who are His. And those prayers of Jesus are that we be kept, protected from the evil one, and sanctified in this world. We must never forget whose we are and what Christ has promised for us. When we know that we are safe in this world, we will live more productive lives. The joy that Christ has promised us will also be experienced.

Once again it is time to give thanks! Americans have been celebrating this national holiday since the time of the Colonies in the 1600’s. The holiday was established by George Washington in 1789, but became a federal holiday under Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Lincoln established the holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November, stating it to be a day of “thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” It wasn’t until 1942 that the holiday was established on the fourth Thursday of the month of November. Early in our country’s establishment, our leaders recognized that thanksgiving should be offered to God in heaven from which every good blessing comes (James 1:17).

Like many of the holidays we celebrate, Thanksgiving has fallen prey to the culture and has lost much of its meaning. Thanksgiving is often celebrated only as a gathering of families, eating turkey and watching football. While these activities are certainly important and make the holiday special, we must not forget the importance of giving thanks to God above for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us, especially our salvation that comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross (Eph 2:8-9). By giving thanks to God, we magnify the goodness and glory of God. King David writes in Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.”

Be a Human Telescope
The word “magnify” can be used in two different senses. Microscopes and magnifying glasses are used to enlarge the smallest objects making them appear bigger than they really are so they can be seen properly. On the other hand, telescopes are used to magnify very large objects and bring them closer to the naked eye allowing them to appear as magnificent as they actually are. It is this second sense which the Psalmist has in mind. God is not some small object but is rather glorious and beyond magnificent. We who love God are called to help the world see the greatness of who God really is. Everything we do, whether we eat or drink should be for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), which means that our desire is to make God look as great as He truly is. We are called to be telescope Christians for the world helping them see the infinite starry wealth of the glory of God.

Giving Thanks
The Psalmist tells us explicitly that we can magnify God by simply giving thanks! When we give thanks to God from our hearts, God is magnified and glorified. The reason for this is simple: givers are more glorious than receivers. When we give thanks to God we recognize that God is the source of our blessings. Giving thanks to God recognizes that He is greater and more glorious than we are. It is certainly not natural to give thanks to God. Most people in the world do not want to give thanks to God because it detracts from their own glory. People, by sinful nature, love their own glory more than the glory of God. The root of all ingratitude toward God is the love of one’s own greatness. The natural man loves to recognize his own self-sufficiency and hates to think of himself as someone who is needy, helpless and dependent on God to provide. But the man who is truly heavenly minded will understand that everything they have is from God above, and out of humility of heart will inevitably give thanks to God.

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
The Psalmist tells us that God prefers thanksgiving over extravagant gifts like oxen or bulls. In Bible times, an ox or a bull was an expensive gift that was often used as a sacrifice to God. But the Psalmist says that those expensive gifts are less valuable to God than simply a heart that offers genuine thanksgiving. God is not pleased and is actually insulted with such expensive gifts because it is possible that the giver thinks that they are contributing to God as though He needed something. God owns everything including every beast of the forest and every cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50:10). What God wants most from us and what magnifies Him is recognizing that we have nothing to offer Him, but that He has everything to offer us.

This Thanksgiving begin by offering thanks for your great salvation which comes to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as a gift. Thank God for your family, your job, your provision, and everything you can think of. In all things give thanks to our good Father in heaven and you will magnify His glory to the world.

The Gospel writers reveal that Jesus had continual communion with His Father in prayer. Jesus made it the habit of His life to pray early in the morning (Mark 1:35). He would often retreat to the mountain top or the wilderness and pray alone to His heavenly Father for extended times (Mark 4:46, Lk 5:16, 6:11-12). While we know that Jesus prayed often, the content of those prayers is largely unknown. We only have limited snippets of His prayers (Jn 11:41-42, Luke 22:42). Furthermore, we shouldn’t be mistaken that the prayer of Matthew 6:9-15 was a prayer that Jesus prayed. Customarily, that prayer is called “The Lord’s Prayer” but it is really the “The Disciple’s Prayer.” Jesus used it to teach His disciples how they should pray. Certainly, it’s a prayer Jesus never prayed, being that it includes asking for forgiveness of sin. While most of the prayer life of Jesus is hidden from us, we do however, have the last prayer that Jesus made to His heavenly Father recorded for us only in John 17. The prayer of John 17 should actually be known to us as the real Lord’s prayer. In this prayer, in the last hours of His life, Jesus prays intently for Himself (17:1-5), for His disciples (v. 6-19), and for believers throughout the ages (v. 20-26).

Glorifying the Father
Jesus opens His prayer by praying for Himself, and the supreme passion of His opening words to His heavenly father is all about glory. Five times Jesus mentions the word glory, and the one petition that Jesus has is simple, “Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you” (Jn 17:1). To glorify someone means to praise them to the highest degree, or to make their glory known to the fullest. The Psalmist said that “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps 19:1), that is the heavens make God’s glory known in the universe. The heart of Jesus was to make the glory of His Father known, and He knew that the only way to do that was to go to the cross.

The cross was the plan of the Father from eternity past (Rev 13:8). Peter was clear when He preached his first sermon (Acts 2:23) that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” So, the death of Christ on the cross was not a mistake, nor the simple outworking of bad circumstances. In fact, as Jesus entered into Passion Week (the last week of His life), He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:23-24). The hour that had come was the hour that all of history had been moving toward. It was the hour that the Father had planned in eternity past, and the hour which Jesus agreed to accomplish. Jesus knew clearly that the plan for His Father to be glorified was for Him to go to the cross and die for sinners. This is why He had come (Mark 10:45).

The Cross Magnifies God’s Glory
Certainly, the cross of Jesus is foolishness to the world (1 Cor 1:18). They don’t understand how the shame of such a horrible death could have been planned by God. But for us who have been saved, we see the glory of God in the cross. The cross of Christ supremely puts on display God’s glory by magnifying every attribute of God to its fullest. Consider the following attributes that are magnified by the cross of Christ.

• Holiness of God: The cross shows us that there is an infinite chasm between a holy God and unholy man. The cross is the testimony that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, and that no sinner can come into the presence of a holy God.
• Righteousness of God: In the cross we see the righteousness that is required by God for anyone to enter into His presence. No one can be righteous enough by keeping God’s Law. We have all broken the Laws of God and need a righteousness outside of us. The righteousness of God is made available through the cross that sinners might come into His presence faultless to stand (2 Cor 5:21). The righteousness of God is given to us by faith in the work of the cross (Rom 3:21-26).
• Love of God: It is easy to see the love of God at the cross. God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). God loved sinners enough to send His Son to die for them in their place as a substitutionary atonement (1 Cor 15:3, 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18, Is 53:5).
• Grace of God: The cross is the undeserved payment need to cover the debt sinners owe to God. That debt is forgiven as a “gift” given to those who receive it by faith (Eph 2:8). No one deserves salvation, but it comes to sinners by grace.
• Eternality of God: Scripture is clear that Christ was slain before the foundation of the world (Rev 5:9, 12, 13:8). The cross was not an afterthought or plan B, but was devised in eternity past in the purpose and plan of God.
• Immutability of God: Immutability means “unchangeableness.” God never changed His plan, but for centuries worked out his plan of salvation for all humanity. Down through the centuries the one plan of God was to provide a sacrifice for sin, someone who would destroy sin. God’s plan began in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15) when God promised to provide the “seed of a woman” who would crush the head of Satan.
• Wrath of God: The cross supremely displays God’s wrath against sin. The Father poured out His vengeance on His own Son and crushed Him as Jesus bore our sins (Is 53:4-5, Matt 27:46). In that moment, Christ took God’s wrath for sinners, and therefore we will never experience it.
• Sovereignty of God: The cross displays the sovereign work of the Father from eternity past, in which His plan of redemption was fully worked out as the second member of the Trinity, and He became a substitute for all who would believe in Him.

The Glorification of the Son
Not only did the cross glorify the Father, but it also ultimately ended in glorification for Jesus. Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify Him through the cross. This is more clearly seen when Jesus simply prayed, “glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (Jn 17:5). Jesus longed for the glory of his eternal origin (see Proverbs 8:22-31).  When Jesus entered the world, He stooped with humiliation and took on human flesh (Phil 2:6-8) and, in a sense, lost glory by being made a human! Now as He plans to go to the cross, He knows that these days of humiliation are over! Once Jesus fully obeyed His heavenly Father by going to the cross, His prayer was that He would once again return to the glory that He had before He came. And this is exactly what happened. After providing a sacrifice for sin, being buried and raised from the dead, Jesus ascended back into heaven where He once existed (Acts 1:6-11). The Father has now “highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).

Our New Passion
Since the glory of God was the passion of Jesus, it should also be our number one passion. When we become children of God by faith in Christ, we should have new passions. Having been given a new heart, and becoming a new creation we should no longer desire to exalt ourselves. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:14-15). Our new passion is to exalt Christ in this world. Our focus must change! Our mission must be for Christ to be glorified (1 Cor 10:31). Just as Jesus prayed for Himself that the Father might be glorified in His work, so we must also intensely pray that our work and lives would also bring glory to God (Col 3:17, 23).

Last words are often profoundly important! This is definitely the case with the very last words of Jesus to His disciples. Moments before Jesus was about to be arrested, tried and crucified, He spoke words that still ring loud and clear for all disciples of Jesus. He said to them, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). This one statement includes promises that may cause our hearts to tremble, but at the same time should cause us to rise up with a persevering hope!

Tribulation is Certain
Expectations are important. If Christians are to persevere to the very end, we must know what we are getting into when we sign up. Unlike what the prosperity gospel teaches, Jesus assures all of us that we will experience tribulation. The prosperity gospel teaches that if we have enough faith we will escape trouble and live luxuriously in this life. The true Gospel is quite the opposite. Scripture is clear that those who follow Christ and desire to live a godly life in this world will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12). Jesus promised that His disciples would be hated in this world (Jn 15:18-25). In his epistle Peter promised Christians that they would suffer but must entrust their souls to a faithful God (1 Peter 4:19). Tribulation is inevitable.

Not without Hope
But we are not left in this world without hope. Jesus tells His followers to “take heart.” This is not an empty pep talk from someone who doesn’t understand. But rather, Jesus being the Son of God gives us reason to have hope. Our hope doesn’t reside in what we can do, but rather what Jesus has already done! Moments away from going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples that He had “overcome the world.” He didn’t say that He was going to overcome the world in the future. Rather Jesus spoke with a past tense verb implying that this overcoming was already complete. Jesus was anticipating His powerful work on the cross and the defeat of sin, death, Satan, and the world by resurrecting from the dead. By rising from the dead, Jesus proved victorious over the grave (1 Cor 15:55-57). He destroyed the work of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). His resurrection proved victory over the world and the system of the world.

United with Christ
Since we have put our trust in Christ, we are united in Christ’s victory. “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 Jn 5:4-5). Christ always leads us in triumphal procession (2 Cor 2:14). By believing in Christ, we become overcomers. Sin, Satan and this world no longer have a hold on us. While we will die physically, we will be resurrected and live forever with Christ (Jn 11:25-26). We also will reign with Christ in the world to come when Jesus comes to set up His new throne on the earth (Rev 20:4-6).

Therefore
Since we have been united with Christ in victory how shall we live? The Apostle Paul commands us, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58). Since we have victory in Christ we must live differently.

We must be steadfast & immovable: Steadfast means literally to be seated implying that we are settled and firmly situated. We must not be moved away from the truth of the Gospel by the onslaught of diverse teaching in a pagan culture. We must remain firm in the Lord and the Word of God and not waver. In other words, we must be immovable and not easily swayed.

We must be abounding in the work of the Lord: We must also continue in the work of the Lord. This means that we must be bold and confident in sharing the Gospel and the contents of Scripture. We must edify one another. We must fight the good fight of faith, obeying all of God’s commands. We must abound and exceed in these things. Life is so short and we must not waste our lives on trivial things.

We must know that our labor is not in vain: We must labor with our lives freely in service to the Lord. He knows our work and our work on this earth is never useless. It may appear that no one notices, but Jesus knows and sees. Our prayers, edification of others, evangelistic efforts, and service are never wasted.

Songs are powerful in that while they may be simple, they convey profound truths. If you grew up in church, most likely you sang many children’s songs. A few of my favorite ones were always about having the joy of Jesus in my heart. They were fun to sing, but they also were songs that reminded us of the profound promises of Jesus to His disciples. The lyrics of one song declares, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay! And I’m so happy, so very happy, I have the love of Jesus in my heart.” Another song says, “I’ve got joy down in my heart, deep, deep down in my heart. Jesus put it there and nothing can destroy, …stroy, …stroy it!” Both of these little tunes are theologically profound and are simply the promises of Jesus found in John 16:16-24 for His disciples.

A Little While: Resurrection!
As Jesus was going to the cross, He predicted that the disciples would not see him in a “little while” but then again in a “little while” they would see Him again. The context of this passage confirms that Jesus was clearly speaking about the events that were soon to happen. By a “little while” Jesus meant in the next twenty-four hours something was going to happen which would cause the disciples to no longer see Him. And that “little while” would only last 3 days, as Jesus would be crucified and buried in a grave. But then in a “little while” they would see Him again. This certainly is a reference to His resurrection.

The disciples were overwhelmed with trouble in their hearts about the prediction of Jesus leaving them and going back to His Father (Jn 14:1, 16:6). And those emotions would be increased once they would see their long-awaited messiah die at the hands of the Romans (Luke 24:17). But gloriously Jesus said that they would see him again in just a “little while” and that their hearts would rejoice” (Jn 16:22). Jesus knew that He was going to rise from the dead. And indeed, the disciples did see Jesus just three days later when He appeared to them in the upper room (John 20:19-23). It was at that time that their joy was restored. When they saw Jesus, they were full of rejoicing (Jn 20:20).

The resurrection is the foundation of every believer’s joy. First, the resurrection proves that Christ has power over death, conquering it once and for all. The resurrection of Christ proves that God the Father accepted the atoning sacrifice that is the basis of every believer’s salvation. Second, the resurrection is joy for all true believers because it means that we will also never experience the second death. Jesus promised that those who believe that He is the “resurrection and the life” will also never die (Jn 11:25). The resurrection proves that all of the promises of Jesus are true.

Irrevocable Joy
Jesus promised that when this joy came to His disciples, “no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22). This is a profound promise. There are not many things in this life that are irrevocable. But this joy that comes from Christ is a binding, irreversible, permanent joy. People cannot take joy away, nor can any horrible circumstance! This divine gift that comes to us at our conversion is certainly the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us (Gal 5:22). This is why the Apostle Paul can command believers to “rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” (Phil 4:4). Paul could command this while he was sitting chained in a prison cell because this joy resides in the heart of every believer never to be taken away, even amid the worst of circumstances.

Veiled Joy
For sure the joy we experience in this life is a veiled joy, shrouded with the sorrows and difficulties of this life that are common among all men. But there is a day coming when ultimate joy will be experienced in full. King David wrote that “in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11). There is a day coming in the next life when we will experience the full measure of God’s joy in heaven, in the presence of Jesus our Savior. At that time every tear will be wiped away, death shall be no more, and there will be no more mourning, crying, pain or death (Rev 21:4). While we only know the joy of Jesus in our hearts in part, the promise of Jesus is that we will one day know that joy fully in heaven. Sadly, the opposite is true for unbelievers. This life is the only joy they will ever experience. When they die, unbelievers will only experience everlasting sadness and sorrow. This is why we must tell others the good news.

