Thursday, August 30, 2012

Got Self-Control?


GOT SELF-CONTROL?
 
We all have to admit, we lose it from time to time, and others lose it so much that they have to go to anger management classes! Mankind has lost it so much, we have this saying, "Get a grip!" You know, God wants us to "get a grip", too, and as much and as long as possible. Oh, He knows you're human, but it's one more thing to pray for if you lose your self-control even here and there...
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." (Prov. 4:23 - 27) A lot of advice in five sentences, wouldn't you say? Basically, the advice is to stay away from evil-speaking people, walk away from them, they are letting you know they are up to no good, and think about where you are going. Walk with people who are godly, just as you want to maintain godliness as close as you can get to. People who speak crookedly and perversely lead those kind of lives, and they live out-of-control lives because one attribute to ungodliness is chaos, and chaos is out of control, and if your life is out of control, this causes YOU to go out of control!

There is good advice to the unsaved, or maybe a new Christian, who realizes they have a problem with self-control; "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:14) Basically, repent from worldliness, and follow the examples from Christ, and self-control will become something they can get a grip on! Shed evil behavior and relationships, and act like Christ would have us do. Unless they have a Christian mentor to guide them, they will have to read the bible. It's okay to read the gospels first, but cover to cover, time and again, that is better. To do this is biblical obedience - "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Josh. 1:8) Part of good success is self-control!

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:25 - 27) This is more good advice, this time from Paul. We have to practice self-discipline, it doesn't necessarily come naturally. Here Paul compares it to controlling thrown punches in a boxing match, as opposed to wild swinging misses. Lastly he speaks of keeping his body under control, lest he appears as one who practices not what he preaches, and then nobody would listen to him; would you heed someone who doesn't do what they instruct others to do?

Once we get ourselves under self-control, we have to be strong. Now I wouldn't tell the women to be he-men, but I would say be a strong woman, and that idea says loads for all the grown women! Paul pretty much addressed the men on this issue..."Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." (1 Cor. 16:13) We should have noticed that we keep getting this advice to be watchful, diligent. For so many, it's easy to slip up and lose control. The devil likes that! We should keep him unhappy.

Many of us could learn from the following. Arguing with bosses can cause one to lose control. If we get upset with them, are we being submissive, according to His doctrine? Granted there are many heathens who are in charge of numbers of people, but do you know that God puts leaders in their places as either a blessing or punishment to all under their rule?  Whosoever speaks against Christian doctrine, leave these kinds of people. In the chaos they will surely cause, you will be subject to losing self-discipline. "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Tim. 6:1 - 12) Many people confuse gain with godliness. They preach it in a letter to you, or on TV, and rarely in a crowd, for much effort is needed for the gain, but being able to be content with what you have is truly close to godliness. As Paul says, you certainly can't take it with you, and what use are wordly treasures in God's economy? Self control comes with godliness, righteouslness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Collect each Christian attribute, and one becomes more Christlike!

Dedication. It's the key to self-control. Ex-smokers know this all too well! If they don't give themselves a purpose to dedicate quitting to, they won't succeed! Likewise, we must dedicate ourselves to being Christ-like if we are to succeed in maintenance of continuous self-control. Nothing achieved that is worthwhile is easy, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." (2 Tim. 2:3 - 5) God has given us the guidelines; let us follow them and fight the good fight, and use them to become Christlike, to exercise self-control continuously, that we might be pleasing unto Him who died for us. What a model of self-discipline, that while He prayed to the father that the cup be taken away, yet He exercised self-control all the way to the cross and His death to save the world!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Jesus Is EVERYBODY'S Savior!



JESUS IS EVERYBODY'S SAVIOR! (Just Believe It!)
 
