This Week's Article:

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Here are some attributes of God, which should encourage faithful Christians everywhere to keep on praying.

God has great power, so much so that “by the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of heaven by the breath of his mouth” (Psalms 33:6). We “stand in awe of Him, for he spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:8-9). No need to worry if God is capable of answering all my prayers, or even all the prayers of faithful Christians everywhere. If we were to all pray at the same time, and all make different requests, it still wouldn’t tax Him in the least.

God has great compassion and lovingkindness. “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalms 86:15). “How precious is your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalms 36:7). God doesn’t just have the power to help us; He wants to help—because He cares.

God has infinite knowledge and understanding—“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite” (Psalms 147:5). That being the case, how can He not know what is best for us? Remember, His perfect understanding even includes that which is yet to happen. We ask for things sometimes, only because we know (or think) we need it right now. We don’t always think about what that means for us “down the road.” Aren’t we glad that God knows, and that what He gives us won’t hurt us in the long run?

God’s infinite knowledge and understanding extends to every single individual. “The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works” (Psalms 33:13-15). God doesn’t just know what mankind in general needs; He knows what I need. Everyone’s situation is just a little bit different—that’s no problem for God. He keeps up with all His children, and He knows what’s best for each one.

God is faithful, meaning among other things that He’s always available. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills; from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalms 121:1-4). Ever needed help and had a hard time getting in touch with family or friends? That’s never an issue with God. Call upon Him any time—He never sleeps; He never takes a break; He never goes “out of town.”

God is righteous. “In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness” (Psalms 143:1). If there was even a hint of unrighteousness in God, He might occasionally lead us down the wrong path. No need to worry, for because of His righteousness, we can be confident that His answers will always keep us in the path of righteousness.

WALK “no longer…as the rest of the Gentiles walk” (4:17), or even the way you “once” walked (2:1-3; 4:22). Now that you’ve “learned Christ” (4:20-21), you know better; you know how you’re supposed to behave. “Put off...the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts...and put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (4:22, 24).

WALK in the “good works which God prepared beforehand” (2:10). This is the very purpose for which you were “created in Christ Jesus,” so don’t mess with the design—either by not walking in these good works, or by trying to substitute your works for His.

“WALK worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4:1). God’s call to you includes several demands: to be united with all believers in one body (1:10; 2:14-16); to be holy and without blame (1:4); to show to others the riches of God’s grace and wisdom (2:7; 3:10). Do your best to answer His call for you, because you sure don’t want to miss out on the “hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4; 1:18).

“WALK in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (5:2). Love the Lord “in sincerity” (6:24), and show “love for all the saints” (1:15). To show the love of Christ to your brethren, you’ll have to “let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (4:31). On the positive side, or the “new man” side, you’ll need to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (4:32). This kind of love applies in the home, too, especially to you husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (5:25). And, it also applies when you go out to teach the lost. Speak the truth “boldly” (6:19), but speak it “in love” (4:15). Do it the way Christ did it.

“WALK as children of light” (5:8). You were “once darkness” (5:8), but not any longer, so “have no fellowship with the fruits of darkness, but rather expose them” (5:11). Take the light you’ve received from Christ (5:14), and shine it on others. It will “make manifest” (5:13), or obvious, their sins, and yes, it may make them mad, but it may also bring them to Christ.

“WALK circumspectly,” or carefully (5:15). Your window of opportunity to make a difference in the world doesn’t last very long, so don’t waste it—“making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (5:16). Don’t waste your time by acting like a fool (5:15), by being “unwise” or ignorant of God’s will (5:17), by being “drunk with wine” (5:18). Spend your time understanding “what the will of the Lord is” (5:17), and instead of being filled with wine, “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18).

“Just As I Am”—most of you have either heard the hymn or even sung it. It’s a good hymn, properly understood, but it seems that some have gotten the wrong impression from it—that Jesus will accept us just the way we are, without any real repentance on our part. We can’t have our cake and eat it too—we can’t have a relationship with Him and with the world at the same time. Jesus is serious about repentance, as we can see from the following points.

His message was not, “Come as you are; you don’t have to change a thing.” Jesus preached that people should repent—“repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17); “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

His message of repentance was not just directed to the crowds in general; He directed it to specific individuals. To the lame man whom He had just healed, Jesus said, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14). To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Let’s remember these words the next time we sin—“sin no more”—that’s the message from Jesus.

And this same message was not just directed to sinners, or to those who were not His people—it was also directed to saints (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19). Sorry, but the “once saved, always saved” doctrine just doesn’t square with Scripture. A Christian who sins needs to repent, or he’s going to be in a lot of trouble (notice the “repent...or else” warnings in the passages listed above (and consider the next point).

Jesus made it clear what would happen to people if they didn’t repent—“unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). To those cities who did not repent at His preaching, Jesus warned of condemnation. For example, here’s what He said to Capernaum: “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:23-24).

But He also made it clear what would happen to people if they did repent—His Father would welcome them with open arms, the kind of reception pictured in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). When one repents, he escapes the snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:26), he is saved from spiritual death (James 5:19-20), and he can now be forgiven of his sins (Acts 8:22).

Jesus loves us, but He hates sins, and He hates what sin does to us. Make no mistake about it; this call to repentance is an expression of His love for us. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

You may not think you’re a sinner, but you are. Like everyone else (3:9, 23), you have sinned. “But I’m not as bad as...”—don’t even go there, because you’re in the same boat with them (3:9). And don’t try to make any excuses for your sins, because there are none (1:20). Maybe you weren’t taught as much as others were; maybe you grew up in some bad circumstances—it doesn’t change the fact that you are a sinner and accountable to God.

Because you have sinned, you are guilty before God (3:19), and you deserve to die (1:32). In your present condition, you will receive indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish (2:8-9). Think as long and as hard as you wish and you cannot even imagine a fate worse than that.

But here’s the good news, and you do need some. God loves you very much, and so He doesn’t want to punish you. He’s always had a plan to save you (1:1-4; 3:21), and that plan is revealed in the gospel (1:17). You’re guilty, but He can justify you (3:24, 26); you’re in bondage to sin, but He can redeem or deliver you (3:24). And what He would love to ultimately give you is eternal life (2:7, 10).