Motivated to Tell Others
In a world of so much sorrow, sadness, sickness and death, we should be motivated to tell others about how they can have this real joy. Joy is not found in material possessions. No one is ever comforted on their death bed with their possessions. The world is seeking joy in all the wrong places. But we have the answer! God made mankind with a desire to have fullness of joy. We must be ready to share the good news to others when their hearts are full of trouble. Hopefully they will see that the trouble of this life never robs us of our true joy. And when they ask us why we have such peace and joy in the midst of life, we must be able to tell them: “It’s because of Jesus!”

One of the blessings of being added to the Church and being baptized into Christ (1 Cor 12:13) is that every believer is given a spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:7). These gifts are sovereignly distributed to every believer to be used for the advancement of Kingdom work, and the edification of the Church for the “common good” (1 Cor 12:7, 14-26). Every believer has been given a gift and is valuable to the entire body of Christ.

The list of spiritual gifts can be discovered in four main passages: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-31, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Depending on how the gifts are categorized, there are approximately 20 gifts, excluding the gift of marriage and the gift of celibacy found in 1 Corinthians 7:7. While Peter seems to categorize his list of gifts into “speaking” and “non-speaking” gifts, theologians have also classified the gifts into permanent and temporary gifts. In most cases the majority of the gifts seem to be actively used in the current Church age. However, upon closer examination, some of the gifts are certainly not intended to be active today. Typically, the gifts under question are the following: The gift of apostleship, the gift of miracles, the gift of healing, the gift of tongues, and the gift of interpretation of tongues. Sometimes the gift of prophecy and discernment of spirits is also added to the list depending on how they are understood.

Cessationism
A cessationist is someone who “believes that certain miraculous spiritual gifts ceased when the Apostles died and Scripture was complete” (Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudum, pg 1237). To be clear, cessationists don’t believe that God no longer does anything miraculous or that the Spirit cannot give a miraculous ability today. What is called into question is whether or not the actual gifts are given to individuals today as a normative pattern. Cessationists believe the Holy Spirit no longer sovereignly gives individual believers the miraculous spiritual gifts that were present in the first century. Since the Apostles died, the miraculous gifts also passed away or “ceased” as being normative for the current Church age. Following are a few of the main arguments for cessationism:

1. The qualifications of Apostleship demand that the office is no longer in operation. The office of Apostle was a very unique office that could only be occupied by men who qualified. The qualifications of an Apostle were three-fold. First, to be an Apostle a man had to be an eye witness of the resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:22). Second, the man had to be personally appointed by Christ Himself (Acts 1:2, 24). Third, Apostles were given the ability to perform miracles (Matthew 10:1-2, 2 Cor 12:12). It is clear that there are no Apostles today. We should be concerned if someone claims to be an Apostle today, and should guard against false teaching and the abuse of authority.

2. Miracles have always been unique and were used to authenticate authority and introduce new eras of revelation. Thousands of years of history have proven that the gift of miracles was not common. Biblical history reveals only a few periods in which certain prophets were given the gift of miracles. Moses (and Joshua) was given the ability to do miracles in order to authenticate him before Pharaoh and the people of God (Exodus 4-17). The prophets Elijah (1 Kings 17-21) and Elisha (2 Kings 2-13) were also given the ability to do incredible miracles. While other miracles were performed sporadically (Jonah, Isaiah, Daniel), the only other major period where miracles were largely accomplished was the time of Jesus and the Apostles. It is clear that the miracles of Jesus were not simply for evangelistic reasons but to prove that Jesus was indeed God’s final and ultimate messenger (John 5:36, 6:14, 7:31, 10:24-26, 37-38). In the same way, the miracles of the Apostles authenticated them as genuine (2 Cor 12:12, Hebrews 2:4) and gave them the authority to speak on behalf of God and write Scripture. Not only did these miracles authenticate, but also were an indication of the introduction to new revelation from God by these men. Whenever God wanted to pour out His Word, He authenticated His chosen vessels through extraordinary miracles. There is certainly a major disparity between the amazing biblical miracles compared to the claims of the modern age. While God still does miracles today, it appears that the gift of performing true miracles has ceased. There is no need for further authentication of God’s men because there is no new revelation, and Jesus Himself was last messenger and final Word from God.

3. Since the foundation of the Church was laid by the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament, no further revelation is needed. It is clear that the Apostles and the Prophets in the age of the New Covenant were given by God to the Church for the purpose of laying the foundation of the Church (Eph 2:20). By nature, when a foundation is laid no further foundation is necessary. The foundation that was laid by the Apostles and prophets was certainly the revelation that God gave to them. The foundation was the teaching of Jesus revealed to them that they passed onto the Church through the writings of the New Testament. Since that foundation is laid and Scripture is complete, no further revelation (prophecy) and no further authentication is necessary. By default, the “sign” gifts which were given to the Apostles also passed away with them. Their work was completed and their role was done.

4. Since the Scripture is complete there is no further need for “sign” gifts. This is the logical conclusion of the above arguments. God has always authenticated his chosen men through “signs” and miracles and wonders. But since the Bible is complete and sufficient there is no need for these signs. The gift of tongues was a gift of proclamation, particularly of the Gospel (Acts 2:1-11) articulated in a known tongue or language. God miraculously gave the gift of tongues in order for His good news to be proclaimed so that the nations could hear about the saving work of Christ. But once the Scripture was complete having a full written record of the Gospel, there was no need for the gift of tongues. It shouldn’t be surprising that the gift of tongues is not mentioned in any of the later epistles (every letter of Paul after 1 Corinthians) and is surprisingly missing in all of the pastoral epistles which were written as an instruction manual for “how to do church” (1 Timothy 3:15).

If you are interested, Tom Schreiner, a professor of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes a great article for the Gospel Coalition, “Why I am a Cessationist (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/cessationist/).” Tim Challies also summarizes Tom Pennington’s 2 part sermons at the Strange Fire Conference, “Strange Fire Conference: A Case for Cessationism (https://www NULL.challies NULL.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-a-case-for-cessationism/).” You can also listen to Tom Pennington’s sermons here (https://www NULL.gty NULL.org/library/sermons-library/TM13-7/a-case-for-cessationism-tom-pennington). All of these are good resources. If you would like to hear the opposing view, Sam Storms offers his article for the Gospel Coalition called, “Why I am a Continuationist (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/continuationist/).”

Today’s News & Biblical Views: Marriage & Divorce (https://vimeo NULL.com/363026059) from WBPH (https://vimeo NULL.com/wbph) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

This interview was recorded September 20, 2019 and aired on WBPH (cable TV)  Sept 29, Oct 1, and Oct 3, 2019.

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (Jn 15:18). If you do a survey of the book of Acts, this prophecy of Jesus certainly came true at lightning speed. From the opening chapters every Apostle and the Church experienced incredible persecution. Weeks into preaching, Stephen became the first martyr (Acts 7). James was beheaded by Herod (Acts 12). The Apostle Paul experienced incredible hatred from every city that he entered (2 Cor 16:23-29).

The prophecy of Jesus has not ceased. Even today Christians all around the world are experiencing the hatred of the world. According to Open Doors Ministry, “a staggering 11 Christians are killed every day for their faith in the top 50 countries ranked on the World Watch List.” Just about four years ago (2015) 21 Coptic Orthodox Egyptian Christians were beheaded for their faith in Libya by ISIS. It was so hard seeing the pictures of these uncompromising men on their knees in orange jump suits willing to be martyred for their faith in Christ.

Why Aren’t We Hated More?
Since Jesus clearly told us that we would experience the hatred of the world (Jn 15:18-25), the obvious question is why aren’t we experiencing it on a more regular basis. For certain the United States is a unique place on the planet. Unlike the rest of the world, Christians are protected. God has been gracious in this time of history giving our country all kinds of religious freedoms and protections preventing persecution. But even with all of these graces, we should expect some “minor” forms of persecution such as verbal attacks, discrimination, avoidance, loss of friendships, hardships at work, etc. We may not be “hated” but shouldn’t we expect, at a minimum, to be “disliked?” Consider the following four reasons a professing Christian may not be experiencing hatred from the world.

1. We are really “of this world.” Jesus was clear that the world loves their own (Jn 15:19). Darkness loves darkness and hates the light (Jn 3:19). The old adage is true, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Everyone likes to be with their own kind. The world loves fellowship with people that are just like themselves, which approve unrighteousness and unholiness. The light hurts the eyes of those in the dark and they have an aversion to those who remind them of their sin. But they heartily unite with those who join in with their philosophy of life, worldly entertainment and fleshly desires (1 John 2:15-17). It is possible that some who claim to be Christians may indeed be “of this world” or “friends of the world.” They have not changed, but look and sound just like every other person in the world because indeed they are truly unregenerate and are in fact “enemies of God” (James 4:4) and controlled by the “Prince of the power of the air….[living] in the passions of [their] flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind” (Eph 2:1-3). If we have never made a lost person feel uncomfortable or given them reason to dislike us in the slightest way, it may be true of us that we are “lost” just like them. At some point our love for Christ and desire to please Christ should cause us to shun the dark and live holy lives among a lost world. Inevitably that holy lifestyle will cause some conflict, even if simply at a minimum having the world “speak against us” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

2. Our commitment to the Lordship of Christ is lacking. Jesus said that the world will hate us because Jesus is our master and we are His servants. Just as they hated the Master so they will hate the Master’s servants (Jn 15:20). As servants of Christ we simply do what He commands of us. He is not only our Savior, but also the Lord of every area of our lives. His agenda is our agenda. His will becomes our will. The lack of hatred from the world can be traced back to this issue. It is possible that there are some significant areas in our lives that have not come under the Lordship of Christ. In other words, we are believers who are in need of serious sanctification. We have been saved and are truly called out of the world, but we are lacking in our conformity to Christ. Without being legalistic, our lives should be as holy as possible. This means that our dress, our entertainment, out language, our friendships, our associations, our financial dealings, our activities, our eating habits….EVERYTHING should come under the Lordship of Christ. When the Church begins looking like the world, it is no wonder that the world doesn’t hate us!

3. Fear has overcome us. Fear is a real temptation for all of us. Jesus commanded us, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). Fearing man rather than God can be a real snare to the Christian and cripple his ministry and influence (Prov 29:25). It is true that the world can do some very hurtful things to Christians (Jn 16:2-4). But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). We overcome fear when we entrust our lives to our faithful God (1 Peter 4:19).

4. Our influence is limited. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-14). But what good is salt that has lost its saltiness or a light that is hidden under a bowl? By our very nature we are called to have a strong influence in this world. We are not “of” this world but we are still to live “in” this world. This means that we are to rub up next to people on a regular basis who do not know Jesus Christ. We are not to be friends of the world, but we are to make friends in the world for the sole purpose of continuing the ministry God has given us. We are not to be hermits and retreat back to our homes and our churches. Indeed, we need places of retreat and places where we find comfort and strength with fellow believers. But we must also go into the world. We must talk boldly, live visibly and influence profoundly. We must speak the Gospel to those around us who are lost. We must live holy among the godless and entrust that God will do His work in their lives. We must be careful that we are purposeful in finding ways to infiltrate the world. The Lord would be pleased with us if we would be a little more creative in finding ways to make non-Christian friends for the sole purpose of evangelization. Maybe we are not being hated more often in the world because we aren’t “salting” or “lighting” the world around us.

Don’t Go Searching
For certain none of us should go searching for hatred. As we live in this world we are to be as “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16). There is nothing worse than an abrasive and annoying Christian. We should strive not to be hated because we are arrogant, annoying or abrasive. The only reason we should be hated is because of the truth of the Gospel we stand for and the holiness that we promote. We shouldn’t have to go looking for hatred, it rather will come to us naturally if we are truly living the Christian life in this world. In this time of peace that the Lord in His sovereignty has given us, may we “lift our dropping hands and strengthen our weakened knees” (Heb 12:12) so that our faith will be strong when it is truly tested. We will all be hated at some level as Christians in this world. May we be found faithful when it does happen and may we rejoice that we have been considered worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake knowing that we have great rewards in heaven (Matt 5:11-12).

2019 Community Weekend
What a wonderful weekend we had at Ebenezer! This was our 4th annual “Community Weekend.” It began on Friday night as we watched “Mary Poppins Returns” under the huge tent. While this was simply a fun activity for our kids (and adults), we were able to connect with a few new people that night. The Coffee House was a tremendous blessing! It was a joy to hear the incredible musical talent from the saints here at Ebenezer. All of the music and songs were so focused on bringing glory to God and encouraging us all. We also had a few new faces Saturday night. And then Sunday morning was incredible as 630 people gathered under the tent to worship our Lord Jesus Christ. There were so many new people that we were able to meet. The worship time through music was so wonderful. The food was incredible for the picnic. We are so thankful to Mark Florentine & George Hardy and all their volunteers who helped make the picnic such a wonderful event. So many volunteers helped set up chairs, the stage, the sound, tables, the movie screen, and so much more. Overall, the weekend was a tremendous blessing. Most of all I believe we glorified our Lord and were able to meet many new guests who were introduced to our church.

Ebenezer: God’s Plan for the Lehigh Valley
As we read in Ephesians on Sunday morning, the Church is the mystery of God revealed in this age. A mystery is a once hidden secret that now has been revealed. The Church was not an afterthought but the plan of God from the beginning to be revealed to us in this age, the age from Christ’s resurrection until now. We call this time we are living in “the Church age.” God’s plan was to “make known to us the mystery of His will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph 1:9). This uniting of all things was not revealed to previous generations, but now has been made known and revealed to the Apostles, namely that the “Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph 3:6). Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church is simply God’s unfolding and revealed mystery to the Lehigh Valley. As I looked over the congregation on Sunday, I saw people from many different walks of life. I saw many different colors. I saw a beautiful picture of what Christ’s church is supposed to look like. Christ is building His church here in the Lehigh Valley and He is using us to accomplish His work.

Entrance by Faith Alone
The reality however is that not everyone will be added to the Church. The terrible reality is that those outside the Church are 1) separated from Christ, 2) alienated from the blessings of God’s promises & covenants to Israel, 3) without hope, and 4) without God in the world (Eph 2:11-13). But the hope is that these great obstacles can be overcome. They are not overcome by joining a local body, or being baptized, or becoming religious. The only entrance into the Church is by faith in Christ alone (Eph 1:13, 15, 2:8, 3:17). When someone puts their faith in Christ, everything changes. Blessings come and the Lord Jesus Himself “adds [them] to the Church” (Acts 2:47).

The Analogy of the Church
The blessings of being added to the Church are specifically seen in three analogies that the Apostle Paul uses to describe the Church in Ephesians 2:19-22. Those who have put their faith in Christ become 1) citizens of the Kingdom of God, 2) family members in the household of God, and 3) living stones in the Temple of the Living God.