It seemed to start out another way, that He was only the Savior for the Jews, but really, Jesus is the Savior for anyone who will repent and follow Him; muslims can repent from Islam and find peace in knowing they can go to heaven without blowing themselves up, along with infidels, and Buddhists can recant their beliefs and accept Him, and be saved. Hindus can drop their ideas about some other way they think from their religion can get them to heaven, and follow Christ to everlasting life. Atheists can flush their philosophy that there is no God, accept Jesus, and rest on His foundation that He is, and will save them. Nobody has the market cornered on Jesus; He belongs to anyone who wants Him! Shall we find our evidence in the usual place?
  "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21) Looks like we're saying the Jews only, because after all, He was born a Jew. But isn't that an earthly concept? Heritage? Let's find a more divine concept in the beginning of the bible: "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." (Gen. 1:27) His people! As opposed to non-people? No, as opposed to those who reject Him, rebel against Him, or have replaced Him! Every soul can reject Him or accept Him. The goats reject Him, His sheep accept Him!

"
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) The only entities in the material world who have souls are people. These are those which have had this really bad habit of getting lost since they first came into the world. Adam and Eve strayed first, then it got worse from there. They only made a single sin, but after so many generations, so few cared about God, He had to wash the earth clean except for a chosen few, and start us all over. To tell you the truth, we seem awfully close to needing this world whacked with the tribulation, so many either think little of Him, or have Him replaced, or just flat out deny He exists!

Does everyone know why we exist? How many are on the same page, that we are here to glorify God? We are here to believe that He is, and that He rewards the faithful? Only real Christians understand that it is the desire of the Father that we all would be saved. Poor preachers give everyone John 3:16, but they fail to present the vinegar that comes after the sugar! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16 - 18) Decisions, decisions! Jesus Himself said He was sent by the Father to save the entire world of mankind. Whosoever comes to a saving belief in Christ receives the gift of eternal life. However, whoever rejects Him over their lifetime, to their last breath, they are condemned, eternal charcoal in the lake of fire. No faith, no salvation.

Consider the statement Jesus made to a Samaritan woman. Samaria was known as a breeding ground for idolatry of all kinds, false gods in so many fashions. Jesus explained His offer to her, even all Samaria, if they wanted a drink of His water..."Jesus answered and said unto her, 'Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.'" (John 4:13 - 14) Now if heathens were offered eternal life, and they were not Jews, nor were they believers on the one true God, how different are we, classified as Gentiles?  And the Jews were the first messengers of salvation, adopted by God out of all the nations: "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22)

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost when he spoke this, and as God's mouthpiece, it is asserted that neither Mary, nor Allah, nor Muhammed, nor Buddha, nor by anybody other than Christ Jesus can anyone be saved. Only one of these has been known to have believed on Jesus to salvation. On the authority of the bible, all can have faith that Jesus saves; any other book has no credible authority, especially one that disagrees with the bible! Note here too in Acts that Peter names no nationality, he says "among men".

Christ died for the ungodly. Think of 10 wicked people you know, people with horrible behavior. Hitler, Stalin...alive or dead, whatever 10 people you chose to think of, if they accept or accepted Christ before they died, they were saved. Now we don't know, but many feel it goes unsaid that for those particular two, it's not likely they believed before dying, but consider the criminal on Jesus' right on the cross; HE was saved on his dying day, guaranteed by Jesus Himself! "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, 'If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.' But the other answering rebuked him, saying, 'Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.' And he said unto Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.' And Jesus said unto him,
'Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39 - 43) Now this leads into the next piece of scripture we will scrutinize; "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Rom. 5:8 - 10) Again, I don't see this piece of scripture naming any specific nationality. More evidence that Jesus is EVERYBODY'S Savior!

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:" (Eph. 1:6 - 9) I still see no nationality here; no specified group, save the difference between the saved and the unsaved. Everyone has opportunity. All who accepts Christ as Savior, no matter when in their lifetime, can go to glory with Him! He paid our ransom with His blood on the cross, freed from sin by His grace!