But here’s the problem. God is righteous, and so He cannot just overlook, or pass over your sins. He can’t just give you a free pass. To maintain His righteousness or justice, He must punish sin (1:32; 3:25-26).

And He did punish sin—through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died in your place; He took what was coming to you. God’s wrath against you was appeased when Jesus offered Himself. That’s what the Bible means when it says that Jesus was “set forth as a propitiation” (3:25). It is His death, then, that makes possible your salvation, your justification, your redemption (3:24-26).

Jesus died for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be saved—it doesn’t even necessarily mean that YOU will be saved. It is only those who have faith in Jesus who will be saved (1:16; 3:22, 26)—those who express this faith by obeying His commandments and seeking His forgiveness when they don’t (2:5-10).

You can keep doing what you’re doing, but just understand that in so doing “you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (2:5). Why choose guilt when you can be innocent? Why choose bondage when you can be free? Why choose turmoil when you can have peace? Why choose shame when you can have honor? Why choose eternal death when you can have eternal life?

Obviously, it’s impossible to do a “live” interview with Peter. However, by looking at his life and his teaching, we can conclude what his answers would be to these questions. The plan right now is to do this “interview” in three parts.

Answer: Through my brother, Andrew. He learned about Jesus from John the Baptist, who one day pointed to Jesus walking by and said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” That same day Andrew followed Jesus to the place he was staying and spent the day with Him. He came to me as soon as he left and said, “We have found the Messiah.” He then took me to meet Jesus, who when He saw me said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (or Peter), a name which means stone or rock. I appreciate His patience with me, because it sure did take me awhile to become the rock He wanted me to be. [See John 1:35-42.]

Question: It was several months later when Jesus called you to follow Him. What convinced you to do it?

Answer: By that time I had spent more time with Jesus and had gotten to know Him better. But you need to know what happened the day He called me. James and John and I had spent the previous night fishing and had caught nothing. Jesus came along while we were washing and mending our nets. There were so many people who wanted to hear Jesus teach that He asked me to put my boat out a little distance from the land so He could teach the multitudes from there. When He stopped speaking, He said to me, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” I was tired from the previous night, and I didn’t think we would catch anything, but I did what He said. Before long we had caught so many fish that the net began to break. James and John brought the other boat to help us, and we filled up both boats with so many fish that the boats began to sink. I was so overwhelmed by the greatness and power of Jesus that I fell at His knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Jesus then said to me, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” How could I possibly say no to Him? When we got to the shore, I left everything behind and followed Him. [See Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22.]

Question: Leaving everything behind, at least to some, might seem very difficult. Any regrets?

Answer: None whatsoever. When I reminded Jesus later that we had left all to follow Him, here’s what He said: “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Just prior to my conversation with Jesus, He had offered a rich young ruler the opportunity to follow Him. He turned Jesus down, because he mistakenly thought that he would lose too much. Not very smart—to turn down an investment that yields a hundredfold! [See Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30.]

Question: Let’s talk about the confession you made in the presence of Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). You then went on to proclaim the very same thing in the presence of others (Acts 2:36). Explain how you could be so certain.

Answer: I saw Him heal my mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31). I was with Him when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Luke 8:49-56). I saw Him walking on the Sea of Galilee, the same power which He even gave me—at least until my faith began to waver (Matthew 14:24-31). I was there on the mountain with Him when He was transfigured, when His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. I heard the voice from the cloud which said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him” (Matthew 17:1-5; see also 2 Peter 1:16-21). And here’s the clincher: I saw His empty tomb (John 20:2-8), the same tomb that had been sealed and well-guarded (Matthew 27:62-66). And then I saw Him! I saw His hands, through which nails had been driven; I saw His side, which had been pierced with a sword. I ate with Him, had conversations with Him (John 21:10-23). There’s no other way to explain it—Jesus was raised from the dead. You can trust my testimony concerning Jesus, because I was an eyewitness to these great events—and to many more.

Question: Unfortunately, what many remember most about you is that after His arrest, you denied Jesus three times. Can you explain how that happened?

Answer: I was easy prey for Satan, because I was overconfident. The other disciples—I could see where they might stumble, but not me (Matthew 26:33). “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”—that’s what I said to Jesus. In my first epistle, I wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I was anything but sober and vigilant. I didn’t heed the warnings Jesus gave me—“Satan has asked for you” (Luke 22:31); “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). I was prepared for a physical battle (John 18:10-11), when I should have been prepared for a spiritual one.

Question: And how did it make you feel that you had denied someone with whom you had such a close relationship?

Answer: When Jesus turned and looked at me after the third denial, I was so ashamed that I went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61-62). I didn’t just weep, though; I repented. I failed Jesus this time, but He still had big plans for me—to strengthen my brethren (Luke 22:32), to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17), to preach the gospel throughout the world (Matthew 28:18-20). And that’s exactly what I did, only this time with more faith and courage (see Acts 1-12, especially chapters 4-5). I wasn’t perfect; in fact, Paul had to rebuke me to my face one time (Galatians 2:11-14). But, I appreciate the Lord’s patience with me, because for the most part I finally became the rock He wanted me to be (John 1:42).

Question: Speaking of strengthening your brethren, what instruction do you have for your brethren to help them overcome temptation, to keep them from denying Jesus?

Answer: First, don’t be overconfident like I was. “Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). Secondly, don’t make brash statements about what you will or won’t do; just work on getting stronger spiritually: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love...for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:5-7, 10). Thirdly, “be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7). That’s what I should I have done in the Garden (Matthew 26:41), and that’s exactly what you need to do—every day, several times a day.

Question: You spoke earlier about the miracles you saw Jesus perform. Tell us now about the miracles you performed.

Answer: Like the other apostles, I did perform a number of miracles, some while Jesus was still with us (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:14-15; 6:7; Luke 9:1-2), and then many more after He ascended to heaven (Acts 2:43; 5:12-16). I’ll mention a few in particular. I healed a man in his forties, who had been lame from birth (Acts 3:1-9; 4:22), as well as a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed (Acts 9:32-34). I also raised from the dead a lady named Dorcas, who was well known among the saints in Joppa for her good works and charitable deeds (Acts 9:36-42). Unlike the acts performed by at least one man we met (Acts 8:9-13), these were all genuine miracles, a fact that even our enemies could not deny (Acts 4:15-16).