Citizens of the Kingdom of God (v. 19a). Before faith in Christ we were strangers and aliens, but now we have become citizens of God’s Kingdom (Phil 3:20). Our new birth in Christ has made us a natural citizen of God’s Kingdom where we now live under His rule and have new responsibilities and new privileges. The Church is not the Kingdom of God, but is the product of the Kingdom. And the Church is the instrument & custodian of the Kingdom (Matt 16:19) proclaiming the good news for sinners that they can be added to the Church. No one can become a member of God’s Kingdom without first entering into the Church by faith in Christ Jesus alone.

Family in the Household of God (v. 19b). The second analogy is an advancement of the blessing. It is one thing to be a citizen of a Kingdom along with millions of other citizens, but it is another thing to enter into an intimate family household. When we enter into the Church we become members of the household of God, whereby He is our Father and we are His children (1 Peter 2:9-10). The Church then are family members with one another whereby we call each other “brother” or “sister.” Family is important. The Church is simply an imperfect gathering of the family of God on earth, a foreshadowing of the perfect family who will be in heaven (God’s heavenly household) forever with Christ.

Stones in the Temple of the Living God (v. 20-22). The third metaphor is even a further advancement of the blessing. Being a part of the Church means that we are indwelt by God as a holy temple. In the Old Covenant, God literally indwelled a physical temple with His Shekinah glory (2 Chronicles 6-7). But now the Spirit of God indwells the Church. Every member is a stone, cut out and hand placed into the Church. And the Spirit of God lives within the people of God, not a building. Of course, the foundation of this building was laid by the revelation of Truth given by the Apostles and Prophets. And the first stone laid was the cornerstone who was Christ Himself. All other stones are laid upon Christ. He was the first fruits of many (1 Cor 15:20-23).

Let’s Continue to be a Blessing!
My prayer is that Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church will continue to be a blessing to the community around us. We don’t have anything to offer the community except what God has made us. We must continue to hold fast to the teaching of the Apostles never changing what they have laid. And we must guard against trying to be something for the community that God did not intend. We are not to lure the community into our gathering by entertainment, or temporal blessings. Ebenezer will continue to be a blessing as long as we remain focused on being who God made us. Let’s continue to pray that God will use us in the community. When the newcomers return next Sunday, let’s reach out to them and encourage them. Let’s also rejoice that God is building His Church, His Family, and His Temple one stone at a time!

More photos of Community Weekend are available on Facebook (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pg/ebenezerBFC/photos/?ref=page_internal).

The relationship between Jesus and His followers is described in many different ways. Sometimes these descriptions seem a little contradictory. Jesus called His followers friends (Jn 15:15), but the Apostles call themselves slaves or bondservants (Rom 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Pet 1:1). So, which is it? Are we friends or slaves? The answer is a simple one! We are certainly both!

We are Slaves of Christ
The idea of being a slave has such negative connotations because of the atrocities that come with it. It is interesting that the Lord Jesus neither advocated nor denounced the institution of slavery as it existed in His day, but actually found it as an apt analogy to illustrate certain truths about the gospel and the relationship that exists between Christ and His followers. There are particularly five parallel images from the first-century slave that can be used to describe Christians (Slave, John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010, pages 43-53).

As slaves we belong to Christ. He is our Lord and Master and we are to lovingly submit to Him. Slaves are those who are under the total control of their owner. When we were born physically, we were born as slaves to sin having inherited an enslaved state from Adam (Rom 5). But as believers we have been purchased by Christ through His death on the cross (Rom 5:18-19, 1 Peter 1:18-19). We were bought with a price so that we are no longer under the authority of sin, but are under the exclusive ownership of God, Christ being our new Master (Rom 6:17-19). As believers we are part of a people who were purchased “for His own possession” (Tit 2:14) and “belong to Christ” (Gal 5:24).

As slaves we are called to complete submission to Christ. Being a slave means that we are always summoned by our Master to obey Him in every way. It is the slave’s sole duty to do what his Master tells him to do. Slaves no longer have rights of their own and must give unquestioning obedience to their new Lord. Submission to the Lord must come from the heart and is a certain mark of those who are genuinely converted (1 Jn 2:3). As believers we are expected to obey Christ and to “present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God which is our spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1). It is the new believer’s heart to do the things that are “pleasing in His sight” (1 Jn 3:22). Since we have been bought with a price we are commanded to “glorify God in [our] body” (1 Cor 6:20). Those who claim to be Christians and yet continue to disobey God’s Word have deceived themselves (1 Jn 1:6).

As slaves we are also called to a life of singular devotion to Christ. The life of a slave is really simple. The slave’s purpose in life is to please his master and to carry out his wishes by steadfast obedience to him. Since slaves are singly devoted to their masters, it is impossible for them to serve another master. The same is true for those who are slaves of Christ. Such exclusion to Christ makes it impossible to serve both God and money or worship God and serve idols, or live according to the Spirit and the flesh (Matt 6:24, Rom 7:5-6).

As slaves we are completely dependent on Christ. Every slave is completely dependent on their master for everything including the basic necessities of life. As believers the same should be true of our dependence on Christ. He has promised that He will provide all that we need in life (Matt 6:31-33). As slaves of Christ we must not be anxious for anything but by prayer make our requests known to him (Phil 4:6) knowing that God alone will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Christ will not only keep us from falling spiritually (Jn 6:39, Rom 8:35-39), He will also provide grace to sustain us in all of life (2 Cor 9:8, 12:9).

Lastly, as slaves we will be held accountable to Christ. Every slave gives an answer to his master. Faithful slaves were rewarded, while evil slaves that were disobedient were punished, sometimes with extreme methods. Because our sins have been completely paid for by Christ, He will not punish us (Rom 8:1). But believers must realize that we are all going to stand before our Master to give an account for our lives and be rewarded for our works accomplished (Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10). We should all desire to hear the precious words, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master” (Matt 25:21, 23). Our motivation should be to please our master in all things. There is a day coming when every slave of Christ will be recompensed in full.

We are Also His Friends
Yes, we are slaves, but we are also called the “friends of Jesus.” In the last hours of his life, Jesus told His disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). This imagery is beautiful. Friends have an intimate communication with one another. Friends share ideas, and communicate on a deep level. Friends get to be part of the inner circle. Being friends with Jesus means that Jesus discloses to us the intimate deals of His purposes, plans and heart.

But, being the friend of Jesus doesn’t mean that we become trite with Jesus and forget that He is God. The New Testament calls Jesus Lord more than 700 times. So, while we are His friends, He is still our Lord. Being the friend of Jesus does not put us on the same level like human friendships. Rather being the friend of Jesus means that He is sharing with us intimate information, particularly the words that His Father has given to Him (John 8:32, 17:6-8).

More specifically, Jesus has granted for us to know the mysteries of God. Mysteries that were once hidden in heaven, but that Jesus has revealed to us since we are His friends. The Apostle Paul tells us that one of the revealed mysteries is our great salvation (Eph 1:3-14). The mystery of God’s will has been revealed that God chose and predestined us in eternity past before the world was created. What is revealed is that God had a plan to save some through the blood of His Son according to His purposes which he “set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (v. 9-10).

Take Advantage of Friendship
Since we are friends, Jesus continues to reveal His perfect will to us through His Word. As friends we must take advantage of the opportunity that we have. The Word is not revealed to the world, but hidden from their eyes. The mysteries of God’s word are only revealed to His friends (Matt 13:10). The Holy Spirit who permanently indwells us also illumines Scripture for us, helping us learn what the Word and the mysteries of God are. In order to have this deep friendship with Christ and understand what He wants us to know, we must be reading and studying the Bible on a regular basis listening to the intimate plans, purposes and will of God for our lives!

Always Slaves, Always Friends
So true believers in Christ are both slaves but also friends of Jesus. We must keep these identities in balance never allowing either one to overshadow the other. While we are still slaves of Christ we strive to obey Him. But on the other hand, as friends we experience the intimate communication from Jesus through His Word. We are a blessed people because our Master is good and our friend is loving!

As a kid I remember eating “Now & Later” candy which was fruit-flavored and taffy-like. These square-shaped candies were quite hard at first with only a little flavor to be enjoyed at the beginning. But as the taffy was chewed, it became softer, and the real flavors came out “later.” I don’t eat them anymore, as I’ve determined the “Now” hardness and flavorlessness at the beginning to be somewhat unenjoyable.  Instead I have given preference to the soft taffy that gives immediate gratification!  But “Now & Laters” are a great metaphor for our joy in this life. It is true that we will have some joy now. But the real joy comes later!

Jesus promised His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). This promise of Jesus should not be misunderstood! Jesus was not promising full joy now, but He was promising full joy later! Certainly, we have joy in this life at some level. Even the common grace of God allows unbelievers to experience minuscule joy in this life. God provides joy in many ways: love (Song of Solomon 1:4), marriage (Proverbs 5:18), birth of children (Psalm113:9), gathering of the harvest, military victory (Isaiah 9:3), and drinking wine (Psalm 104:15). But the ultimate joy, which God intends for His children, is only received in the future. The joys of this life are but a shadow of the true joy to come. And we MUST keep this perspective in mind at all times. Having this right perspective will help us all avoid the “Prosperity Gospel” preachers who promise full joy now that is tied to material possessions. In the end that is a bankrupt gospel message. If we expect “fullness of joy” now, we will be sadly mistaken, and in the end may become embittered at God. Nothing in this life compares to the promises we have for future glory! Our best life is NOT now, but in the future!

The root of our joy is grounded in the promises for future glory! The Psalmist said, “In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11). Nowhere in Scripture are we promised fullness of joy in this life. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who follow Jesus are promised suffering, trials, difficulties, persecutions and hardships (John 15:20, 2 Tim 3:12, Phil 1:29). For the Christian, his or her joy is delayed and promised to come later!

Our Great Example
There is no greater example of delayed joy than in Jesus’ example of going to the cross. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). For sure there were joys that Jesus experienced while on the earth (i.e. seeing people saved, healed, etc.). But the greatest motivation for Jesus to leave heaven and come to the earth to endure what He did was not immediate joy and gratification, but the future promises that His Father made to Him. In short, Jesus was willing to suffer for the joy of future exaltation. In His high priestly prayer Jesus said to His Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus gained His reward by glorifying His Father while on earth. And when it was all done, God “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). Joy for Jesus was delayed! The same is true for all who follow Him.

This is why true believers are able to rejoice through suffering. We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” which is in the future (Rom 5:2). We are able to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41). We don’t mind the plundering of our property, since we know that we have a “better possession and an abiding one” waiting for us (Heb 10:34). We realize that our suffering for Christ in this world is going to ultimately lead us to “rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13-14). Christians are not crazy people who enjoy pain. But our joy is not rooted in this life. We are able to look past all of the difficulties and look to the promise of our future, just like Jesus did.

The Danger of a Distracted Eye
But let’s be honest, our joy is often robbed because we fail to be future minded. We begin thinking like unbelievers. We look around and see all the blessings that others are experiencing. It is not beyond us as believers to feel sorry for ourselves! We can become envious and even bitter at God because we feel like we are mistreated! Don’t be mistaken, this is a dangerous place to be! Even the Psalmist realized this when he said, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind” (Psalm 73:2-5). What saved him from stumbling (i.e. getting bitter at God) was the change of mind that occurred when he finally “came into the sanctuary of God” (v. 17). It was the Word of God that reminded him of the ultimate destruction of the wicked and the terrors that await them. The truth was that the Psalmist was on the verge of being “embittered,” “pierced within,” “senseless.” He was allowing his flesh and his heart to fail, and this was robbing him of real joy. Everything changed however when he began to think about the future! As believers we must guard our eyes from looking around us and comparing our lives to others, particularly those in the world. For us our joy is NOT grounded in the circumstances and possessions of this fleeting and temporary life. Our joy is grounded in the future promises!

Witness to the World
As we journey this life we are going to have small joys along the way. But we may also have many sorrows, difficulties, trials and even persecutions. But we must keep our joy rooted in our future hope and the promises of future glory. If we fight to have the right perspective it will not necessarily make this life easier, but we will be a bright light to the world and they will see the faith that we have which is rooted in future joy!

In opposition to the Deism view which believes that God does not intervene in his creation, Scripture is clear that God is at work in the world, and specifically in His children. God promises to finish a glorious work in those who are His (Phil 1:6). God’s work begins in eternity past when God elects His children. Then in time, God promises to call, justify and sanctify them, conforming them into the image of His Son. His work concludes in eternity future when He promises to glorify all who are His (Rom 8:29-30).

God’s work of sanctification is magnificently illustrated for us by Jesus in John 15. Jesus characterized His Father as a worker who is continually working in His vineyard. The Father’s work includes cutting off branches which are fruitless, and pruning branches that are fruitful in order that they may produce much fruit. It is clear that the fruitless branches are unbelievers who do not have a permanent union with Christ. If they were connected to the vine they would inevitably produce fruit. The fruitful branches are believers which the Father promises to prune in order that they may produce as much fruit as possible. This process of pruning is theologically called sanctification. The goal of the vinedresser is that every one of His vines not only produce fruit alone, or more fruit, but “much fruit” (John 15:1-8).

Every Branch-Every Son
It is a sad reality that many orphans often do not have the tender care and continual discipline of parents to correct, encourage and shape them into fruitful human beings. Good parents are continually concerned with shaping their children. The same is true spiritually speaking. While the world uses trite names like “the man upstairs” to address God, we are blessed to call Him “Father” (Matt 6:9). Unlike unbelievers in the world, we have the special attention of God. He does not leave us alone like orphans. Rather, God is concerned about “every branch” in His vineyard, (Jn 15:2) and “every son” in His house (Heb 12:5-11). This means that every one of us are certainly going to be the recipients of God’s work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). As true branches in His garden, we will certainly experience His knife. And as true sons in his house we will certainly experience His discipline. Our heavenly Father is good in that He takes continual efforts to shape those who are His into the “image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). The lack of his working knife and discipline is a certain indication that we are not His.

Right Perspective: Welcoming the Knife
How we view the work of God’s discipline in our lives is crucial. Sometimes God allows His children to experience the worst kinds of situations. If we are not prepared mentally we may in fact curse God instead of worshiping Him. Scripture is clear that God does not spare His children from persecution, hardship, pain, suffering, death and so much more. When God providentially brings His painful knife or discipline we must remember that He is doing it for our good (Gen 50:20, Heb 12:10). God is always good, always right, and always wise! He doesn’t allow anything into our lives (even evil) that doesn’t have a divine purpose (Rom 8:28). It’s hard to say, but as believers we should welcome His knife and the discipline of God in our lives. We should long to be as fruitful as possible. This means trusting God and welcoming His divine work.

No Accidents & No Waste
Our good Father, the vinedresser doesn’t make any mistakes. Unlike humans who may not be the best at “pruning” and may butcher a plant by accident, God does not make mistakes or accidents in His children’s lives. The Father’s cultivation of our lives is according to His loving and thoughtful providence. This means that God allows the exact interventions in our lives which are designed to produce in us mature and well-rounded Christian character. Sometimes His pruning knife may seem to cut too deep, but His purposes are all-wise and designed to enable us to grow strong to produce the most fruit possible. We should also remember that the branches God removes from us are never a waste. He knows exactly what we should possess. Sinclair Ferguson said it wonderfully, “When our ambitions are thwarted, our own plans come to nothing, and we feel the blade of providence in our lives.  Here is our security: God does not waste, therefore I shall not want” (Sinclair Ferguson, Maturity, page 46).