I will give one last evidence that Jesus is not only the Savior for the Jewish nation, but also for all mankind, no matter when they change from a religion, whenever in their lifetime they accept, no matter what nationality. Jesus is everybody's Savior - "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11 - 12) May all that read this have the Son, and if anyone read this who hath not the Son, Jesus Christ, may they receive Him with all due haste!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Laziness


LAZINESS

Some look on it with disdain and contempt, while others are flat-out disgusted with it. Some make it a work of art of sorts in the U.S.A., doing a balancing act between living off unemployment checks and actually working until they again qualify, then getting fired so they can slack off and collect unemployment again. This is the physically lazy, but there's another laziness; spiritual laziness. They warm a pew, but don't want to demonstrate the Christian works expected of them. Let's look at observations concerning sluggards...

Most of the bible's citations of laziness comes from the book of proverbs. Perhaps Solomon noted some in his kingdom, or maybe not, but he certainly was inspired to write plenty about the sinful lifestyle. He even contrasted them with the lifestyle of the ant! "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." (Prov. 6:6 - 8) Here we see the ant is the opposite of the sluggard. Mr. or Ms. lazibones will only do the minimal to survive. I observed one lazibones who was offered an opportunity to get his taxes returns up to date. Did he take advantage of an industrious person offering him a hand up? Nah! So long as the IRS wasn't after him, he wouldn't budge. Then there's the time one was offered an opportunity to get out of a long legal indebtedness, and would he take up the offer? No! Since he was not made very uncomfortable in any way to the point of action, he has what appears to be a lifelong debt. A lazy person will not do any long range planning to be satisfied in the wisdom of it later. The same fool will look for someone industrious to lift them up in time of need, particularly a relative whom they can use the very fact of blood connection for a reason to press for help by a need brought on by their lifestyle.

Now remember I earlier wrote it was a sinful lifestyle? It gives rise to covetousness! "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not." (Prov. 21:25 - 26) A lazy person doesn't want to lift a finger to achieve any desires, attainable or not, yet they still desire! They are diehard procrastinators, wanting nothing more than to sit back and allow everything to be handed to them. While a reality check would tell them the world doesn't work that way, still they desire to "hit it big" some day, some way, and in the meantime, they covet what the industrious person has. The coveting is what is sinful, but they lack initiative to get up and work for what they covet, and then the sin would be eliminated. On a spiritual level, this is the one who warms the pew, but will open their bible some day to read it, or will go doorknocking with their pastor some day, or will volunteer to do even as little as greeting people when they enter church. Asking them to pray for someone is like asking them to have a root canal for their bad tooth.

We all know there is no such thing as a rich sluggard, and if peradventure they did come into money, they wouldn't have it long. The root of their poverty is mentioned in proverbs, also: "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread." (Prov. 20:13) That's right, the lazy one can't get enough of sleep! This is the reason they can't earn their bread. Who will hire someone who can't make it to work on time because they took too long to get out of bed? Or who will keep someone on who doesn't get their work done on time because they snoozed after lunch, or didn't feel like hustling to win over a client?

So what else can be the personal problem of a sluggard? Pride. They are conceited with their position, and as I wrote earlier, they will not respond even when they receive a reality check. "The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason." (Prov. 26:16) Remember I also wrote earlier they are fools. When they receive criticism, correction, or advice concerning their situation, they don't want to hear it. In one ear, and out the other, and in their foolishness, they actually believe YOU are the fool for giving them your obviously unwanted insight. Yet, at the same time, they want your pity and assistance so they can continue to be enabled to be lazy. Sticking to folly is wise in their eyes, but giving ear to the industrious in their eyes is foolish annoyance.