Answer: Not fame or fortune, I can assure you of that. We were always careful to give credit to Jesus, because it was in His name and by His power that we performed these miracles (Acts 3:12-16; 4:8-10). He baptized us (apostles) with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8; 2:32-33), which not only gave us the power to preach (and later write) by inspiration, but also the power to perform these miracles. These miracles were designed to confirm that what we were preaching was indeed the truth (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). In other words, performing these miracles in His name would persuade people that we were also preaching in His name. Unfortunately, there were some who tried to use the name of Jesus to perform signs—without proper authority (Acts 19:11-17). The Lord certainly made them wish they hadn’t done that. One other thing about these miracles—they were never intended to last through the ages, only until the word of the Lord could be fully revealed and confirmed.

Question: In the early years of the church, many Jewish Christians were resistant to receiving the Gentiles, unless they became circumcised and kept the law of Moses (Acts 15:1-5). What was your stance on this?

Answer: It took me awhile, but when God sent me to preach to the Gentiles (Cornelius and his family), I learned the truth—that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34); that whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35); that we should no longer bind the law of Moses (Acts 15:10); that salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is available to all men (Acts 15:8-9, 11).

Answer: “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). It’s hard to imagine now, but in the hours leading up to the arrest of our Savior, the other apostles and I actually argued about who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus put us all to shame that same night when He laid aside His garments, girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin and began to wash our feet and wipe them with that same towel (John 13:3-5). When our Lord says, “be clothed with humility,” He’s only asking us to do what He has already done.

Do You Need To Be Baptized...Again?

by Bryan Gibson

January 7, 2010

When Paul came to the city of Ephesus on his third preaching journey, he found some men who needed to be baptized again. Read the following passage carefully:

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-5).

It’s hard to fault these 12 men (Acts 19:7) too much, because they had not been taught properly. Apollos, “who knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25), had already done some teaching there in Ephesus before Aquila and Priscilla “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). No doubt these 12 men had been influenced by such teaching; however, when they learned the truth, “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).

It could be that some of our readers were not taught properly prior to their first baptism, and therefore need to be baptized again. To help you decide, consider these four elements of the “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), the one that is according to the Scriptures.

1) It requires the right subject—one who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and has repented of his sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:12). 2) It requires the right action—burial or immersion (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). 3) It requires the right purpose—to be saved, or to receive the remission or forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21); to enter “into Christ” (Romans 6:3-4), or to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). 4) It requires the right authority—“in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 19:5).

Let all that soak in for a minute—perhaps you need to go back and read the previous paragraph again, together with all the passages cited. Do you need to be baptized again? You certainly DO, if any of the following were true of your first “baptism.”

1) You were not a proper subject for baptism. Perhaps you were baptized as an infant, making it impossible for you to believe on Christ and repent of your sins. Or perhaps you were older and still didn’t meet these conditions. 2) You were “baptized” by sprinkling or pouring. True baptism is a “burial”; in fact it pictures both the burial and the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-5). 3) You were baptized for the wrong reason or purpose, or maybe you didn’t understand the purpose. Many believe that sins are forgiven before baptism, but that doesn’t agree with the plain teaching of Scripture. You can’t be “baptized...for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), if you believe that remission of sins has already taken place. 4) You were baptized in the name of, or by the authority of, someone other than Jesus.

If you have questions about your previous baptism, don’t dismiss them too quickly. Your soul is much too valuable for that. Make sure that you do the right thing, and that may very well require you to be baptized again. If we can assist you in any way with this matter, please feel free to contact us.

According to Jesus, more people will be lost than will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14). I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to be lost. I’ve read the descriptions of hell and of God’s wrath in the New Testament, and quite frankly, they scare me to death. “Outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30); “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41); a “lake which burns with fire and brimstone”; a place where there “be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42)—no thank you. I don’t want to be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9); nor do I want to “drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Revelation 14:10). I want no part of His “fierceness” (Revelation 19:15), His “vengeance” (Hebrews 10:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:8), or His “fiery indignation” (Hebrews 10:27). Surely all of this is reserved for just the worst kind of people, the absolute dregs of society. Well, I’ve done some reading through the New Testament, trying to put together at least a partial list of those who will be experience God’s wrath. Here is that partial list—you might be in for a surprise.

· Those who believe in Him, but won’t stand up for Him (John 12:42-43; Matthew 10:33).

· Those who say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not obey (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46); who “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him” (Titus 1:16).

· Those who practice sin, whether they be His children or not (Matthew 5:29-30; 18:8-9; Ephesians 5:5-6; Colossians 3:5-6), and are unwilling to repent of their sin (Matthew 3:8-12; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 8:22-24; Romans 2:5; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21).

· Those who serve the Lord faithfully for a time, who have their names written in the Book of Life; but who then fall away and have their names blotted out of the Book of Life (Hebrews 4:11; 10:35-39; Revelation 3:5; 20:15; 21:17; 22:19).

· Those who teach false doctrine (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:6-9).

· Those who because they do not love the truth, believe a lie instead (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 22:15); and as result do not abide in the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9; John 8:31-32).

· Those who serve the Lord half-heartedly, because He is only a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

· Those who show no mercy, either by neglecting the needs of others (Matthew 25:31-46), or by showing partiality or prejudice in their dealings with others (James 2:1-13).

If any of us be guilty of any of these things, let’s keep this in mind: “The Lord...is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Bill Ryan’s Funeral—February 9, 2002

by Bryan Gibson

December 10, 2009

The following article contains excerpts from a funeral I preached back in 2002. It’s a little lengthy, but be sure you read it all.

Bill Ryan’s last year was his best year, despite his battle with brain cancer. Let me explain. Bill was born on July 15th, 1941, but he was born again in the early part of 2001. That’s when both he and his wife Betty were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. As Bill said, there was no way to get around Acts 2:38 (“repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”). They both then became members of the Prattmont Church of Christ, and they did this out of conviction. This church was patterned after the local churches in the New Testament, and they wanted to be part of it. Bill and Betty were good people before they did any of this, but it was in the last year of Bill’s life, to use Betty’s own words, that they “made their lives right with God.” That’s why it was the best year of his life.