What is the Fruit?
God’s goal in the Christian’s life is not just to produce a mediocre crop, but that we all would produce “much fruit” (Jn 15:8). It is true that some will produce more fruit than others (Matt 13:8), but it goes without saying God intends on producing a substantial harvest in each one of us. The fruit that God is interested in producing in our lives is certainly fruit that pertains to our character. Hopefully through God’s grace, by the end of our lives, we will have many successes and our “great works” will not be burned up (1 Cor 3:12-15). These for sure are important fruits. But the Lord is mostly concerned about transforming our personal lives. When God prunes, it is for the purpose of transforming us and shaping us. The Holy Spirit is mostly concerned about producing in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22). God disciplines us so that we might yield the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” and that we might “share in His holiness” (Heb 12:10-11).

Our Responsibility: Abide in Christ!
So, then what makes the difference among Christians? Why do some produce more fruit than others? God is working, but the honest truth is that many Christians are not as diligent as they should be. The key to this truth is found in the command that Jesus made to His disciples. He said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me….whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:4-5).

When we become Christians, Christ permanently dwells or has union with us. In response to that union we are commanded to abide in Him. This verb abide is often translated as ‘remain’, ‘stay’, ‘continue’, or ‘dwell.’ Abiding is not some mystical activity. Jesus is simply saying that we are to have “fellowship with him that is marked by a resolute, Spirit-enabled, obedience to God’s word – a willing submission of heart, soul, mind and strength to the Lord and His revealed will” (Ferguson, page 48). The Apostle Paul says it this way, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16). Abiding in Christ means being immersed with the Word of God and saturating our minds with His Word so that we will be obedient to Him.

Fruitfulness is Tied to the Word
There is no way we can bear much fruit without learning the Word and obeying it. We must learn to read Scripture properly understanding the true meaning of it. Then we must apply it and allow it to transform our minds & our wills. This will allow us to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5). As a result, we will bear much fruit for the glory of God.

The Bible has much to say about money. It is not wrong to possess money because it is God who gives us the power to make money (Deut 8:18) and it is God who alone “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17), but the love of money and possessions has been the downfall of many and caused many to wander from the faith (1 Tim 6:10). Achan’s love for money brought disaster to himself, his family, and even the whole nation of Israel (Josh 7:1-25). Judas’s love for money led to a betrayal of Jesus and caused him to damn himself to eternal torment in hell (Matt 26:14-16). Ananias & Sapphira’s love of money led them to hypocritically lie about their giving resulting in God’s execution (Acts 5:1-10).

The Bible commands us to guard our hearts when it comes to our money. We must guard against loving money, which is the root of all evil as many who have longed for it have fallen into ruin and destruction (1 Tim 6:9-10). We must guard against covetousness because our lives in the end do not consist of our possessions or money (Luke 12:15). We must guard our heart against greed, because money will never satisfy us (Eccl 5:10). We must guard against putting our trust in our money rather than God (Heb 13:5, 1 Tim 6:17, Prov 11:28) because it can become our master instead of Christ (Matt 6:24).

Money is a Heart Barometer
Money is morally neutral; it is neither good nor bad, but what we do with our money is a sure indicator of our heart’s condition and acts as a sort of barometer. Just as a barometer measures atmospheric pressures, how we spend our money measures the condition of our heart. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). When the infamous tax collector Zacchaeus was saved, his heart attitude toward his money was drastically transformed. He immediately gave half of his money to the poor, and repaid his victims four times the amount he had stolen from them (Luke 19:1-10). Unlike Zacchaeus, the rich young ruler’s hard heart was revealed when he went away sad after Jesus commanded him to give his money away and come and follow Him (Matt 19:16-22).

Be Generous BUT Is Tithing Required?
Many of us have been raised believing that we are required to tithe, and legalistically look down on others for not regularly giving a ten percent offering into the “storehouse” (Mal 3:10).  A closer look at the New Testament will prove that tithing was an old covenant requirement for Israel. There is no command for tithing anywhere in the New Testament. Thomas Schreiner, a professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote a great article explaining seven reasons why Christians today are not required to tithe. You can read the article here (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/7-reasons-christians-not-required-to-tithe/), but the following are his seven arguments:

1. Believers are no longer under the Mosaic Law. (Rom 6:14-15, 7:5-6, Gal 3:15-4:7, 2 Cor 3:4-18)
2. The examples of Abraham & Jacob are not normative patterns.
3. Tithes were given to the Levites & Priests, but there are no Levites and Priests in the new covenant.
4. The tithe is tied to the land of Israel received under the old covenant.
5. If tithing is required, how much should we give since old testament saints were required to give closer to 20% annually?
6. When Jesus affirmed the tithe, it was before the dawn of the new covenant.
7. Nowhere is tithing mentioned when commands to give generously are found in the New Testament.

If you would like to explore a counterargument, read the article here (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/bible-commands-christians-to-tithe/) by William Barcley.

To Whom are We to Give?
While the New Testament doesn’t command us to tithe, it does command us to be generous. Just like God, we are to be givers. We are primarily to give to three groups:

1. We are commanded to give to destitute family members (1 Tim 5:8) including children, aged parents & grandparents, brothers & sisters (1 Tim 5:3-16). This does not include lazy, irresponsible family members who are not willing to work and squander their money on alcohol & drugs (2 Thess 3:10).
2. We are to give to our local church and other doctrinally sound ministries to support the preaching of the Word (Gal 6:6, 1 Tim 5:17-18).
3. We are to give to needy persons to help them with physical needs such as food and shelter. We should first be concerned about believers in the household of faith (Gal 6:10) and then help unbelievers as a part of our witness of the Gospel to the world.

How are We to Give?
One of the largest sections of Scripture that addresses giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8-9. Paul instructs the Corinthians on how they are to give. He uses the churches from the region of Macedonia (Thessalonica, Berea, & Philippi) as examples of how to give. The following is a list of ways we are to give from 2 Corinthians 8-9.

• We are to be motivated by God’s grace; just as God gave to us we are to give. (8:1)
• We are to be committed to give even in difficult times. (8:2)
• We are to give with joy. (8:2, 9:7)
• We are to be generous even when we are poor. (8:2, 1 Tim 6:17)
• We are to give according to our ability or as we have prospered. (8:3, 1 Cor 16:2)
• We are to give voluntarily not out of compulsion, duty or fear. (8:3)
• We are to consider our giving a privilege and an opportunity to participate in Kingdom work. (8:4)
• We are to consider our giving as worship and obedience unto God. (8:5-6)
• We are to view our giving as proof of our love for Christ, others and Kingdom work. (8:7-8, 1 Jn 4:20-21)
• We should give systematically in a pre-planned manner. (9:7, 1 Cor 16:2)
• We should give in secret to the Lord. (Matt 6:1-4)

 To listen to a sermon I recently preached on this topic, please click here (https://livestream NULL.com/EBFCStream/weekly-sunday-service-2019/videos/195191286).

Need for a Change in Attitude
Many of us are trapped in a self-absorbed mentality. We make and spend our money primarily on ourselves. But as we mature in our faith, we must take on a new change of mind. Instead of being worldly minded, we must be Kingdom minded. A change in our attitude will inevitably lead to possibly radical decisions to get out of debt in order to free up money to be used as the Lord leads. Oh may we be faithful with the use of our money!

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1945-26-Bible-verses-about-the-Holy-Spirit NULL.jpg)When the disciples were troubled that Jesus was going to leave them, Jesus made a promise to them (and all future disciples) that they would not be left alone as orphans, but that the Holy Spirit was going to permanently come and be “with” them and be “in” them (Jn 14:17). This promise is a major change from the Old Covenant and describes how God works among His people in this New Covenant era. From the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the present day, every true believer experiences the abiding and forever presence of the third member of the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is not a power (like the Jehovah Witnesses claim) but the third person of the God-head being fully God, Christianity then is not simply a religion but a supernatural miracle whereby “the life of God comes to dwell in the soul of man.” This phrase was used by Henry Scougal, a Scottish minister and theologian in his wonderful book, The Life of God in the Soul of Man (https://www NULL.christianbook NULL.com/life-the-soul-man-real-religion/henry-scougal/9781781911075/pd/911075?product_redirect=1&search_term=henry%20scougal&Ntt=911075&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP) originally published in 1677 but recently republished by Sprinkle Publications in 1986. Scougal recognized that Christianity is not simply 1) theological correctness, 2) moralistic modification, or 3) affectional emotionalism (see Justin Taylor’s review (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/blogs/justin-taylor/a-summary-of-henry-scougals-the-life-of-god-in-the-soul-of-man/) of the book). Christianity is not just some system of thought or behavior, but rather the very life of God indwelling the new born believer. Scougal says it this way, “True religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or in the apostle’s phrase, ‘it is Christ formed within us’” (Gal 4:19, see also 2 Peter 1:4).

Different from the Old Covenant
There is a radical discontinuity in how the Holy Spirit operated among God’s people from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. It is not true to say that the Holy Spirit never indwelt believers in the Old Testament. Joshua was “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Num 27:18). As Ezekiel prepared to confront a rebellious Israel, he also was filled with the Spirit (Ezek 2:2, 3:24). Prophets were filled along with Joseph and Daniel (Gen 41:38, Dan 4:8-9, 18, 5:11-14, 6:3). However more numerous are illustrations that the Holy Spirit did not indwell, but actually temporarily came “upon” particular leaders of Israel in order to empower them for particular works (see Moses, Num 11:17, Joshua, Deut 34:9, Gideon, Judg 6:34, Jephthah, Judg 11:29, Samson, Judg 14:6, 19, 15:14, David, 1 Sam 16:13). In summary we can conclude that the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in the Old Covenant was an infrequent, temporary indwelling that involved only selected leaders in Israel (Biblical Doctrine, John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue, pg. 367).

Do You Have the Spirit?
Rightly understanding the inhabitation of the Spirit should help us think correctly about conversion. To be “born again” (Jn 3:3-8) means that something radical has happened to us. Christianity is not just becoming religious, or believing some major doctrinal points of view. Scougal identified an important point that the 21st century church would do well in taking heed. In this age, becoming a Christian means placing your faith in Christ and, as a result, something radically supernaturally happens to you. So, the question for all of us is NOT 1) have you prayed a prayer, 2) have you walked an aisle, 3) have you been baptized, or 4) do you attend church. The doctrine of the indwelling Spirit demands that we ask “Do you have the Spirit of God living in you?” (2 Cor 13:5)

Gift of God by Faith
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that comes by faith in Christ. Jesus was clear in John 7:37-39, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.” Paul was clear in Galatians 3:5 when he said, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” The answer to that question is clearly faith as Paul says in the next verse that “those of faith are the sons of Abraham.” Every believer in this age who truly repents of their sin and places faith in Christ will receive the Holy Spirit. And He will indwell fully, not partially. Immediately at conversion, every believer will be baptized once and for all (Eph 4:5-6) by the Spirit creating a new union with Christ, and with the body of believers (1 Cor 12:13).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/holy-spirit-dallas-holm NULL.jpg)Romans 8: 4 Blessings!
When the Spirit indwells us, everything changes and the believer is blessed. First, we have a new relationship with Christ and the Father. Paul says that when the Spirit inhabits us we “belong to Christ” (Rom 8:9) forever, never to be lost again (John 6:39). Furthermore, we are adopted into the family of God and are able to say “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:15-17). So, the indwelling Spirit creates a living union with God the Father and God the Son. We become children of God whereby God the Father cares for us and we can cry out to Him. The Spirit’s indwelling guarantees that we are now a part of the family of God.

Second, we have new leadership in our lives. Paul says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom 8:14). When the Spirit invades our lives there is a new leader in charge. Since the Spirit is the one leading He leads us to love the things of God, and directs us into new paths. He changes our view of God’s commandments, whereby they are no longer burdensome, but a joy to obey. The Spirit conforms us into the image of the Son and gives us the “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22-26). The Spirit’s presence guarantees a transformation. And that transformation becomes more and more evident when we yield to the Spirit’s leadership. We are called not to be “drunk with wine” but be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). This filling is not the same as indwelling but is the response of the believer to the Holy Spirit’s leadership. Just as a hand “fills” a glove and controls it, or wind “fills” a sail and leads it, so the Holy Spirit must be yielded to in order that we might be controlled by Him. Spiritual maturity comes by learning to yield to the Holy Spirit’s new leadership in our lives.

Third, we have a new freedom from sin. Paul says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). The law of Christ and His will are written in our hearts empowering us “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom 8:4). So, the indwelling Spirit empowers us and frees us from the dominion of sin. This doesn’t mean that we will be perfect. In fact, our present sin will cause us to “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:24). But we will see a radical difference as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. We are called to live holy lives because we are indwelt by the Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

Fourth, we have a new security. When the Holy Spirit resides in us we are secure forever unable to lose our salvation! God began His work in eternity past when He predestined us. And His work continues in us by guaranteeing that He will glorify those whom He predestined (Rom 8:30). The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is the “guarantee” (like a down payment) and the one who “seals” us (2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13-14) ensuring that we will ultimately be saved and secure. This is why Paul says that nothing shall be able to “separate us” from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).

Walk Wise, Sing and Give Thanks
Since we have been baptized by the Spirit, we must be controlled by the Spirit. Being controlled by Him will move us to be careful how we walk in this day, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time because the days are evil. We must also sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (Eph 5:14-21).

Jesus promised His disciples and all who would believe in Him through the corridor of time, that they would do greater works that He did (Jn 14:12). These greater works are certainly not miracles. Jesus did so many miracles that the Apostle John said there wouldn’t be enough books to contain them all (Jn 21:25). A simple survey through the book of Acts should provide enough evidence that the miracles of the Apostle were miniscule compared to the miracles that Jesus performed.

Greater Works
The greater works Jesus refers to are simply the conversion of sinners & the advancement of the Gospel & Kingdom of God. Jesus told us that we should expect to see a greater influence of the Gospel than He did. The ministry of Jesus was limited to 150 mile stretch of land known as Palestine. At the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth He had only 11 followers and they were weak at best. At the resurrection there were 120 followers. In summary the ministry of Jesus on the earth was not as extensive as one would have thought.

But everything changed when Jesus left to go to His Father. “Greater works” are inextricably linked to Jesus’ departure. When Jesus left, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit came His disciples would have power (Acts 1:8), and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world is what guarantees “greater works.” The Holy Spirit’s role in coming into this world was to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (Jn 16:8). The Holy Spirit, who can be everywhere at one time, infiltrated the hearts of thousands of people when He came. It began on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached His first sermon and 3000 souls were pierced in their hearts & were saved. Looking over the last two millennia, it is easy to see that the Gospel has spread to every corner of the earth. The Gospel has infiltrated every ethnic group. Truly “greater works” have been accomplished through the Church in the world.