So what is another M.O. (method of operation) of the sluggard? Excuses. "The slothful man saith, 'There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.'" (Prov. 22:13) Some of the excuses are unrealistic, and don't have substance, like the bible example here. Even if there were no past lion attacks, the sluggard may use it to get out of even leaving the house to do anything industrious! Other times, the hazard is honestly there, but so is the consequence for not being industrious; "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." (Prov. 20:4) Here in America, many lazy men and women stand outside on an off ramp, begging for money with a sign. Oh, some of them honestly are down on their fortune, but too many are there for the quick, taxfree fix. It's too easy to stand or sit there and have their hand out. Now let's look at the spiritual side of excuses. Is anyone exempt from the great commission? "
'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' Amen." (Matt. 28:19 - 20) And who did Paul say was excused from doing good? "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:10) If a lazy person will not be of any service to their family in Christ for the sake of laziness, how will their fruits be seen, except that they be seen for their lack of it? Even in private for the Lord, the lazy person will not pray, nor study scripture. The spiritually lazy will not even take up a pen and paper to take note of the pastor's message in church!

So what are the consequences of laziness? First, they are impoverished by it. "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Prov. 19:15) No work, no money, simple as that. Secondly, though, and more importantly, some will be spiritually poor, if not bankrupt! "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." (2 John 1:8) The farther from laziness, the more rewards! Also, "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:12 - 15) Quality works bring quality rewards, but the sluggard, what little shall that one receive, if they do naught to start with? marvelous for them that they should be saved as by fire! Truly, we need strive and not procrastinate, that we might have rewards in heaven; the sluggard is a master procrastinator, and nothing or little will be their treasure in heaven! I think maybe I need explain a little further. "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." (John 4:35 - 38) The world is our mission field, harvest who is not saved, that you might have reward. Now be not discouraged if one you witness to does not find Christ as their Savior with you, for the Holy Spirit may allow another to reap that soul later, and then you and they who reaped may rejoice together in reward. But what reward is there for the sluggard, who only comes to warm the pew week after week? If the pastor preaches the great commission, and the sluggard hears it, but does nothing, maybe even doesn't remember it through the week, or even the month, their reward will be as great as their memory! Now what kind of child of God is this to Him? "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." (Prov. 10:5)

Another consequence for the lazy person is that the lifestyle is problematic for them and for those who have to interact with them. "The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain." (Prov. 15:19)What this means is that the lazy person will not put their life in order. Everything is happenstance and willy-nilly. The floors of their house are cluttered with debris of perhaps children's toys and maybe some "toys" of their own, and some may even be broken or not in working order! They only work enough to get welfare or whatever paperwork they need to fill out to survive, and they will never succeed in life, so there is no order to what goes on from day to day, except what they have to do to make ends meet, but not further themselves. They at times find it maddening that they can't just have wealth fall into their hands, spiritually or materially. Nobody is going to come up to you and say they will believe if you talk to them about Jesus. That would be too easy, but also just what the sluggard wants.

Finally, the lazy person is avoided for their reputation. "As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him." (Prov. 10:26) Truly, if you have any number of these in the family, you are not likely to have them on speed dial! You ask them to do something, and the propensity they will accomplish it in a timely manner is at long shot odds. At times they will prove a leech to the industrious, especially if you're related. And what of the slothful one in their spiritual condition? "His lord answered and said unto him, '
Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 25:26 - 30) Well, it seems here the slothful one whose seat warmed a pew will get their seat warmed to a multiplication they did not expect nor want! If they did absolutely nothing for the Lord, He will know, and their lack of demonstration will be His judgment!