I first met Bill and Betty in March of 2001. Their son, Phil Ryan, called to ask me if I would be interested in studying the Bible with them, because he thought they were ready to do that. Boy, were they ever ready! I don’t know when I’ve seen two people more eagerly embrace the gospel. They couldn’t get enough of God’s word. They reminded me of a man in the Bible named Cornelius. When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house to teach him and his family the gospel, Cornelius said, “We are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (Acts 10:33). Cornelius couldn’t wait to hear what he needed to do to be right with God, and neither could Bill and Betty. They had not heard much Bible teaching in the churches they had visited, so they were delighted to have this opportunity to sit down with an open Bible and learn the will of God.

Jesus used different types of soil to illustrate the different types of hearts that receive the gospel (Luke 8:4-15). Well, the gospel certainly found fertile soil in the hearts of Bill and Betty. And let me assure you, this initial enthusiasm for the word of God did not wane. They continued to study diligently; because they wanted to know everything there was to know about how to please God.

I was with Bill and Betty when they received the news of Bill’s cancer. It was on a Wednesday, and as you might expect, it was tough day for both of them. But guess where they went that night? That’s right—to mid-week Bible study. They were spent, emotionally and physically, but they still wanted to meet with their fellow Christians—study with them, sing with them, and pray with them.

What did we see in Bill Ryan through this entire ordeal? We saw an unwavering faith or trust in God. Bill never once questioned God about this illness. He never took on a “woe is me” or “why me” attitude. He knew that God’s grace had saved him from His sins, and that this same grace would lead him home (as we sang about earlier). Bill Ryan believed with all his heart the words of Psalms 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” We also saw in Bill Ryan an unshakeable hope, a hope that became an anchor to his soul (Hebrews 6:19-20). Often, when someone succumbs to cancer, we say that he fought a losing battle. His was not a losing battle, because he knew there was victory in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Bill saw death, not as the end of his life, but the beginning. He understood that to depart and be with Christ is far better than anything this life might have to offer (Philippians 1:23). Finally, we saw a man at peace—at peace because of his faith and hope. Paul described this peace as one that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). It’s hard to preach about this peace, because it’s hard to put into words. It is best understood when you see it demonstrated in someone’s life, and we saw it in Bill Ryan’s life, even when he was staring death in the face.

Before closing, I need to do something that I know Bill would want me to do, and that is to appeal to those of you who have not made the same decision that he made. When Bill Ryan wanted to be saved from His sins and become a Christian, he knew that he had to follow God’s plan. He knew that “belief only” was not sufficient. He knew that neither “asking Jesus to come into your heart” nor “praying the sinner’s prayer” were what people were taught to do in the New Testament. What Bill Ryan learned from his study of the New Testament was that upon believing in Jesus as the Son of God, he needed to repent of his sins, confess his faith in Jesus, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Bill understood the plain command in Acts 2:38, and he obeyed it.

Remember, too, what both Bill and Betty did after they were baptized into Christ. They joined themselves to a group of Christians who were committed to following Christ in everything they did—in their worship, in their work, in the way they were organized, in really every respect. They didn’t find a perfect church, but they did find one determined to follow God’s perfect plan. What Bill and Betty found in the denominational world troubled them. They saw division, which the Lord plainly taught against. They saw churches that had drifted more towards entertainment than edification, more towards feeding bellies than feeding souls, more towards secular education than spiritual education. They wanted to be part of a local church that would be true to the mission that God gave each local church. I plead with all of you, on God’s behalf, make the same decision that Bill Ryan did—because He did what God told him to do in His word. One day you too will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Will you be able to walk through this valley without fear? Will you have the assurance that God is with you? Not unless you have made your life right with God. Today—right now—would be the perfect time to do that.

Bible teachers, including myself, sure do need to be careful—careful that we teach, not our own wisdom, but the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5), careful that we preach the word, not just what makes people feel better (2 Timothy 4:1-5), careful that we not go astray from the truth on any issue (Galatians 1:6-9). Read very carefully Paul’s warning to Timothy:

Several phrases in the above passage indicate the harm that can be done when teachers stray from the truth.

What a scary thought, that we could actually ruin those who hear our teaching. The goal is to save souls, not ruin them, and it’s only by teaching the truth that we can accomplish that goal (James 1:21; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; John 8:31-32).

There is too much ungodliness already; we sure don’t want to add to it. Only the truth, taught in its fullness, will enable people to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). So let’s teach the truth, even when people desire something else (2 Timothy 4:2-4), because if we don’t, the ungodliness so rampant today is only going to get worse.

False doctrine spreads rapidly, because it typically appeals to the “flesh” (2 Peter 2:18). What appeals to the flesh, though, is very detrimental to the soul—it eats away at the soul, much like cancer or gangrene eats away at the body. The truth, on the other hand, is “wholesome” or healthy (1 Timothy 6:3). Let’s make sure we give people the proper nourishment (1 Timothy 4:6).

How would you like that on your record when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), that you destroyed the faith of some who might otherwise have believed to the saving of their soul (Hebrews 10:39)? The very thought should make us tremble, and more determined than ever to teach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Job 31 is a wonderful chapter, filled with practical application. It contains Job’s defense of himself—of his attitudes and conduct toward God. He offers this defense, primarily for his friends, because they were convinced that Job was suffering because of sin. Let’s take a closer look then at his attitudes and conduct in the following areas. We’ll just let Job speak for himself, because we’re sure you’ll be impressed.

Toward impure thoughts (1-4). “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, and the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?”

Toward falsehood and deceit (5-8). “If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands, then let me sow, and another eat; yes, let my harvest be rooted out.”

Toward adultery (9-12). “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door...that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment...a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.”

Toward his servants (13-15). “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?”

Toward the poor and needy (16-23). “If I have kept the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or eaten my morsel by myself, so that the fatherless could not eat of it...if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering; if his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have raised my hand against the fatherless...then let my arm fall from my shoulder, let my arm be torn from the socket. For destruction from God is a terror to me, and because of His magnificence I cannot endure.”