Promise of Power
How these greater works will be accomplished is a major question that Jesus explains to His disciples. The disciples were weak and without power. But when the Holy Spirit filled them, they had access to a heavenly power. Jesus tells them that to tap into this power they must simply pray “in my name.” Prayer, then, is the channel of power for the Church. Jesus said, “whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14). This is not an open-ended promise that God’s people can ask for anything that their flesh desires (new car, new home, etc.). This promise that Jesus made is linked to the previous verse concerning greater works. The work of Jesus was to make followers of Christ and see the Kingdom of God advanced. To pray in His name means to pray in accordance with His mission and His character. It is similar to the Lord’s prayer that we pray – that our Father be “hallowed” and that his “Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10). So, power to do good works comes through a dependence on God in prayer!

The Danger of Pragmatism
It is a good thing to desire to see “greater works.” As God’s people we should expect to see conversions. We should expect to see sinners coming to Christ and having their lives transformed. But in our zeal for church growth, we must not be tempted to lay down the greatest weapons that God has given the church, namely the Word of God and prayer.

The Church began to adopt a pragmatic approach to ministry over the last 50-100 years. When the church began to drop in numbers, particularly the western Church primarily began to use worldly methods in their Church growth strategy. They adopted a more pragmatic approach to ministry. Pragmatism is simply the idea that the end justifies the means. In other words, truth is determined by consequences. Whether something is right or wrong is determined primarily by the end results. When the Church did not see the results that they wanted to see, they began changing the methods in order to produce the needed results. Rick Warren, in his book Purpose Driven Church, even stated it this way, “Never criticize any method that God is blessing.” Pragmatism is typically interested in one thing, numbers and results. And the method to get those results must be good if the Church is growing.

In order to get numbers where they should be, many pastors began changing their ministry philosophy so as to make the message of the Gospel more palatable for the world. They began taking away the offense of the cross and refused to talk about sin anymore. Sermons were no longer authoritative expositions but became self-help discussions. It is obvious that this philosophy of ministry is bankrupt. It undermines sound doctrine, and faithful adherence to the mandates of Scripture. This methodology is more concerned about results than faithfulness to God. Its practice will definitely draw a crowd, but the crowd may be filled with more goats than sheep! Rather than worrying about success, pastor and churches should be concerned about faithfulness to God!

Faithfulness to God
John MacArthur has said to pastors many times, “You worry about the depth of your ministry and allow the Lord to take care of the breadth of your ministry.” In other words, be faithful to the mandates of Scripture, the character of God, and the pure unadulterated Gospel message. Don’t resort to gimmicks and manipulative methods to reach people! But rather trust in the sovereign Savior who said “I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). This is even true in your family life and your job. You worry about being faithful to God and He will take care of the rest.

Not Pragmatism but Prayer
So, will we take Christ’s promises to heart? Christ promised that we would see greater works and the link to the power is not gimmicks or pragmatism, but prayer! If we want to see the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed in our midst we must pick up our greatest weapons once again. We must plug into the power of prayer! Prayer is the key to seeing power in our homes, in our families, in our church and in our community. We must be dependent on God.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/trust-god2 NULL.jpg)Understandably the disciples were overwhelmed when Jesus told them that He was going away and they could not go with Him (John 13:31-14:3). The disciples had given up their careers & devoted their lives to follow Jesus for over three years and now it appeared that Jesus was abandoning them. As a result, they were troubled, distressed, and confused. Their dreams were unraveling before their eyes.

The Cure for Anxiety: Trust in Christ!
We have all experienced trouble in our lives to the point where we have been overwhelmed and even in despair. The Christian life is not a life void of trouble. In fact, Jesus guaranteed that life would have tribulation and trouble (Jn 16:33). But in the midst of despair, Jesus commands His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled! He tells His disciples, “You trust in God, trust also in me” (Jn 14:1). Here is the cure for anxiety in our lives. Just as we trust God whom we cannot see, we must also trust in Christ! We must trust Him with our future. We must trust Him with every detail of our lives. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). This is not a guarantee of health, wealth and prosperity. But it is a promise that He will preserve us, particularly our faith and raise us up on the last day (Jn 6:39)! Trusting in Jesus in our trouble means that we wholeheartedly believe that God is working out all of the details of our life for our good and for His glory (Rom 8:28)!

So many Christians use the world’s methods to cope with their anxiety. There are a number of options to choose from: medication, alcohol, drugs, intense counseling, etc. Some of these options are clearly bad while others can be good if used in the right manner. But first the Christian should cope with their anxiety by shoring up their minds and allowing their hearts to simply trust in Christ and His work in their lives. Christians should not be so quick to run to all other resources rather than learning first to rest in and trust their lives with the sovereign Christ! This will require much time in prayer and meditation on God’s Word. Instead of focusing so heavily on our problems, we must refocus our minds toward our Savior who says to us, “Trust me, I’ve got you in my hand. You are right where I want you!”

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/trust-god NULL.png)Opportunity to Exercise Faith
It is in trouble that Christians are given the opportunity to exercise faith. It is easy to exercise faith in the good times. But faith is proven in the bad times (James 1:2-4). Recently, one of our church members told me a story of a church which was raided in China by governmental officials. Several members including the Pastor and his wife were arrested and put into prison for over 7 months. While in the prison, the guards commented how some who were there were overwhelmed and distressed continually. But the guards also noticed how the Pastor and his wife were calm, and prison did not seem to bother them. The guard noticed that the pastor and his wife were at ease. How is it that Christians can be so calm in the midst of storms in their lives? The answer is certainly trusting in God and trusting in Christ. Christians must able to put into practice the command of Jesus, “Don’t let your heart be troubled….trust in me.” The world is watching us to see if our faith is real not only in the triumphs but also in our trouble.

Hold on to the Promises
In addition to commanding His disciples to trust in Him, Jesus gave them precious promises to believe about their future. While this earth is fleeting (James 4:14), and trouble is sure, heaven is being reserved for those who are true disciples of Christ. Jesus quickly comforted His troubling disciples by telling them that He was going away to heaven to His “Father’s house” in order to “prepare a place for [them]” (Jn 14:2). Heaven is a real place where the Father dwells. Jesus went there after His resurrection and secured a place for ALL of His disciples and He is waiting there to receive us to Himself. These promises are for us and should be the antidote for anxiety in our hearts when trouble comes.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/heaven NULL.jpeg)Meditate on Heaven
Christians ought to think and meditate on heaven on a regular basis. We are too attached to this world and the material possessions that we own. Sometimes Christians even begrudge the idea of leaving this earth and going to heaven. But this should not be. Heaven has been prepared for us and has enough room for all of us. Its beauty is described in Revelation 21 by the Apostle John. It is a beautiful place where the streets are made of gold and every beautiful crystal is used in decoration. It is a place where there is no more pain, sadness, sorrow, tears or trouble! It is a real place where we will be reunited with our loved ones. It is a place where the inhabitants will have “fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11). But the best thing about Heaven is that Jesus is there. We will see Him face to face and always be with the Lord. Martin Luther said, “I had rather be in hell with Christ, than be in heaven without him.” Heaven is heaven because Jesus is there.

Heaven is a guarantee for true believers. Meditating on heaven is one of the means God has given us to persevere in this life. When all the troubles come, our hearts should remember the promises of Jesus and long for heaven even more. The trouble and suffering on this earth are minuscule compared to the glory that awaits us in heaven (Romans 8:18). We find comfort for our weary souls when we remember that Jesus is waiting in heaven for us, praying for us to run with perseverance the race set before us (Heb 7:25).

Learn to Rest & NOT be Stirred Up
Learning to rest in the Lord is a lifelong journey. When we are young in the faith, trouble quickly overtakes us. But as we grow in the Lord along life’s journey, we begin to see the hand of God in our lives and learn to rest in Him. This is the grace of God that helps mature us all. Trouble is that sandpaper that rubs all the rough edges off of us and is used by God to conform us into the image of Jesus. Resting in the Lord means “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Instead of holding on to all your troubles, we must cast them before our Savior who loves us and cares for us.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-bath2 NULL.png)

Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time. His methods of teaching were so effective because He was able to use simple real-life common activities and events to explain profound and complex theological truths. In the last hours of His life during the Last Supper, Jesus rose to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). This was an incredible act of love as the worthy one served the unworthy ones. During this act of service Jesus explains to Peter the great truths of salvation in a way that even children can understand.

Jesus Came to Serve by Washing Us!
At first Peter was hesitant to allow Jesus to serve him. Maybe it was out of humility that Peter refused, but more likely it was a result of Peter’s pride. Certainly, Peter understood that Jesus was the Son of God. When asked by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter said clearly, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Peter understood clearly that Jesus was no mere man and that he was a “sinful man” (Luke 5:8). When it came time for Jesus to wash his feet, Peter knew that this was a task reserved for slaves and he quickly opposed Jesus. But Peter did not rightly understand what the Son of Man came to do. Jesus humbled himself and took on human flesh in order that He might serve His people (Philippians 2:6-8). He laid aside His divine rights as He left heaven and came to serve and “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus was clearly illustrating not with words but with actions that He must serve them (John 10:11).

And the service that Jesus came to do was to “wash us.” The work of Jesus on the cross was a service of cleansing, not from dirt and grime, but from the filth of sin. When Peter opposed Jesus, Jesus made it very clear to Peter and all of us the consequences of rejecting His ministry. Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (Jn 13:8). Jesus uses the physical washing to illustrate a spiritual truth. Rejecting Jesus’ ministry of cleansing is an outright rejection of Christ. Jesus is saying clearly that there is no other way to be saved. Jesus has the exclusive rights of spiritual cleansing. There is no other way to be cleansed. In fact you cannot even wash yourself! So many people are trying to clean up their own lives by the way the live. It is impossible to do so! There has to be a cleansing that comes from outside of us. Only the work of Christ is capable of washing away our sin (Hebrews 10:4, 10-14).

Many Will Refuse to be Washed
Sadly, most will not allow Jesus to wash them because of the pride in their hearts. It is a humiliating thing to have to admit that washing is needed. But because we are sinners and live in this filthy world, we need someone to wash us. Salvation is available only to those who are humble enough to cry out for mercy and ask Jesus to wash them (Luke 18:9-14).

Good News: Believers Only Need One Bath
When Jesus chided Peter, Peter responded with a willing heart, but with a misinformed mind. Peter tells Jesus not just to wash his feet, but also his hands and his head (v. 9) indicating that he had not fully understood the work of salvation. Jesus clears up the issue by telling Peter the wonderful good news that true believers don’t need a second bath. He says to Peter, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” It is certain that Peter didn’t understand the full implication of what Jesus was telling him. But in short, Jesus was saying that Peter had already been saved. And once he was saved there was no need for further bathing. The bath of salvation for true believers is a one-time event, never to be repeated again.

Understanding Regeneration & Justification
Jesus is explaining, in parable form, the doctrine of regeneration and justification. When a sinner puts his faith in Christ, he experiences the “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom [God] poured out on us rightly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5). In a word, the first bath Christians ever have is the bath of being “born again.” And as a result, God justifies us, not by our works but by our faith (Romans 5:1). So, when Jesus tells Peter that he and the other disciples (except for Judas) are “completely clean” He is assuring them of their salvation. This event would never take place again! It was complete and finished.

Eternal Security
Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are completely clean? This is a phenomenal statement that describes eternal security. Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny Him three times in just a few hours. Jesus knew that all of the other disciples were going to abandon Him in His greatest hour. Jesus knew that Thomas was going to doubt His resurrection. And yet, Jesus gives them all this wonderful affirmation that they had been cleansed. This cleansing was not based upon their work, but the work of Christ. He had chosen them and they were His sheep and no one could pluck them out of His hand (Jn 10:27-30). He promised to raise them up on the last day (Jn 6:39-40). Being “washed” by Jesus guarantees a person’s eternal destiny.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dirty-feet NULL.jpg)Continual Feet Washing: Ongoing Sanctification
Jesus continues to teach the disciples and us that though we are clean (justification) there is still an ongoing daily cleansing (sanctification) that is necessary. Jesus tells Peter, “the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet” (v. 10). In the days of Jesus, people wore open toed sandals and their feet were continually in need of washing especially when a house was entered. Their bodies were clean but their feet needed cleansing on a regular basis. While justification is a one-time event never to happen again for the believer, the process of sanctification is an ongoing lifetime process that never ends until the believer reaches heaven.

Washing our feet daily is not necessary to maintain our legal standing with God, but it is necessary to maintain our fellowship with God. Once we are adopted into the family of God there is nothing that can change our position. Once we are children of God we will never be lost. But as children of God we should desire to remain faithful and holy to the Lord. Inevitably, whether intentionally or accidentally, we are going to get our feet dirty with sin from this world. In order to have our feet washed we must “confess our sins” knowing that “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is the prayer of daily cleansing (NOT a prayer to be saved all over again). Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer that we are to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). This is not a daily prayer for justification, but a daily prayer for sanctification. We must make daily cleansing a routine practice in our lives, confessing our sins daily so that we will not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19)

Great Comfort
When we understand the simple teaching of Jesus it ought to bring us incredible comfort. As believers we have been completely washed, but this does not mean that we will be without sin (1 Jn 1:8). If we have been washed we will continually battle against becoming dirty. Having been washed we will desire to strive toward holiness. In fact, the mark of a true Christian is that they do not continue to practice sin (1 Jn 3:9-10). But when we do sin, we can be comforted to know that we have been washed and nothing can change our position. This should motivate us to strive to keep our feet as clean as possible in this world as we march toward Zion, the beautiful city of God.

Growing up in our Wednesday night program at the First Baptist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma, I was an “RA” or “Royal Ambassador” from grades 1-6. The program was our children’s discipleship program and I can still quote our motto to this day. The motto goes like this: (http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RA-logo NULL.jpg)

“As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ, to have a Christ-like concern for all people, to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world, to work with others in sharing Christ and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.”

This vision comes directly from what the Apostle Paul teaches that every true believer has be entrusted with the “message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). When anyone is saved and reconciled to God, they are no longer citizens of this world, but children of the Kingdom of light (Col 1:13), and citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). As a result, God makes us ambassadors. This is a great word which describes our new position in this world. An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.” Since our new home is in heaven, we actually currently live in a foreign land that is not our home (Heb 11:16). God leaves us here to be His official representatives and spokesmen.

Our Hearts Must be Right
Living like an ambassador requires having our hearts in the right place. If we were all honest this is a major battle within us. We must change the way we think about this life we live here and now. We typically want to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, eat what we want to eat…..you get the idea. But as ambassadors we are no longer our own. The struggle is that we want to live as though we are the king of our own lives. We want to live as though this world is our own little kingdom. But as believers we are not the king of our own lives, but are sent here to honor the true King of Kings, who bought us with His own blood. We are called daily to “set our minds on things above” (Col 3:1). We must keep the right mindset or we will tragically live like this world is our home.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ambassadors-quote2 NULL.png)Giving up Trinkets for Real Treasure
As ambassadors we understand that we are going to give up much in this life. But having the right mindset will help us! We look around and see all of the nice things that this life offers, and we struggle. But we must remember that these things are nothing but trinkets compared to the treasure that is awaiting us in heaven. We have an imperishable inheritance that is being stored up for us (1 Peter 1:4). As ambassadors then, we must live life loosely on this earth. We must remember that the pleasures of this world are simply trinkets compared to what is waiting for us in heaven. We must strive not to “love this world or the things in the world” (1 Jn 2:15). It doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy our time here and the blessings God has given us. But it does mean that we keep the right perspective and remember that we are just passing through, and that the King is going to come back and get us and take us to be with Him in a mansion that He has built for us (John 14:1-4).