So let us pray for the sluggard; they may be a lost soul that never sees ambition. If you were one at one time, you'd surely have empathy. No good comes of it. Perhaps they need their lifestyle consequences explained to them. We could use what's written here, yes? Maybe the frustration they give us one day will drive us to tell them of this; perhaps we've been lazy regarding this person we know described herein? God bless your sowing!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

INSPIRED READING

INSPIRED READING
Christians amaze me sometimes. I am connected with one in some Christian groups on Facebook, and twice now, two "Christian" women have attacked him with accusations concerning his beliefs, and I never knew him to state he believed what they were attacking him for. The most recent one, if she thought about it, was an attack on me as well, because she accused him of being the author of the website I post my bible studies on, along with accusing him of not believing that the gospels are Holy Ghost-inspired works! Well, I thought that would make a nice topic for another bible study, and I can put to rest what both may be believing between the three of us!
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." (Job 32:8) Wise men receive their understanding from God. The bible is full of not only history, but prophecy and wisdom, and here Elihu is citing a fact: wisdom comes from God, and the wisdom in the bible is inspired by Him. Now one might say that's Old Testament; is it only? Really? I have more from the New Testament, this time...
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16 - 17) So here's my proof; all scripture, the entire bible, cover to cover, is inspired by God. I know a gal from back home, slightly older than me, and she said, "Ricky, I can't believe in a book!" My prayer for her is that she stop being foolish in time to believe in THIS book, because the bible is the only book anyone can fully believe in!
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:19 - 21) I was correcting someone recently using Scripture that we are not entitled to our own opinion. The bible says what it says, and you can't add or subtract to the interpretation thereof. They were trying to say that the brothers and sisters of Jesus were Joseph's children to another woman, so as to keep Mary "ever-virgin". If it "ain't" in the bible, then it just "ain't" so! Note in this text from the bible that again, it is inspired by the Holy Ghost!
Now as for the question about the gospels being inspired by the Holy Ghost, let us find that Gospel passage where the Holy Ghost was given to the apostles; "Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be with you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.'  And 
 when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.'" (John 20:21 - 23) So we see here that our glorified Jesus breathed upon them the Holy Ghost, and this is how we believe that the four apostles who wrote the gospels were inspired by the Holy Ghost. As they received Him from Jesus before He went up into heaven, so we understand that the apostles were inspired by Him to write the gospels as they are written.

Now for the real skeptics, even Moses was inspired by God to write the pentateuch that we have today as the first five books of the bible; for example, God spoke to Moses here - "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.'" (Exod. 17:14) See how God Himself told Moses to write! "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.'" (Exod. 34:27) "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:" (Deut. 17:18 - 19)
Isaiah was also instructed by God to write: "Moreover the LORD said unto me, 'Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.'" (Isa. 8:1) "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:" (Isa. 30:8)
Jeremiah was instructed by God to write: "Thus saith the LORD, 'Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.'" (Jer. 22:30) "Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'" (Jer. 30:2 - 3) "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 'Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.'" (Jer. 36:1 - 2) "Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 'Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.'" (Jer. 36:27 - 28) And Jeremiah was not the only prophet told to write by the Lord...
"Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 'Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.'" (Ezek. 24:1 - 2) "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:" (Ezek. 37:16) "And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them." (Ezek. 43:11) And not only these men, but even the minor prophets were instructed by God to write...
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." (Hab. 2:2) Now these are many examples from the Old Testament; I can give you of Paul in the New Testament, too...
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37) "I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you." (2 Cor. 13:2 - 3) And finally, even the last book of the bible, God instructed to write in it...
"Saying, 'I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a 
 book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.'" (Rev. 1:11)

So let there be no mistake; God inspired all the men who wrote the bible to write it, it is the divinely inspired word of God, from cover to cover. And woe to them who have altered it, and there are versions where His word has been abbreviated and added to! "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18 - 19)