Toward covetousness or idolatry (24-28). “If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence'; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much...this also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above.”

Toward his enemies (29-30). “Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse.”

Toward hospitality (31-32). “Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? The stranger has not lodged outside, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.”

Toward covering or concealing sin (33-34). “Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me...?”

Most students receive a handbook, outlining the behavior expected of them and the penalties if they don’t. Here are some instructions from God’s handbook, most of which you won’t find in any other handbook. To keep it simple, we’ll use Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians as our source for all of these.

School can be pretty trying at times, so you’re going to need God’s help. The same power He used to raise Christ from the dead is available to you (1:19-20), but only if you’re in Christ. It is only through Him (3:12) that you have access to the “exceeding greatness of His power” (1:19), the same power that is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (3:20). So if you’ve reached a responsible age, and you’re not already a Christian, become one today.

Value your education, but even more so your spiritual education. God’s chief concern for you is that you grow spiritually, that you “come to…the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (4:11-15).

No matter how much pressure they may apply, don’t do the sinful things that others are doing—Christ is your model, not them (4:17-24). The Lord says, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (5:11). Let your light shine—you may be surprised by how many are drawn to it.

Respect your superiors (teachers, administrators, coaches, etc.) and do what they tell you, even when they’re not around (6:5-8). They may not watch you all the time, but the Lord does.

Don’t lie to anyone—to yourself, to your classmates, or to your superiors (4:25). You want everyone to trust you, and the sure fire way to accomplish that is to be honest with everyone. Keep in mind, too, that there other ways to lie than with your mouth. When you turn in an assignment, you’re saying in effect, “this is mine.” If it’s not, that’s a lie.

If you get mad, don’t stay mad (4:26), because if you do, you’ll give the devil a “foothold” (4:27, NIV), and he won’t let go until you say or do something you’ll regret. Uncontrolled anger leads to a lot of sins, so work hard to keep it under control.

Don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you (4:28), and that includes answers to a test.

Don’t use foul language (4:29; 5:4), no matter how cool you and others may think it sounds. The Oxford English Dictionary contains 295,000 words, with over 600,000 different word forms. That gives you a lot of choices, without having to resort to foul language.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (4:31-32). Be especially kind to those students who may not have the blessings or advantages you do.

Resist and overcome the temptation to have sex before marriage. “Walk in love...but fornication...let it not even be named among you” (5:2-3).

Abstain from alcohol. Yes, the passage says, “do not be drunk with wine” (5:18), but just a little alcohol in your system makes it harder to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (6:11). Weaken your resistance just a little bit, and you can be sure that he will move in for the kill. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (6:13).

We’re not interested in the world’s description—only God’s. Here is God’s description of a good husband and father.

He has the same resolve that Joshua expressed many years ago—“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Leading his family to heaven is number one, and his leadership reflects that. To set the proper example, he does just as Ezra did—he prepares his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to obey it, and to teach it (Ezra 7:9-10).

He rules his house, using Christ’s rule as a pattern (Hebrews 4:14-16). That being the case, he doesn’t rule in a selfish way, but in a way that takes into account the needs of everyone in the family (Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 12; 1 Peter 3:7; Philippians 2:4; Matthew 20:25-28). As careful as he is to avoid becoming too harsh or selfish, he also knows that he can become too soft. He is not afraid to make the tough decisions, decisions he is convinced are right, but may not be popular with the rest of the family.

He loves his wife, not just “in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Again, Christ is His pattern—the love He has for the church (Ephesians 5:25). With Christ as His model, he sacrifices himself for her (1 John 3:16-17); he doesn’t put more on her than she can bear (Matthew 11:28-30); he strives to meet her every need (Philippians 4:19); he shares his possessions with her (Ephesians 1:3, 7; 2:7); he is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32); and he loves her through even the worst of times (Romans 8:35).

He loves his children, and so he does the very best thing for them—he brings them up “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). He provides for their every need—physical, emotional, and above all, spiritual—just like his heavenly Father does for His children. He is firm in his discipline, not afraid to use the “rod” (Proverbs 3:11-12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17), but he is careful not to go too far. He doesn’t want his children to become provoked or discouraged (Colossians 3:21), and so he balances correction with praise.

He is a good provider (1 Timothy 5:8). He doesn’t “overwork to be rich” (Proverbs 23:4), but he knows it takes money to live, and so he works hard and is dependable in his work (Ephesians 6:5-8). He understands that it’s his job to provide for his family, not someone else (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12). Circumstances may arise when he has to ask for help, but he knows that it’s much more satisfying to eat the labor of his own hands (Psalms 128:2).

He knows what a big job he has, so he prays for God’s help, with the full assurance that he will receive it (1 John 5:14-15). He prays daily, earnestly, and fervently (2 Timothy 1:3; Colossians 4:2, 12), because this is the most important job he will ever have, and he wants to get it right.

We’re not interested in the world’s description—only God’s. Here is God’s description of a good wife and mother.

She is beautiful on the INSIDE, possessing such qualities as faith, love, wisdom, discretion, graciousness, reverence, meekness, self-control, purity, holiness, etc. (Proverbs 14:1; 11:16; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 2:15; 3:11; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-6). She is concerned with her outward appearance (Proverbs 31:22), but she is more concerned with the beauty that doesn’t fade (1 Peter 3:4; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Proverbs 31:30).

She loves her husband (Titus 2:3-4), not just “in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). In other words, she doesn’t just say it; she demonstrates it—in a number of ways. “She does him good...all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12). In her mind (and the Lord’s), his needs are just as important as hers (Philippians 2:3-4). The love she has for him “suffers long and is kind...does not envy...does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

She doesn’t just love her husband; she respects him, especially in his role as head of the house (Ephesians 5:22-24, 33). She discusses matters with him, but she carefully avoids becoming contentious (Proverbs 21:9, 19; 27:15-16). Because final decisions rest with him, she willingly submits to him, even when she disagrees (Ephesians 5:24; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:5-6).