Representing the King
Furthermore, being an ambassador means that we actually represent the one who sent us. The way we conduct our time in the foreign land reflects upon our home country and King. There are rumblings (https://www NULL.dailywire NULL.com/news/45035/calls-grow-remove-obamas-us-ambassador-ukraine-ryan-saavedra) that the current US ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, may be removed from her post for dishonoring the current administration with her words. The lives and words of ambassadors are important and reflect those who sent them. In the same way we are to live our lives in a way that honors our King Jesus. As the motto of RAs says, we must strive to “keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body” for the sake of bringing glory to our Lord (1 Cor 10:31).

But Most Importantly
But more than anything, as ambassadors we are called to speak on behalf of the one who sent us. Paul makes this clear when He says that God is actually “making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). It isn’t enough simply to live a good holy life for the King in the foreign land. We are also called to promote His agenda, advance His directives, speak loudly His message to the people around us. This means that we must know the message well. No good ambassador is ignorant of the agenda. And the agenda is clearly stated that we are left in order that we might “implore [everyone] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, namely that God is reconciling the world through His Son Jesus Christ. Every human being is at enmity with God because of their sinful nature. But through the blood of Jesus alone, that broken relationship can be reconciled whereby God can now call sinners his friends (Jn 14:15, Rom 5:7-8). Christ died so that sinners could be made “new creations” and not have their “trespasses counted against them.” Why would we hoard or hide the message? We must speak it on a regular basis to all who come into our path.

Are You a Good Ambassador?
To live as the best ambassador for Christ we must quit compartmentalizing our lives. We must consider ourselves as incarnational, that is that we are “little Christs” walking on this earth. We must represent Him and speak on His behalf every chance we get. We never take a break or a vacation. Since we have been entrusted with the “good news” of reconciliation, we must continually be looking for opportunities to speak with those in this foreign land, never forgetting our mission. Every moment we live and move should be to represent the King not only in deed, but most importantly in word!

Are you a Royal Ambassador? Are you doing your best to be a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ? Do you have a Christ-like concern for all people? Are you learning how to carry the message of Christ wherever you go? Are you keeping yourself clean and healthy in mind and body?

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/joseph-d-mello-618929-unsplash-e1537997446881 NULL.jpg)A young woman came into my office several years ago and conveyed to me that she had never been a part of a healthy church. Her father was a pastor and was mistreated and disrespected. She saw “church people” act very self-centered. She had come to the place where she never wanted to go to church again. She had never experienced strong biblical loving leadership and a congregation that honored and respected their pastors. Unhealthy churches can not only be stressful and unpleasant, but worst of all they dishonor the Lord and give a bad witness to the world. The Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Thessalonians and gives them instructions on how to cultivate a healthy church. His first and primary concern was to describe the expectations and responsibilities of how a pastor is to relate to the congregation and how the congregation is to relate to the pastors. Paul writes:

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

The Shepherd’s Responsibility
The Shepherd Pastor is called by God to care for the sheep of the congregation. He has three responsibilities in his calling. He is responsible to 1) labor, 2) oversee, and 3) admonish the congregation.

Labor: The pastors and elder leaders of the church are called to labor diligently. The word here for labor describes great effort and exertion to the point of sweat and exhaustion. Contrary to what some jokingly say, the pastor must work more than “one day a week.” He is responsible for preaching, teaching, caring, admonishing, counseling and so much more. The pastor has a high calling to diligently minister in the church and work hard (acts 20:18-20). Every pastor must have a servant’s heart ready to pour out his life night and day for the sake of the Gospel (1 Thess 2:9).

Oversee: The pastors and elders also have the responsibility to oversee the congregation and the ministry. Paul says they are “over you in the Lord.” The New American Standard translates that phrase “have charge over.” According to God’s design, the pastor has authority in the church to preside, lead or direct the ministries in the way he sees will best accomplish the mission of the church. This does not mean he can do whatever he wants or fulfill his every preference. But the pastors and elders stand in the place of the Good Shepherd and must act as faithful representatives. This is what it means to be over others “in the Lord.” The authority of the pastor is not self-proclaimed. He only has the authority to lead as the Word of God directs.

Admonish: Shepherds are also called to admonish, or give instruction, to the congregation. This instruction is given for the purpose of correcting, and sometimes warning people (Tit 1:9). It is not popular today, but the pastor must speak directly and frankly with those in his congregation. Since he loves his congregation, he should admonish them to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. He must speak “thus sayeth the Lord” and if he is a good shepherd will always point his congregation back to the Word of God exhorting them not to obey him, but rather to obey the Lord.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/love-pastors NULL.png)The Sheep’s Responsibility
The sheep, or congregation, also have responsibilities in the church designed by God. They are called by God to relate to their pastors and elders in a particular manner that would bring honor to the Lord. They have three responsibilities toward their leaders: 1) respect their leaders, 2) esteem their leaders, and 3) submit to and be at peace with their leaders.

Respect: The congregation is called to understand clearly what God expects of their pastors and as a result they are to respect them. This means that they are to appreciate that God has given them a real human shepherd to watch over and care for their souls (Heb 13:17). Respect should extend to attitudes and words spoken. It is common for people to be unkind, critical, or indifferent toward their pastors. This is not honoring to the Lord.

Esteem: The sheep are also to “esteem them highly in love because of their work.” The congregation must have a loving attitude toward all their pastors. They must keep in mind what work they have been called to do. This might mean overlooking some of your pastors’ shortcomings (not sins). Pastors are not perfect and are also on the journey of sanctification, just like the congregation.

Submit & Be at Peace: The third responsibility of the congregation is to submit to and be at peace with church leaders. Since the pastors are “overseers” and have authority, the congregation must be willing to submit and be peaceable. Being peaceable with your leaders means that the congregation is quick to eliminate conflict, strife, and discord and promote harmony so that the church can be effective in fulfilling its mission.

Promoting a Healthy Church
We all desire to have a healthy church. An unhealthy church is a black eye to the glory of the Lord and brings shame on the Gospel. We can be sure that Satan desires more than anything to destroy the Church. He will attempt to put animosity between church leaders and the congregation. The responsibilities that God has given both to pastors and the congregation are difficult. Without the power of the Holy Spirit and much prayer, it would be impossible to accomplish our Lord’s directives. We must all be aware of what the Lord expects of each of us and encourage one another for the Lord’s sake. Let us pray that God would continue to keep our church healthy and strong. I’m thankful for such a wonderful congregation here at Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church who continually “highly esteems” their pastors and elders. Please pray for us as pastors and elders that we will be faithful to our calling. We will pray for you as well.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunrise-1756274__340 NULL.jpg)There are many significant events in history that changed the world. Some of the most significant events might include major world wars & revolutions, the printing press, the industrial age, the reformation, discovery of medicine, and so many others. It is hard to contend that events like these have not had world-wide impact physically, economically, and socially. But the question at hand is what was the “most significant” event in all of world history. It is not difficult to determine this event. While the world has their long list of speculations, we know for certain that the most significant event in history was the day that Jesus Christ was “lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32). Many in the world would say that the death of Christ on the cross was an immediate defeat, not a victory. But when we hear directly from the lips of Jesus we understand that the cross was the very central and most significant event in all of world history. Jesus tells us three decisive victories in John 12:31-32 that would result from Him being lifted up.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

The World is Judged
It is clear that Jesus came into the world to save the world and not judge the world (Jn 12:47). But something decisive was happening when Jesus was “lifted up.” The cross became the very event that would determine every person’s destiny. The cross became the main issue in every person’s life (whether they even know about it or not). What every person in the world believes about the cross determines their judgment. In a positive sense, those who receive Jesus will be forgiven through the atoning work of the cross. But in a negative sense, everyone in the world who rejects this atoning work will be judged and condemned. It is ironic that the world thought they were passing judgment on Christ by killing him. Quite the contrary! The cross was passing judgment on them. And the cross continues to draw a line in the sand even today. Every person who rejects the cross will ultimately be judged and condemned.

Satan is Cast Out
A second victory of the cross was that the ruler of this world will be “cast out.” This certainly speaks of Satan who is the god of this world (Eph 2:2, 6;12). We might think that the cross was a victory for Satan, but it was actually his defeat. And the result of this defeat was that Satan would be “cast out.” At first glance we might think that this casting out never occurred. We certainly know that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is alive and well on planet earth. So, we must understand this casting out as something gradual, in stages. The first stage happened literally at the cross. Satan’s hold over this world was broken. Colossians 2:15 teaches us that Jesus on the cross “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.” In that first stage of casting out, Satan was disarmed, dethroned and disgraced. While he still currently has residual power, it is curtailed by the Holy Spirit (John 16:11). The next stage of casting out will be in the future when Satan is “cast out of heaven into the earth” (Rev 12:10). The next stage will occur when he will be cast into the bottomless pit (Rev 20:3). The final and ultimate stage of His casting out will be when Satan is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev 20:10). (A.W. Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing. Pg 681).

The People of Jesus are Drawn
The third and most glorious result of Jesus being lifted up is that He will “draw all people” to Himself. A dead savior could do nothing, so this certainly speaks of the work of the living and resurrected Christ. He personally will “draw” people unto Himself. Once crucified and resurrected Jesus would become a great attraction to many people.

A major question is, what did Jesus mean when He said “all people?” Certainly “all” doesn’t mean every person in the world. If this were true then we would all be universalists. The scope of the word “all” here is exactly the same as in John 6:45 when Jesus says, “And they will all be taught by God.” It is clearly a reference to the elect and is described in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” Once Jesus is raised, He will begin calling those whom the Father has given Him and they will come to Him. His sheep will be drawn from two different folds, both from Israel and Gentile folds (John 10:16). When Jesus calls, they hear His voice and they follow Jesus (10:25-26) and He gives them eternal life. Jesus will irresistibly call out people from every nation and tribe and tongue! Just as Peter drew his net to the land with a great number of fish (Jn 21:11), so Jesus will draw his net through this world and bring God’s elect to the shore (Matthew 13:47-50).

If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, then you are the recipient of this great promise. Do you remember when you were called? Do you remember when you were drawn by the Holy Spirit and shown your sinfulness and need of a Savior? Do you remember when you cried out to the Lord Jesus to save you? All of this happened as a result of Jesus being “lifted up.”

Our Work Continues
We should expect that the Church will grow as Jesus draws His sheep to Himself. Jesus intends to use us to reach His people (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). We must never cease from our work as long as it is daytime. The night is coming when no one will be able to work (John 9:4). Our work consists of two things: walking in the light (Jn 12: 35-36) and making disciples (Matt 28:18-20). Since we have been called we must live holy lives, pleasing to the one who called us and we must conduct ourselves with fear throughout the time of our exile on this earth (1 Peter 1:14-18). We must be focused on living lives that reflect the glory and goodness of our Savior (Titus 2:11-14). But we must also be concerned about the souls of the lost. We must compel others to come to Christ. It is not our work to “draw” them. Only Christ can do that work. But we must use the means Christ has given us, and that is faithful proclamation of the person and work of Jesus. We must never be ashamed of Christ. And we should expect to see the Church expand as we see the promise of Jesus fulfilled even in our day!

A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement which upon further investigation is deemed to be true. The Bible is full of paradoxes (2 Cor 12:10, James 4:10) and Jesus often spoke in paradoxical language (Matt 23:11, Mark 9:35). He spoke in shocking language in order to emphasize the most important truths regarding spiritual things. The teaching method was designed by Jesus to stir the heart and the mind causing His listeners to think deeply and soberly and to give them an image that is not easily forgotten.

The Seed Principle:  Death Precedes Life
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus uses this agricultural image which would have been well known in a predominantly agrarian culture. Not only Jesus but the New Testament authors used the “seed” imagery many times (1 Cor 15:36-38, Mk 4:3-9, Mat 13:24-30).

Jesus oftentime began his most solemn teaching with the phrase, “truly, truly, I say to you” (Jn 1:51, 3:3,5,11, 5:19, 6:26, 14:12). This phrase indicated that the teaching of Jesus was of vital importance. And the important truth Jesus taught was modeled by the seed, namely that death is the necessary condition for the generation of life. Every seed planted in the ground must undergo decay in order to give birth to a plant. When a seed dies in the ground its shell is opened and new life comes forth producing many more seeds. It is amazing that a whole forest is wrapped up in one single seed. When the seed dies, it produces a tree, and the tree produces more seeds and more trees.

The First Seed to Die: Jesus on the Cross
(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/crucifixion NULL.jpg)This seed analogy was first applied to the Savior Himself. In this particular passage Jesus was teaching a group of Gentile Greeks who had traveled to Jerusalem to “see Jesus” (Jn 12:22) and to learn from Him. Jesus taught them that, “The hour [had] come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” It is possible that they had thought, like most Jews, that Jesus was going to be a physical deliverer and bring back Israel to a glorious state and particularly raise up a Kingdom on earth. But Jesus directly tells them that he came to be glorified and that glorification involved death, not coronation. The hour had finally arrived for Jesus to undergo death that would provide the necessary condition for the generation of life. J. C. Ryle explains it clearly,

“This sentence was primarily meant to teach the wondering Greeks the true nature of the Messiah’s kingdom… Our Lord would have them know that He came to carry a cross, and not to wear a crown. He came not to live a life of honour, ease, and magnificence, but to die a shameful and dishonoured death. The kingdom He came to set up was to begin with a crucifixion, and not with a coronation. Its glory was to take its rise not from victories won by the sword, and from accumulated treasure of gold and silver, but from the death of its King,” (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels:  John, 3 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1999, 2:376)

And indeed, Jesus did go to the cross and die. And as a result, He was the “first fruit” of a great harvest (1 Cor 15:20). He died and was buried and then rose again! And all who follow Him will be His harvest, and the “much fruit” that He will bear!

Other Seeds Must Die: His Followers
Not only was Jesus to die, but His followers must also die. Shockingly Jesus says, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25).  Jesus actually uses two different forms of “life” here which helps us

distinguish what He is trying to teach. Those who love their psuche (life) in this world will forfeit eternal zoe (life) in the next world. Psuche refers to the human personality that thinks and plans for the future. This is what Jesus says must die. “The independent will of man must die, so that the follower of Christ actively submits his will to Christ” (James Boice, The Gospel of John, Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing, 1985, 817). Unbelievers love their life to the point where they are unwilling to turn it over to another master. This kind of love of self is ultimate idolatry. But true believers in Christ are willing to “take up their cross daily” dying to self and giving themselves over to Christ’s Lordship (Matt 10:38).

Hating our life sounds extreme. But Jesus uses this hyperbolic language to show us a major contrast. Becoming a follower of Jesus means that in this world we are to love Christ and follow Him more than we love our own lives, to the point where it looks like we actually “hate” our own lives. In order to help us understand, Jesus tells us that hating our lives means we are willing to do two things. In v. 26 Jesus says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me.”  Here is the essence of hating our own lives. Hating our own lives means that we serve Christ and follow Him. It means that we recognize that He is Lord. It means that we recognize that we are no longer the masters of our own lives, but are willing to submit and obey whatever Christ commands of us! It means that the Bible and God’s Word become the focus of our lives and we strive to obey it through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Hating our lives means that we no longer do what we want, but we now have an allegiance to do what Christ wants us to do!