Thursday, August 9, 2012

7 Tough Questions From Unbelievers


7 TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM UNBELIEVERS
I have been explaining Christianity and the Bible to a muslim for quite some time now, and you know, it's so sad that someone so knowledgeable about the Bible should yet be so willing not to accept it. I have to tell you, though, he asked me a lot of questions that will make a Christian dig deep into their Bible and their kowledge of it to give him answers! I have listed here some of his questions, and what answers there are to his questions.
1. "How is Jesus begotten of the Father? Your Bible says "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." (John 1:18)" When you look up the denotation of the word "begotten", you will find it says "to cause to exist, to procreate", which would mean that Christ had a beginning, which Christians never profess. "Only begotten Son", of course, is also in John 3:16, 18, and 1 John 4:9. It is not by the denotation in the dictionary, it is by spiritual connotation. You see, the dictionary uses man's thinking, not God's. It means Jesus is the only Son of God who is equal to the Father. You see, I am a son of God by my faith in Jesus, but I am not equal to God, nor am I on His level. I'm just a human. But Jesus is the only one on God the Father's level, so in this spiritual sense, Jesus is Fathered by God the Father. He picked a difficult Christian concept to explain, but that's okay! Tough questions elicit deeper knowledge about our Bible and our faith! Another facet of this concept is that Jesus is the only Savior begotten into the flesh of mankind who is 100% man and 100% God to remit all our sins by nailing them to the cross in the human body.  No other person in all creation was sent in this manner for this purpose. This is why Christians, Jew or Gentile, identify Christ Jesus as the Son of God and their Savior, too!

2. "How is God the Father of Jesus when the Holy Spirit came over Mary? Your Bible says, "Then said Mary unto the angel, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'" (Luke 1:34 - 35)" The Father's will is in all creation. This is how it was from the very beginning. God speaks, and it is created. for example, "And God said, 'Let there be light': and there was light." (Gen. 1:3) Jesus said, "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43)   "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44
As we see it, does not God know His own, and His own comings and goings? If Jesus acknowledges the Father as His Father, His omniscience reigns as sufficient answer. And look at what the verse says; "...the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..." The highest is the father, isn't it?  Interpretation is important!

3. "Why doesn't the Holy Spirit know when is Jesus' second coming? Your Bible says, "
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matt. 24:36)" The will of the Father reigns supreme in the triune Godhead. Jesus gave us proof of it when He said, "And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.'" (Matt. 26:39) So when Jesus said it is reserved to be known only of the Father, then His will is that it be like this on this particular issue.
4. "Is Jesus God because He forgave sins? Your Bible says, "And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, 'Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.' And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, 'Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?'" (Luke 5:20 - 21) We need to reword the question's answer, and say, because Jesus is God, He is able to forgive sins. This brings out more intriguing theology, because Jesus is also quoted in the Gospel saying, "Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?'" (John 10:34) Christians who are representative of God, by Jesus' words here, are able to forgive one another. Are we not ambassadors of Christ? And when Jesus taught us how to pray, did He not say we should ask the Father to forgive us, as we forgive our debtors? "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matt. 6:12) And did not Jesus tell Peter to forgive our family in Christ, as we want to be forgiven by the Father? "Then came Peter to him, and said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.'" (Matt. 18:21 - 22) So because of all this, I would say Jesus has said we can forgive each other sins against us, but to forgive unto salvation, that is reserved to God. Jesus is God for every Christian by this reason: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:16 - 20) Not believing that Jesus is the Son of God gets one condemned, and the place of condemnation is hell and the lake of fire. Whoever does not pick up their cross and follow Christ is not Christian, and demonstrates they do not believe on Jesus, and so, one can choose to become eternal charcoal, or eternally alive with Christ. For Christians, it's a no-brainer. For stiffnecked unbelievers, their density knows no bounds.

5. "How is there a Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all in one God?" There is one place that I always go to like a heat-seeking missile when the question is asked about the Trinity, because it is the only place in the entire bible where their separate entity is clearly defined; "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (Matt. 3:16 - 17) In this passage of the book of Matthew, the Father is heard, and separate of Him being heard, the Holy Spirit and Jesus are seen separate of each other. Now to qualify them as one, let us go to Genesis: "And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'" (Gen. 1:26) "And God..." is quantified in the singular, is it not?   But just a little further in the same sentence, it is written: "...let us make man in our image..."  Well, what have we here?  Within the same sentence, God has quantified from a singular noun to a plural pronoun!  One God has become "us" and "our"! And so we have created the understanding of a triune Godhead from our holy Bible, three entities that are God, and unbelievers are confounded by this!