She may not be the head of the house, but she is the manager (1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4-5; Proverbs 31:27), and she takes this God given role seriously. Her husband should be willing to help with household responsibilities, but he is not nearly as well equipped for this job as she is. God knows what He is doing.

She knows her children are a gift from God, and so she gives them back to Him (1 Samuel 1:11). Together with her husband, she brings them up in the ways of the Lord (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14). She teaches her children, by word and by example. She trains them the same way God trains us—she praises them when they do well, and corrects them when they do wrong. When she says, “I have no greater joy than to see my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4), she means it.

She is a very busy woman, but she still finds time to help with the needs of others (Proverbs 31:20; 1 Timothy 5:10). She shows hospitality; she visits the sick; she comforts the bereaved; she encourages the weak; she does all the good she can, by all the means she can, in all the ways she can, in all the places she can, at all the times she can, to all the people she can, as long as she can.

It must have been a sight to behold—a gold image that stretched 90 feet into the air. King Nebuchadnezzar was proud of his handiwork, and so he invited officials from throughout his kingdom to come to a dedication ceremony (Daniel 3:1-2). They all gathered in front of the image, and the following announcement was made: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:3-6). Put that kind of incentive before people, and you can understand what happened next. When the band played, everyone fell down and worshiped the image (Daniel 3:7).

Well, almost everyone! Three of the king’s officials—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refused to worship the image. Never mind that this order came from the king, and never mind that everyone else was doing it, and never mind that they would be tossed alive into a fiery furnace. They were determined to do right, no matter what price they had to pay (Daniel 3:12). God said to worship Him and Him alone, and that’s what they were determined to do.

Speaking of the king, he was incensed when he found out. Daniel 3:13 says that “Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:13). It would have been easy for them to waver at this point, but when the king offered them a second chance, and once again announced the punishment if they didn’t comply, this is what they had to say: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). In other words, “Our mind is made up—whether God chooses to save us or not. We will not worship this image, or any of your other gods.” So much for waffling before the king.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—let’s remember those three names and the courage and conviction they displayed. We will all face situations where their example may just give us the courage to do the right thing. If these three men were alive today, this is what they would say: Do the right thing, no matter how much pressure there may be to do otherwise. Do the right thing, even if you’re the only one courageous enough to do it. Do the right thing, no matter what the earthly consequences may be.

Do You Want to Be Made Well?

by Bryan Gibson

October 15, 2009

This was the very question Jesus asked a man who had suffered with an infirmity for thirty-eight years (John 5:6). Can you imagine the man saying, “Thank you for asking, but I think I would like to keep suffering”? No way. Like anyone else would who had suffered this long, this man wanted to be made well. And Jesus did make him well. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8), and the next verse says, “immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked” (John 5:9).

But suppose you had some infirmity far worse than what this man had, far worse than any physical ailment—worse than cancer, worse than blindness, worse than the most crippling disease you could imagine. Suppose you were sick with sin (Mark 2:17). Here’s what Jesus told the man whom He had healed of his infirmity: “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:l4). Say what? What could possibly be worse than being sick for thirty-eight years? Well, if this man had continued in sin, he would have been lost in hell forever (Mark 9:43-48). Can you think of anything worse than that? Look at it this way. You can lose your sight and still go to heaven. You can lose a limb and still go to heaven. You can be eaten up with cancer and still go to heaven. You can be sick from the first day of your life to the last and still go to heaven. But you cannot go to heaven in your sins (John 8:21-24). Indeed, the consequences of sin sickness are far worse than the consequences of physical sickness. There is simply no comparison.

Jesus didn’t come to the earth to heal physical sickness. He did heal many people (Matthew 4:23)—to prove that He was the Son of God (John 20:30-31), but His real purpose in coming was to heal sin (Luke 19:10). On one occasion a paralyzed man was let down through the roof so that Jesus could heal him (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12). Jesus surprised them all when he said to the man, “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). Jesus saw in this man a much deeper need than his physical affliction. Jesus did go on to heal this man, but notice the explanation: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and walk.” Jesus used power that they could see in action to prove that He had the power to do what they could not see in action—forgive sins.

What about you? Are you sick with sin? If so, Jesus is asking you the same question he asked the man in John 5: “Do you want to be made well?” Wouldn’t you be foolish to say no, especially when you consider the consequences of remaining in sin? Jesus has the power to heal you of your sin, and He will, if you follow some simple instructions. What instructions does Jesus give you? Believe in Him (Mark 16:16; John 8:24); repent of your sins (Acts 2:38); confess your faith in Him (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37), and be baptized in water (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Obey these commandments today, and Jesus will heal you. He will make you well. “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.”

One thing is for sure—when we do forget, Jesus notices. Jesus once healed ten lepers, and when only one returned to say “thank you,” Jesus asked him, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17). Could it be that Jesus is asking the same question about us? Perhaps we’ve forgotten to come back and say “thank you.” Here are some ways we can say “thank you” to Jesus, and to our heavenly Father.

By proper observance of the Lord’s supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). We eat the Lord’s supper every week in remembrance of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:24-25), and so by properly “discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29), we can let Him know how much we appreciate what He did. And if we don’t...we “will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

In prayer. Thanksgiving should always accompany the requests we make of God (Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6). Let’s be sure to give thanks for Jesus—for His life, His death and resurrection, and His present work as our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25). And while we’re thanking Him, let’s also give thanks for the many spiritual blessings that we have through Him (Ephesians 1:3).

In song. “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20; see also Colossians 3:15-17). Many of the songs we sing in worship are designed to give praise to Jesus, to thank Him for His wonderful love. Let’s make sure we honor Him with more than just our lips. Unless we sing from the heart, our worship is vain (Matthew 15:8).

By living for Him. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). This is the big test, the one that really reveals the depth of our gratitude. It’s easy to say that Jesus means a lot to us, but the best way to prove it is by living for Him—not just occasionally, but every day.

By telling others about Him. If we like our doctor, we tell others about him. If we like our mechanic, we tell others about him. If we truly appreciate Christ and the life we have in Him, it’s going to be awful hard to keep it to ourselves. The early disciples sure couldn’t, because they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The ideal attitude was expressed by Paul when he appeared as a prisoner before King Agrippa: “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:29). Paul sure was thankful for what he had in Christ, and he wanted everyone else to have it, too.