Glorious Promises
Jesus gives two glorious promises to those who hate their life in this world by serving and following Christ (Jn 12:26). First, followers are guaranteed the eternal presence of Christ. Jesus promises “where I am, there will my servant be also.”  This promise includes being with Jesus eternally forever (Jn 14:3). Jesus is with the Father and all those who serve Him will also be with Christ and the Father in heaven forever. The second promise is that followers are guaranteed that “the Father will honor” them. God the Father will treat Christ’s followers with glory and delight and praise.

Keeping our Life
The world teaches that there is nothing after death, so we are to “eat, drink and be merry.” But this is farthest from the truth. The afterlife is coming for every person. Those who loved their life in this world by living for self will lose eternal life. But whoever serves and follows Christ will gain an eternal life full of joy (Ps 16:11).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/U-Turn NULL.jpeg)Apostasy means to “fall away.” Apostates are those who identify themselves with Christ and the Church and then subsequently renounce Christ. This falling away is not the loss of salvation, but the proof that these individuals were never truly converted. The greatest illustration of apostasy is the disciple Judas Iscariot. He spent three years under the care of Jesus, listening to the truth of Jesus’ words and seeing the miracles of Jesus firsthand. And yet, Judas having the devil in him (John 6:70) fell away from Christ showing a hatred toward him (Jn 12:4-6, 17:12). From an outward appearance Judas had all of the disciples fooled. One could argue that Judas was very trusted among the disciples being the one who was in charge of the moneybag of Jesus’ ministry. And yet Judas did not persevere in faith, but fell away ultimately rejecting the truth of Christ.

Clearer Understanding
While apostasy is illustrated clearly in Judas, it is adequately explained in Hebrews 6:4-8. The writer of Hebrews explains that apostates who have “fallen away” are people who were closely related to the Church. Apostates are those who particularly experienced the blessings of the church in a superficial way but not in a life changing manner. The writer of Hebrews says,

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

Five advantages or blessings are listed that this particular group of apostates experienced: 1) they had once been enlightened, 2) they had tasted the heavenly gift, 3) they had been partakers in the Holy Spirit, 4) they tasted the goodness of the word of God, and 5) they tasted of the powers of the age to come. It should be noted that the passage in Hebrews makes no reference at all to salvation. None of the normal terminology of salvation is used in this passage. Rather all of these descriptions are superficial at best. First, the apostate had been enlightened. This means that the individual came to a certain knowledge and had an intellectual perception of biblical truth. These individuals heard the Gospel and understood it naturally. They saw Christ and even heard his message (like Judas) and yet their lives were not permanently affected by the message because they did not believe it. Second, they only tasted of a heavenly gift. The gift is probably a reference to Christ himself (2 Cor 9:15) and the salvation that He brought (Eph 2:8). This gift was only tasted, but not feasted upon. It was only examined and then determined not to be worthy of ingesting and internalizing. Third, the apostate was only a partaker of the Holy Spirit. Partake has to do with association and not possession. These apostates never did possess the Holy Spirit but only shared with the congregation the joys and influences of the Holy Spirit. They never did receive a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Fourth, the apostates only tasted the Word of God. They heard it and tasted it, but did not deem it worthy of ingesting. They may have tasted the word with enthusiasm and appreciation, but it did not taste good to them, so they stopped eating. Last, they also tasted the powers of the age to come. It is possible that these particular apostates had seen some of the very miracles of the Apostles and yet they still did not receive the truth. Their eyes marveled, but they did not receive and believe in the message of the Gospel.

Apostates are those who are closely related to the Church in a superficial way and have experienced some incredible advantages. But they never truly ingest and receive the truth of Jesus. They never have truly been converted and been anointed and receive the Holy Spirit. From an outward appearance these people seem to be attached to the Church which makes it difficult to discern their true spiritual condition. But after a period of time, their true colors and the true condition of their heart is revealed when they fall away (Mark 417). John the Apostle explains why some had left his congregation, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).

The Warnings from Scripture
Some have been very confused about the warnings particularly in the book of Hebrews. The writer continues to warn believers not to fall away, but to persevere in their faith. Some advocate that this proves that believers can lose their salvation. But this doesn’t square with the rest of Scripture. Scripture is clear that those who have been given eternal life are secure (Phil 1:6, Rom 8:30, John 10:26-30). So, then what is the purpose of these major warnings in the book of Hebrews (2:1-4, 4:11-16, 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 12:25-29)? These warning passages are used as a means to exhort true believers to continue in the faith! The Holy Spirit uses these warning passages to prompt and push believers to faithful living and godly living.

The Need for Perseverance
It is clear that every true believer will be preserved by the power and the promises of the Triune God (Jn 6:39, 44, 54, Rom 8:35, 37-39). But this does not exempt every true believer from their responsibility to persevere in faith throughout their lives. Scripture issues numerous calls to persevere in faith indicating that failure to persevere will result in a failure to lay hold of final salvation (Matt 10:22, 24:12-13, Jn 8:31, 2 Cor 11:26, Gal 2:4, Heb 3:14). And indeed, every true believer will persevere in faith and obedience. Scripture calls all those who profess faith in Christ to examine themselves (2 Cor 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10).

Scripture gives many different ways to determine whether or not we are truly believers. First, we have fellowship with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (1 Jn 1:3, 1 Jn 2:27, 4:13, Gal 5:22-23). Second, we have assurance of our salvation by answered prayer (1 Jn 5:14). Third we have assurance if we truly long for heaven (Phil 3:20). Fourth, we have assurance if we are able to discern between truth and error (1 John 4:1-3). Fifth, we have assurance if we are acutely aware of our own sinfulness and God’s holiness (1 John 1:8-10). Sixth, we have assurance if we see a decreasing pattern of sin in our life (1 Jn 3:9) and an increase in obedience (1 Jn 2:3). Seventh, we have assurance if we have a rejection of this world and its system that dominates life (1 Jn 2:15, James 4:4). Eighth, we have assurance if the world hates us (1 Jn 3:13). Ninth, we have assurance if we see an increase in love for our fellow brother and sister in Christ (1 Jn 3:10). (MacArthur & Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017, pg 649-653.) 

“Am I an Apostate?”
Some have become very concerned that they may be an apostate! Just to set the record straight, apostates are not typically concerned about this issue. Apostates, having hard hearts toward Christ and the Word of God, are typically not too worried about their spiritual condition. Apostates have comprehensively turned and rejected Christ and His Word. To be concerned about one’s condition is a good sign that the Holy Spirit is bringing about the necessary conviction of sin. If we encounter someone who may be struggling with assurance of salvation, we must point them back to the evidences above that gives us assurance.

The Need for the Community
Apostasy is real. It happens on a regular basis. This is why the writer of Hebrews says clearly, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful. And, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:23-25). Coming together weekly to worship is a means of God’s grace in our lives to help us persevere to the very end.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Unbelief NULL.jpg)Inevitably all of us are going to come face to face with many people who do not believe in God, nor in Jesus Christ and His Gospel! Some people may be hostile toward the Gospel, while others are simply passively indifferent. Regardless of their emotional stance, both kinds of unbelievers are in the most dangerous position possible, having their souls in danger of being lost and separated from God for all eternity. It is tremendously helpful to think theologically about unbelief and why unbelievers are in their present state. Considering this topic should produce worship and gratitude for us who have believed, realizing the mercy of God on our lives. Furthermore, it should equip us in understanding how to evangelize those who are in a state of unbelief.

Foundational Theology of Unbelief
Even when the evidence is clear many people do not believe. This is clearly illustrated in the Gospel of John after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Contrary to unbiblical thinking, belief is not the product of environmental conditioning, education, financial success, good parenting, etc. This becomes very clear when we allow the Bible to speak particularly about the spiritual condition of all of humanity.

The devastation of sin: Scripture teaches that every human being is born in sin (Ps 51:5, Rom 3:23, 5:12), and has a sinful nature that has tremendous ramifications. Sin has so tainted every person that their minds are darkened to spiritual truth to the point that they “are not able to understand” (1 Cor 2:14). Sin has so depraved every human being that they are driven by their own sinful desires. Everyone without Christ is governed by the “desires of the body and the mind” (Eph 2:3). Jesus made it clear when he said, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20). The lost world who is still in their sin not only loves the darkness, but also hates the light. The Apostle Paul teaches that those lost in their sin are held by the “snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26). These are all devastating consequences of sin which give us the insight into why people do not believe. Unbelief is the product of the sin nature, the devil, and a love for sin!

The need for an outside intervention: To put it biblically, unbelievers are “dead in their sins and trespasses” (Eph 2:1). They cannot help themselves, nor are we as believers able to help them. We can and must preach the good news to them, but only God can open their heart (Ez 36:26-27, Acts 16:14) to receive Christ as Savior. They must have a direct help from God. He is the one who must “make them alive” (Eph 2:4). This is clearly illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul. He was very religious and yet was hating Christ and killing followers of Christ. It wasn’t until Jesus Himself “called” him by name on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4) that his eyes were opened and He came to faith in Christ. In the same way, Jesus calls those who are dead in their sins and they hear His voice and are made alive.

Expecting Conversions
We might become discouraged about the state of unbelievers, except that God has promised that the mission of Jesus will not be thwarted. Jesus came to the earth with a mission to save those “whom the Father has given Him” (Jn 6:37). Jesus knew clearly that His sheep would hear His voice and come and follow Him (Jn 10:27). In the same way we can have confidence that we will see unbelievers come to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We should expect to see God’s Kingdom being moved forward as the Church preaches the Gospel to an unbelieving world.

Response to Unbelief: Preach & Pray!
How should we respond to those who are in a state of unbelief? The most important thing to do is to have mercy upon all men and to live peaceably! When we understand the theological reasons for unbelief, this should move our hearts to have mercy upon all men. This mercy is shown best by extending love to them. We must continue to share the Gospel with them in a loving manner. Ultimately, we must pray for them, that God would soften their hearts and open their minds. And we must be ready and expect the Lord to use us to “plant & water” knowing that only God is the one who gives the “increase” (1 Cor 3:6-7). Here are several ways we should respond when we experience the rejection of unbelievers:

1. Expect hostility & rejection. (1 Pet 4:12)
2. Don’t fear. (1 Pet 3:14)
3. Love your enemies. (1 Pet 3:9)
4. Trust God. (1 Pet 4:19)
5. Be respectful. (1 Pet 3:15)
6. Be prepared to make a defense. (1 Pet 3:15)
7. Find comfort with your church family. (1 Pet 5:9)

Reflecting Back
When we think back to our own state of unbelief, it should cause us to be full of gratitude for God’s present mercy in our lives. If it were not for the grace & mercy of God, we would still be in an unbelieving state. Reflecting back should cause us to be the grandest of worshipers, giving praise to God for the incredible love that He has lavished on us (1 John 3:1, Romans 12:1).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/raising_of_lazarus__catacomb_of_sts_peter_and_marcellinus1359682854221 NULL.png)While Jesus raised two other dead people (Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-17), the raising of Lazarus is certainly one of the greatest miracles recorded for us in Scripture. The man whom Jesus loved died in order that the glory of God may be revealed pointing to the deity of Christ (John 11:4). With just His voice, Jesus created life in a man who had been dead for four days! This seventh “sign” in the book of John is meant to compel everyone to believe in Him.

An Analogy of Salvation
But the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead also serves as a precise picture of salvation. Salvation is the sole work of God whereby He grants life to those who are dead in their sins. Unable to help themselves, sinners have no ability to grant themselves life. Instead, life is granted by the mercy of God. Salvation comes to those who are dead, when the powerful voice of Jesus calls them and they hear His voice (Jn 10:27-28) and Jesus grants them eternal life. Jesus alone has the ability to grant life. He alone is the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).

A Real Dead Man
It was very important for Lazarus to truly be dead. Jesus actually stayed two additional days where He was ministering so that there would be no doubt that Lazarus was truly dead (Jn 11:6). When the tomb was opened, Martha declared that surely there would have been a very strong odor, because Lazarus had been dead for four days.

In the same way, sinners are spiritually dead in their sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1). This has significant theological importance. Every sinner is born spiritually dead with no ability or power to make any significant contribution to their salvation. Just like Lazarus we could not see since we were blind (2 Cor 4:4), we could not understand spiritual things (1 Cor 2:14), we had no volition to do anything toward God (Romans 8:7). Sin had left us all totally depraved so that none of us sought after God or had any merit before God (Rom 3:10-18).

An Effectual Calling
Lazarus, being dead, was only revived when the powerful voice of Jesus called him out of the grave. This is certainly a beautiful illustration of what happens when sinners are saved. Salvation begins in eternity past in the sovereign election of God (Eph 1:4). But in time, salvation begins with a calling! This is a very technical term which describes the voice of God calling His sheep specifically (1 Cor 1:2, 9, 24, 26). This call comes through the preaching of the Word of God. When the Gospel is shared, those who are the sheep of Christ inevitably hear the voice of God. Jesus said clearly, “All that the Father gives me will come to me….Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” (Jn 6:37, 45). This calling is an effectual calling. This means that those whom the Father calls will inevitably come to Christ. The powerful voice of Jesus does not fall on deaf ears! It was not possible for Lazarus to remain in the grave. When Jesus called Lazarus by name, he was made alive and walked out of the grave. A question that we might consider is, “Was it possible for Lazarus to remain in the grave?” And the answer to that question is an emphatic “No!” The reason is that the purpose and plan of Jesus cannot be thwarted. All who are His sheep “hear” His voice and come and follow Him!

Made Alive
Those who are called are also immediately awakened from the dead and “made alive” (Ephesians 2:5). Life was granted to Lazarus immediately. The power of Jesus recreated everything that Lazarus needed immediately: new blood, new muscles, new organs, a new brain and so much more. The same is true spiritually of those who are saved. When sinners are “born again” they are granted new hearts, opened eyes, a freed will, and an understanding mind. In a word, all new believers are “new creations” (2 Cor 5:17).

Promise of Future Resurrection
The resurrection of Lazarus was a foreshadowing of a future permanent resurrection. While Lazarus was not completely made perfect, the promise of Jesus is that all who have believed in Him will be made perfect in the future. We call this glorification. Not only Lazarus, but all who believe in Christ will be given perfect bodies, bodies that are powerful, perfect and everlasting. The Apostle Paul summarized this whole salvation process when he stated, “Those whom He predestined, He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

Our Response
Just like Lazarus, every true believer was dead in the grave of sin and Jesus called them out by His mercy. Immediately Jesus told those around watching to unbind Lazarus from his grave clothes and let him go. Lazarus needed initial help to unbind himself from the clothes that bound him in death. But once he was set free, Lazarus was to live again for the glory of God. While not stated it is certain that Lazarus gave praise to God since He had no room for boasting (Eph 2:9). The only response we have to our salvation is praise to our sovereign savior who grants life. But also, just like Lazarus, we are to throw off our grave clothes and “live to the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:6, 12), since we are “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).

The story of the raising of Lazarus is also our story of salvation. Those who are true believers were dead, heard the voice of Jesus, were raised to life, and now strive to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

PHOTO: The Good Shepherd Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, showing Jesus raising Lazarus from his tomb.