6. "How can God be cursed, as is written in your Bible's Gal. 3:13?" The concept of being cursed for hanging on a tree goes back into the Old Testament; "His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." (Deut. 21:23) Hanging was a sequel to death, and this was viewed as exposure of the corpse to ultimate disgrace. This should strike awe in the Christian who understands this concept, because we now understand the views of the people of the time concerning death by crucifixion. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13 - 14) When we put this together, the Christian understands that while the law brings a curse, we who believe are relieved of the curse by Christ becoming a curse for us. You see, by His death on the cross, Christ took on the curse of the law, and being the Son of God, He took on the guilt of all our sins under the law, and nailed them to the cross all in that human flesh that He took on during His life on earth. This is why believing in Him, and that He came in the flesh, and that He died with the sins of the world accursed upon His human frame, and that on the third day He arose again, believing in this Jesus, is how one gets salvation and adopted into the family of God! Sadly, this is the most important thing unbelievers can't wrap their head around, that they might receive salvation!

7. "Prove Jesus is God from the Old Testament; His name is not anywhere in the Old Testament." That's true, Jesus is never named in the Old Testament. He is given other names in the Old Testament, and there are references to Him there, but He is never given the name specifically in it. The only ironclad reference that could only be Jesus in the Old Testament is found in the book of Daniel. "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, 'Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' They answered and said unto the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.'" (Dan. 3:24 - 25) I find this a fascinating passage, because the heathen king actually says "Son of God", which in the singular, is a reference only to Jesus, because in the New Testament He is called "the only Son of God". If He is the "only Son of God", then I would doubt the stance that the fourth figure in the fiery furnace was just an angel. His existence is referred to by Job as "my Redeemer" (Job 19:25), He is thought to have been one of the three men who met Abraham on the plains of Mamre (Gen. 18:2), and the angel of God in the cloud and pillar of fire (Exod. 13:21, 14:19), although theophanies are usually considered up for debate as to which person of God is being represented. While I consider personally that Nebuchadnezzar's statement is the most convincing of Jesus' cameo appearance in the Old Testament, John 1:1 - 14 is the most specific about Jesus existing before the Old Testament began, but the unbeliever asked to prove Him from the Old Testament, and for that I can only offer all the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and the "us" and "our" of the beginning of Genesis. After that, it's all a matter of faith, which believers have, and unbelievers do not!

Friday, August 3, 2012

WIVES

WIVES
Ah, wives; where in the world did that idea come from?   Why should we marry women, and why shouldn't we treat them like property, as they do in other countries?   And why do Christian countries like the U.S. uphold their rights when their husbands treat them in less than wonderful ways?   Think the bible has anything to do with it? Let's see what the bible says about...WIVES!

"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.'...And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:18, 21 - 24) So here we see that God, in His great omniscience, saw it prudent for us to have a help meet, someone to cleave to and enjoy companionship with all of our days. Someone to fulfill us, make us complete in a way not sinful.

Ah, but now there are two kinds of wives, and Solomon wrote something about the two in one of his contributions to the Old Testament: "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." (Prov. 12:4) So a husband's ability to choose a wife is reflected in what reward he gets in making his wise or foolish choice! And there's more..."Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." (Prov. 14:1) Again, Solomon contrasts a wise wife and a foolish one. What is the wise wife doing? She makes her husband happy and builds her house up, while the foolish one brings her husband joylessness and destroys her house. How does a wise woman make her husband happy? "A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches." (Prov. 11:16) Ah, she retains her honor. She is not acting like a strumpet who has forgotten her position. And the foolish woman? How does she pluck down her house? "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.' But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell." (Prov. 9:13 - 18) Well, this is rather a plain observation of how a woman might be foolish so much asto pluck down her house in this manner, and indeed, her husband will be joyless if he hears of this misbehaving!