The Bible is a very profitable book—“profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). But it won't profit you very much if you don't approach it with the right attitude, and if you don't study it like you should—“the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith” (Hebrews 4:2). Here are some things that can make Bible study profitable for you.

Study the Bible with a single aim—to find the truth and obey it. Don’t look for what pleases you; look for what pleases God (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Desire the truth, even if it hurts to hear it. Heed the following admonition: “Buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). In other words, don’t take anything in exchange for the truth, no matter how attractive it may seem. Please don’t be counted among the many who “did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Use the Bible as a mirror—let it show you what you need to correct or improve (James 1:21-25). Brace yourself, though, because the image it reveals may not be a pretty one. You may have a lot of work to do, but you won't find a better “self improvement course” than Bible study.

Learn all you can about Jesus, which will enable you to walk in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21-23). It's awful hard to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) when you know so little about Him. Learn His attitudes—toward sin, toward people, toward the word of God, toward His heavenly Father, toward authority in general. Learn how He prayed, how He taught, how He rebuked, how He handled temptation, how He comforted people, and yes, even how He died.

Pay close attention to other examples, too—both good and bad (Philippians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:6-11). What both pleases and displeases the Lord will become increasingly clearer to you when you see it in action.

Read slowly and carefully every promise—to the faithful and to the unfaithful (2 Peter 1:2-4). When you see the rewards for serving the Lord and the punishment for not doing so, you will have all the incentive you need to faithfully serve the Lord.

Look for principles in the Bible that will help you deal with various situations in life—peer pressure, the challenge of rearing children, sickness, discouragement, marriage problems, difficulties with other relationships, etc. God has answers, if you’ll just look.

Your goal is to become a complete, mature Christian (Colossians 1:28), so use the Bible to that end. The Bible was not written merely to inform; it was written to transform. Let it do its work in you (1 Thessalonians 2:13), so that you’ll be ready when you stand before the Lord in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Profitable Bible Study (Part 2)

by Bryan Gibson

October 1, 2009

The Bible is a very profitable book (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but only with proper study. We just scratched the surface last week, so let’s look at some more things that will make Bible study more profitable for you.

Distinguish between the two testaments or covenants—the old and the new. The new is a “better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22), “established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). It came into effect when Christ died (Hebrews 9:15-17). Clearly, it is this testament (will, law) that we are subject to today (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2). Don’t make the same mistake that so many others have made—don’t look for authority for religious practices in the old covenant, one that has now become “obsolete” (Hebrews 8:13).

Don’t neglect the Old Testament, though, because it still has great practical value. Here’s a quick look at just some of its benefits. 1. It will greatly enhance your understanding of the New Testament. 2. You will better appreciate God’s eternal plan, because you’ll see it unfold right before your eyes. 3. It will strengthen your faith when you read its many prophecies, and then see their fulfillment in the New Testament. 4. The examples—both individuals and nations—will teach you lessons you’ll never forget, and hopefully save you from the mistakes of previous generations. 5. You will benefit greatly from the timeless wisdom found in such books as Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Study the Old Testament—pretty soon you’ll have some other points to add to this list.

Be careful how you handle all the figurative language in the Bible. Does it make sense to you that exactly 144,000 will be saved, and that this number will only include male virgins? That’s what you’ve got—if you take Revelation 14:1-4 literally. It’s amazing how some can easily pick out figurative language in just about every other source, except the Bible. Consider the context in which it is said—that’s rule number one. If a literal interpretation sounds ridiculous, it probably is. If a literal interpretation contradicts other plain passages, you know you’re on the wrong track. Learn to appreciate figurative language, because it makes the point in a very vivid, memorable way. Just make sure you get the right point.

When looking for good examples to follow, don’t forget about the local churches described in the New Testament. They were taught the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), or the doctrine of Christ, so whatever they did in terms of organization, work, and worship, that’s our pattern to follow today.

When studying the above subject, make sure you distinguish between responsibilities assigned to the local church, and those assigned to individuals within the church. The New Testament makes a distinction (1 Timothy 5:16), and so should you. Similarly, make sure you see the difference between what should be done “in church,” or in the assembly, and what should be done “at home” (1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 14:34-35). Failure to do these two things is why so many local churches no longer resemble New Testament churches.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15).

Ted Turner is perhaps best known for founding the cable news network CNN. Baseball fans remember that he once owned the Atlanta Braves. He is also a very rich man, with a net worth of 2.3 billion dollars. That makes him, according to Forbes magazine, the 190^th richest man in America. To his credit, he has donated a pretty big chunk of his money to charitable causes. Unfortunately, he has also done a lot of harm—with his mouth. Back in 1990, at the American Humanist Association convention, he said that Christianity was a “religion for losers.” He went on to say that religious beliefs have done more harm than good to mankind. He seems to have softened a little bit in the years since, but since there are many others who still have this view, let’s examine it a little more closely.

Those who choose to follow the One who died for them are not losers. The real losers are those who don’t. To prove how ridiculous Mr. Turner’s statement really was, let’s look at what a man can be if he faithfully follows the teachings of Christ (of course, the same could be said of women, with a few minor changes).

He will be humble (Titus 3:2); hardworking (Colossians 3:23); honest (Ephesians 4:25, 28), dependable (Titus 2:10); respectful (Titus 2:9; Hebrews 12:9); compassionate (1 Peter 3:8), kind (Colossians 3:12), tenderhearted (Ephesians 4:32); forgiving (Ephesians 4:32), patient (1 Thessalonians 5:14); good to all men (Galatians 6:10); hospitable (1 Peter 4:9); a loving, caring, faithful husband (Ephesians 5:25-33; 1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:19; Matthew 5:27-32); law-abiding (1 Peter 2:13; Romans 13:1-7); courteous (1 Peter 3:8); peaceable (Titus 3:2); gentle (Titus 3:2); thankful (Colossians 3:15; Ephesians 5:20); considerate (Hebrews 10:24; Philippians 2:4); courageous (Acts 4:19-20; 20:22-24; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 1:14, 28; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6; Revelation 20:4); self-controlled (Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6).