There is no greater nor important celebration in the Church than the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. One of the most common questions asked is, “Who actually raised Jesus from the dead?” Scripture is clear that Jesus was raised not only by God the Father (Rom 6:4), but He also raised Himself from the dead (Jn 2:19, 10:18).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Resurrection3 NULL.jpg)Impossible for Death to Hold Him
Peter said in his first sermon that “it was not possible for Jesus to be held by death” (Acts 2:24). It was impossible for Jesus to remain in the grave for three reasons. First, Jesus had the divine power of God to defeat death. Death was powerless to hold Him in the grave because Jesus truly was the “resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25). Second, death could not hold Jesus because of the divine promise. Jesus promised the religious leaders, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:18-22). Third, death could not hold him because of the divine purpose of God. It was the Father’s purpose that His Holy One not undergo decay! (MacArthur, Acts 1-12, pg 65)

Prophesied in the Old Testament
Over and over the Apostles validated their claim of the resurrection by quoting the prophecy made 1000 years earlier by King David in the Psalms. David, being a prophet, wrote in Psalm 16:8-11 very specific messianic prophesies concerning the resurrection of Jesus. Peter actually quotes this passage in his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost giving proof that the resurrection of the Messiah should have been expected. “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption” (Acts 2:27). Peter makes it clear that this was not David speaking about himself, because David was actually buried in a grave and he was still there. But Jesus was raised up by God just as David prophesied.

Over 500 Witnesses
Furthermore, Jesus had appeared to all the Apostles and over 500 people in a period of 40 days (1 Cor 15:3-8). Being a witness of the resurrection was actually a requirement for being an Apostle (Acts 1:22). Jesus confirmed his defeat over death with His inner circle of disciples so that they could spread the good news to every corner of the earth.

Apostolic Witness
And the good news did spread. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the small band of Jesus’ followers, they changed from being cowards to being bold in preaching. Peter stood up and preached in Jerusalem specifically about the resurrection of Christ. And the Church was birthed that day on the Day of Pentecost out of the Apostolic witness that “God raised Him up” (Acts 2:24, 32). Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told the Apostles that they were going to be “witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8). They were going to be witnesses of his resurrection to the whole world. And in fact, when you study the book of Acts you see this very thing! The one thing that mattered most to the Apostles was that indeed God raised Jesus from the dead. Peter told Jerusalem about God raising Jesus from the dead (2:24,32, 3:14-15, 26, 4:10, 33, 5:30). Peter preached to Caesarea namely that “God raised Him up on the third day” (10:39-40). Paul preached to both the Jews (13:29-30, 33, 34, 37) and the Gentiles (17:3, 18, 31) compelling them with the resurrection of Jesus. And Paul specifically preached to the Roman governing officials that Jesus had been raised from the dead (23:11, 24:21, 26:23).

Does it matter?
It truly does matter that God raised up Jesus! The resurrection of Christ proves that Jesus truly was the Messiah for which all of history was waiting. It proves that death had been defeated. It proves that God accepted Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. It proves that Christianity is the one true religion and that Jesus alone is able to save us from our sin.

Our Response
The Apostle Peter called all of his listeners that day in his first sermon to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). First our response should be inward. Inwardly we must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We must acknowledge that we are sinners in need of saving! We must acknowledge that Jesus alone is the Messiah, the one who came to die for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Second, our response should be outward. Peter called all of the first century Jews to publicly identify with Jesus in baptism. We do not believe that baptism saves anyone. But it is important to publicly identify with Christ. Baptism is important for this very reason. It would have been very difficult for the first century Jews to abandon their former religion of Judaism and be publicly identified with Christ. And yet this is exactly what Peter called them to do.

God’s Promise
When we respond in this way, God promises to do two incredible things (Acts 2:38-39). First, He promises to forgive all of our sins. There is no sin too great for God to forgive. All of our sins can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The second promise for those who have responded appropriately is that they will receive the Holy Spirit, who will permanently indwell every true believer and thus they will be sealed forever as Children of God (Eph 1:11).

Our Witness
Just as the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of Christ, so we are also commanded to go into all the world and tell others about the resurrected Christ. If we have been called, and forgiven and have received the Holy Spirit, we also have a mission just like the Apostles. We have not personally seen the resurrected Christ, but we have the word of the Apostles and Scripture which gives us authority to speak. Just as Jesus sent the Apostles, so He sends us into the world to tell the good news that “God raised Him Up!”

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Fact_Fake_News NULL.jpg)Our world is full of “fake news” or at least extremely “biased news” in both liberal and conservative camps. News reporters are always tempted to twist the facts in order to bolster their position and try to win a broad number of people to their side. Due to this widespread practice, many have become skeptics of any and all news. Sources are questioned and doubted as reliable.

It is no surprise that many have doubted the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is difficult enough to believe basic news, let alone supernatural events. For centuries skeptics considered the resurrection of Jesus a fictitious story that His followers fabricated. If this were true, it would be the death blow to Christianity. Even atheists agree that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central issue to Christianity. Without the resurrection of Christ, there is no Christianity.

The best way to determine whether an event is truly historical is to simply look at the evidence available and allow it to provide the best explanation for the events surrounding it. There are many evidences that point to the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus but following are three major proofs: the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and the explosion of the Church.

The Empty Tomb
It is interesting that the first witnesses of the empty tomb were women (Luke 24:1-12). In the Greco-Roman culture it should be noted that women were not particularly held in high esteem. In fact, a woman’s testimony wasn’t admissible in a trial and was only admissible in a Jewish court if two female witnesses were accessible. If the story of the resurrection was fabricated, the first eye witnesses would not have been women unless it were true.

When the disciples began preaching for the first time, they did so just a few days after the resurrection in the same city where Jesus died and was buried. It would have been foolish for them to preach about the resurrection if the claim could have been simply overturned by going to the tomb to find a body. Even the Jews hostile toward Christianity agreed that the tomb was empty, but fabricated the story that the disciples “stole the body” (Matt 28:11-15). To agree that the tomb was empty was not in their favor. And yet the enemies of Christ agreed that the body was gone.

The argument that the body of Jesus was stolen is easily refuted. The Jews or Romans had no motive to steal the body of Jesus. They both wanted to suppress Christianity not encourage it with an empty tomb. Furthermore, the disciples had no motive to steal the body. Preaching on the resurrection of Jesus only brought severe persecution, beatings, and even death. Why would they all endure severe persecution and even death for a lie? It is difficult to deny an empty tomb on historical grounds.

Resurrection Appearances
The second strand of mounting evidence is the resurrection appearances that Jesus made. According to scripture, the disciples had real experiences with the one whom they believed to be the resurrected Christ (John 20:19-29). The Apostle Paul records that both Peter and James along with over 500 others actually saw Christ alive (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Paul records a kind of creed that became popular, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time…”

Doubters will often say that the disciples were lying, or that they hallucinated, but these are really absurd arguments. Ten out of the twelve disciples actually died a martyr’s death for what they claimed. It is difficult to believe that they would have died for such a lie. Furthermore, hallucination is not an option because of the nature of the appearances. The disciples were able to touch the body of Jesus and eat with him. It might be feasible to say that one individual hallucinated, but it is difficult to believe that all twelve men actually were “seeing things” that were not real.

The Exploding Church
The third strand of evidence is the existence of the Christian Church. If the resurrection were a lie, the church would have died long ago. But it still remains the largest institution of any kind in human history. The church exploded immediately following the preaching of the disciples and continues to grow even today.

Does the resurrection of Jesus really matter?
Well indeed the resurrection of Christ does matter because every tenant of Christianity hinges on the resurrection. If the resurrection is not true, Christianity is a sham and an embarrassment. But since the resurrection is true, then the following are also true.

Jesus can be trusted
First, if the resurrection did not happen then Jesus is a liar. Jesus predicted his own resurrection several times in Scripture (Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22, Matthew 17:22). It is very difficult to trust a liar. If Jesus stayed in the tomb, it would be senseless to believe that He was truly divine as He claimed (John 8:58). The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He said He was, that His words are true, and that He can be trusted.

Our sins are forgiven
Second, if there is no resurrection then there is no forgiveness of sins. The Apostle Paul clearly states, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The death of Christ on the cross was a penal substitution for those who would believe in Him. The resurrection proves that God the Father was pleased with the sacrifice that Jesus made on behalf of sinners. Had Jesus not been raised, then there could be no “justification” for sinners (Rom 4:25), faith in Christ would be vanity and every person would perish.

All other religions are false
Third, the unique resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity an exclusive religion. Everyone is looking for the right pathway to the truth. Sadly, the world considers there to be many paths to God. But this makes no sense in light of the resurrection. Since Jesus rose from the dead, then the absolute claim of Jesus eliminates all other claims. Jesus is the only leader who rose from the dead. All other religious leaders are still in their tombs which makes the exclusive claim of Jesus all the more important. We must accept the statement of Jesus when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6). The evidence is clear. Jesus determines what is true and what is not true.

Believers can have hope
Last, since the resurrection is true, followers of Jesus are guaranteed real hope of eternal life for their future. Christ’s resurrection proves that Christ has power over death, man’s worst enemy, and that those who put their trust in Him will also one day be resurrected not to judgment but to eternal life (Jn 6:39-40). Since Jesus raised himself from the dead (Jn 10:17-18), He has the power to raise whomever He wills! We no longer have to fear death and judgment, but can rest in the promise and resurrection of Jesus our Savior.

We must believe
The resurrection of Jesus is reasonable to believe, but it is also necessary to be a Christian. The Apostle Paul says that in order for sinners to be saved they must “confess with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead” (Rom 10:9). We must never doubt the resurrection of Christ.

Rarely have I ever heard anyone say that a person is a spiritual giant because of the way they love. I may be wrong, but I think most people consider theological knowledge as the measure of spiritual maturity. We highly esteem those who have a great deal of knowledge, especially theological knowledge.

But knowledge without love is a sure sign of the lack of spiritual maturity. The Apostle Paul clearly explains this in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” Having the knowledge of the greatest mysteries of God and even a deep faith to move mountains is deemed nothing without love. Love then is a standard for how we measure our spiritual maturity.

Love for All, But Especially the Family of God
It is true that as believers we are called to love everyone, but our love should especially be toward our fellow brothers and sisters. Jesus actually said that the world would know that we are His disciples by the love that we show toward one another (Jn 13:35). We are to love the world and even our enemies (Matt 5:44), but our love for the family of God is vitally important.

There is a real emphasis in Scripture on “brotherly love.” This is actually a very common word in the Greek, philadelphia, from “philos” which means love or affection and “adelphos” meaning brother. The term originally meant affection for someone from the same womb, blood relatives. But it is used several times in the New Testament to describe the love that fellow Christians have for one another, especially since now they are a part of the same new family (Rom 12:10, 1 Thess 4:9, Heb 13:1, 1 Pet 1:22, 3:8, 2 Pet 1:7). As believers we have been born again into the family of God, so that we call each other brother and sister in the Lord.

It is also vitally important to realize that love for the family of God actually becomes a test of our real conversion. The Apostle John makes this clear in his first epistle. He says the real test of whether or not you have been born again and walk in the light is whether or not you love or hate your brother (1 Jn 2:9-11). The one who hates his brother is still in the darkness. Yet the one who loves his brother has passed out of death into life (1 Jn 3:14).

Is Love Natural or Supernatural?
The kind of love that the Bible talks about is not a natural love. The world naturally loves its own, and has an affection for pleasures, and pursuits. But having an “agape” love for others is not natural. It is not natural to love the way Jesus intends his followers to love. This love actually comes from God. When a person is “born again,” the Holy Spirit comes and abides, or lives, inside of us. It is the Holy Spirit who then teaches us to love. Paul told the Thessalonians that he did not need to write to them about loving each other because they had been “taught by God” to love one another (1 Thessalonians 4:9). This phrase is actually one word in the Greek theodidaktoi literally meaning “God taught.” It is clear that it is the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit who teaches us as Romans 5:5 explains, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The Apostle John also confirms this when he says in 1 John 4:12, that God’s “love is perfected in us. But this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” This was the promise of God in Jeremiah 31:33, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” The Holy Spirit inevitably teaches every believer so that their new birth is confirmed by the love that they show to one another. It is inconceivable that a true believer would not show love on a consistent basis. Loving one another should be second nature to a believer.

Character of this Love
This divine love that is shed in our hearts is manifested in several ways. First, this love is a non-selective love. When we become Christians, our love for fellow brothers or sisters overcomes differences in race, theological positions, demographics and even political positions. Just as the Thessalonians’ love for all the brothers in Macedonia was evident (1 Thess 4:10), so our love will extend to all who are in Christ. The color of someone’s skin is no longer a barrier to love. Age has no bearing on our affection for others. And even theological & political differences should not prevent us from loving a fellow believer deeply.

Second, it is a caring love. Like the apostle Paul we will have a “great desire to see you face to face” (1 Thess 3:17). Paul said of the Thessalonian believers that they “always remember us kindly and long to see us (3:6). The Church is not a corporate business entity, but rather a family knit together by Christian love. Being involved in a church means that we are committed to one another and that we genuinely care about the lives of others (Rom 12:9).

Third, this love is a concerned love. While it is nice to talk about things of this world like sports and the news, the main concern of brothers and sisters in the Lord is always about faith in Christ. The most important aspect of love that a fellow Christian can have is a desire to “establish and exhort” a brother or sister in their faith” (1 Thess 3:2). Trials will inevitably come and family looks out for one another. We are always ready to help each other persevere in our faith and love for Christ and one another (3:6).

Last, this love is a working love. By this I mean that we are not passive but actively loving others. Particularly we honor and esteem our pastors. We live at peace with others. We admonish those in the church who are idle. We encourage those who are weak and fainthearted. We never repay evil with evil, but seek to do good to one another (1 Thess 5:12-15).

Excel Still More and More
This love that we have for one another should always be increasing. While we may be doing well, we can always do better. Paul commended the Thessalonians for their love for one another and yet prayed that the Lord would make them “increase and abound in love for one another and for all” (3:12) and he urged them to love “more and more” (4:10).

Our love can always grow for others. We must first love deeper in our minds. This requires being humble and considering others more important than ourselves (Phil 2:3-4, 1 Cor 13:1-2). Instead of judging people in our minds, we should give others the “benefit of the doubt” never assuming the worst about them but rather assuming the best. Second, we can be more generous with our money, helping those in our midst who are struggling financially. Being generous and helping our brother and sister is truly an act of love (1 Jn 3:17-18). Third we can give our time and be a servant to one another. This may mean being hospitable and opening our home and providing a meal. It may mean helping someone who has had surgery by mowing their yard. The possibilities are endless. Fourth, we can pray for one another. There is no greater act of love than to pray for our brothers and sisters. Fifth, we can simply be attentive to others around us by being warm and welcoming and hospitable.

Mature Families and a Mature Church
While we definitely don’t want to dismiss growing in theology and growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), we also want to be known as a loving church. We can and must improve and grow in our love for one another. The sign of our maturity is how well we love! We can and must love our family deeper. We can and must love our church family deeper. What can you do to love better in your church, in your home, at your work?

Click here (https://livestream NULL.com/EBFCStream/weekly-sunday-service-2019/videos/189680822) to listen to a sermon on this topic from 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10.