Wives may be chosen for wrong reasons; it is no different today as it was then, and Solomon spoke well of chosing a wife just on looks! "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." (Prov. 11:22) The wife depicted here obviously falls in the "foolish" category. And another depiction from Solomon is of another unwise choice on the man's part for a wife; " It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house." (Prov. 21:9, 25:24) You might imagine this type of wife making a workaholic out of the husband, and leading him to an early grave! But also, truly Solomon has shown us another example of a wife who makes a man's life joyless. Here is another depiction from Solomon of a similar wife: " It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." (Prov. 21:19) How artful he was at depicting espoused life with different choices of wives!

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself." (Prov. 27:15 - 16) Do you get the idea Solomon made some bad choices for wives, and is speaking from experience? What colorful ways he chose to speak of poor wife choices! If you make a bad choice for a wife, she will either betray your decision with her words or her actions, but oh, how she cannot be hidden what manner of wife one has chosen!

"For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress." (Prov. 30:21 - 23) Let us look at the last of the four depictions here first; only the last two apply, anyway. If a handmaid dispossesses her mistress, and her mistress is the wife, this speaks loads about the wife's attention to what is going on in her house! A wise wife would surely get a different handmaid in a short period of time! Now we have to illustrate what an odious woman is. This is a woman who has such a disposition that few, if any, care to associate with her. Few people call her "friend", nor do they visit her often, if at all. Odious women are typically considered ill-tempered and unpleasant. These are not wise choices for wives who have characters like these.

For the sake of brevity, I will just print the first three verses of Solomon's description of a capable, wise choice for a wife. I would invite you to open a bible to Prov. 31:10 - 31 and read the whole illustration from Solomon of what a good choice for a wife is like, but here are the first three verses of Solomon's depiction: "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." (Prov. 31:10 - 12) Sounds like a great choice already, doesn't it?

"And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things." (1 Tim. 3:10 - 11) When speaking to Timothy concerning bishops and deacons, Paul mentioned also that the choice of wife cast into the lot of whether a man should be in either office. If a man chose rather poorly who his wife was, and she reflected the depictions of some of the poor choices Solomon mentioned, then these wives would be a great distraction from the offices they wanted to hold, so godly men seeking godly offices must also have godly wives!

Paul also wrote a letter to Titus about good wives, even the older ones of the church. Wives were exhorted to have the following qualities, so that they should be counted as godly women in the church. If they are godly in the church, it is likely they behave in a godly manner at home, too! "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Tit. 2:3 - 5)

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (1 Pet. 3:1 - 6) Here Peter is explaining what a godly wife behaves like, and he uses Abraham's wife for an example of the model wife! A choice wife is not just beautiful on the outside, but on the inside! A choice wife has all the qualities explained herein of a wise wife, a godly wife, meek and obedient toward her husband.

Don't think I'll totally leave the husbands free of responsibilities, you who are wives! Peter explains that the husbands have a responsibility to treat their wives properly, that they should be able to tolerate to work out any marital problems, even be able to pray together as the one flesh they were meant to be! "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." (1 Pet. 3:7)

I want to cover one last thing about the interrelationship between the model husband and the model wife. Paul wrote to the Ephesians of such an ideal couple. Husbands have responsibilities to the wives as Christ has to the church, and wives have responsibilities to their husbands as the church does to the Lord, being submissive to him as to the Lord in all godly things he asks. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (Eph. 5:22 - 31)

Wives have a choice; they can be able to fit the depictions of Solomon of a poor choice of wife, and thereby behave not as God would have them, or they can choose to behave as Paul, Peter, and Solomon depicted a good wife. If you have read this, and you realize you have been as the first illustrations, you can always repent and become as the latter depictions! We have a good and wonderful God to talk to about it!