Does that sound like a loser to you—a man with all these qualities? A man like that can obviously do a lot of good for a lot of people. We may be losers before we come to Christ, but He can make winners of us all—if we completely submit to His will. Ted Turner considers himself a winner, and he has won a lot of awards, but Christ offers a much better prize than anything Mr. Turner has ever won—a crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12).

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:54-58).

Either before or after you read the rest of this article, read 2 Timothy, chapter 1. Paul’s inspired message to Timothy (and to us) is very simple: don’t ever be ashamed of the gospel. This message is delivered in two ways: through a series of very pointed exhortations, and then through a number of different examples, both good and bad. Let’s identify the exhortations first.

1. “Therefore do not be ASHAMED of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God” (v. 8).

2. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (v. 6).

3. “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (v. 13).

4. “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (v. 14).

Let’s see if we can sum up these words to Timothy (and to us): I know it’s not easy; I know you’re being persecuted, but don’t ever become the least bit timid or ashamed of the gospel. Hold on to the truth you’ve been taught. Practice it, preach it, and defend it—no matter what the consequences may be.

As we indicated earlier, this chapter is more than just a series of exhortations. Exhortations are good, but if you can back them up with some examples, they become even more powerful. Here are the ones Paul uses in this chapter:

1. Timothy’s own mother and grandmother, who both possessed an “unfeigned faith” (v. 5), and who taught him the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

2. Paul himself, who said, “...I am not ASHAMED, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (v. 12).

3. Onesiphorus, who “was not ASHAMED of my chain,” who ministered to Paul, both while he was in Ephesus, and while he was in prison in Rome (vv. 16-18).

4. And then in contrast to these good examples: “...all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”

Combine the exhortations with the examples and you’ve got one powerful message. Let’s see if we can sum it up again: Timothy, don’t be a coward like Phygellus and Hermegones. They turned away from me, because they were ashamed of the gospel. Stand up for the Lord and His gospel—like me, like Onesiphorus, like your own mother and grandmother. If we can do it, so can you.

I went through the New Testament recently, with one main objective—looking for things Christians should include in their prayers. What follows is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it will keep us busy for a long time.

1. That the Lord’s will be done (Matthew 6:9-10; Jesus’ example in Matthew 26:39).

3. For forgiveness, when we do sin (1 John 1:9; Acts 8:13, 18-24; Matthew 6:12, 14-15).

4. That our faith, and the faith of others, should increase and not fail (Luke 22:31-32; 17:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10).

7. For spiritual growth in all areas (Colossians 1:9-12; 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

8. That laborers be sent into the harvest, i.e., the harvest of souls (Matthew 9:35-38).

9. That the word of God be preached boldly (Acts 4:18-21, 29; Ephesians 6:18-20; 2 Timothy 4:16-17).

10. For open doors for the word of God (Colossians 4:2-3; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 16:7-9).

11. That the word of God run swiftly, or spread rapidly (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).

15. For elders, and for others with special responsibilities (Acts 14:23; 6:6; 13:3).

16. For those who are suffering—those in need of comfort and strength (Luke 22:39-43; James 5:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 7:5-6).

19. For good health—for ourselves and for others (3 John 1:1; Philippians 2:27; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Here’s your assignment for today: read 2 John. It will only take about two minutes, because it’s just one chapter with thirteen verses. To help you get the most out of your reading and any additional study, here’s a short study guide. We’ll divide this one chapter into four sections, and make a few comments about each one.

Introduction and Commendation (vv. 1-4). Don’t concern yourself too much with identifying the “elect lady and her children,” to whom this epistle is addressed. It’s difficult to know for sure (an actual lady and her children? a local church?), and it matters little to the practical meaning of this short letter. Do pay attention, though, to the good things said about them. Notice especially the emphasis on two things: love and truth. The union of these two is really the main theme of this letter, and the tone for that is set right here in the introduction.

A Plea to Walk in Love and Truth (vv. 5-6). “Love one another”—that’s the commandment issued in verse 5, but notice how love is defined in verse 6: “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” Let that soak for a minute. Any teaching about love is incomplete, unless it emphasizes the necessity of keeping God’s commandments. You cannot talk about one without talking about the other. Do you see the theme developing? Love and truth go hand in hand—in teaching and in practice. Want further evidence? Look at the next section.

The Reason for the Plea: The Threat of False Teachers (vv. 7-11). How does love respond to those who teach error, to those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ? “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (vv. 10-11). They’ve lost the support of the Father and the Son (v. 9), and so we can’t offer ours either. Love is loyal to the truth; it simply cannot tolerate false doctrine. Now, flip the page to 3 John and notice an interesting contrast. How does love respond to those who teach the truth? “We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow-workers for the truth” (v. 8). Support those who teach error, and you become a partner with them; support those who teach the truth, and you become a partner with them. Love always sides with truth—that’s the message of this epistle.

Conclusion (vv. 12-13). John wanted to say more to the elect lady and her children, but he wanted say it “face to face” (v. 12), and the reason he gives is “that our joy may be full” (v. 12). A face to face meeting would give John an opportunity to find out if they heeded his instructions in this epistle, if they were still walking in truth and love. He had rejoiced earlier when he heard about them walking in the truth (v. 4); to see them still doing it would make his joy complete.

When God says we’re wrong, it ought to make our heart tremble. “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2, NASV). I hope that describes us, but I know for a fact it describes King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:8-33). When he heard God’s word and found out he was wrong, he was humble; he was contrite in spirit; and yes, he did tremble. He reacted the very way you and I should react when God says we’re wrong.

Here’s how it happened. In the 18^th year of his reign, when he was 26 years old, Josiah ordered repairs on the temple. The Book of the Law, which had been lost for some time, was discovered during this repair work. Josiah had someone read the law and the news was not good. The law of God revealed to him two things—that He and the people were guilty of breaking a number of God’s commandments, and that God’s wrath was about to poured out on them. It was too late to save the nation of Judah, over whom Josiah reigned, but God had mercy on Josiah, and here’s why: “...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:27-28).

But that’s not the end of the story. Josiah did more than just tremble; he set out immediately to make the necessary changes to his own life, and to influence as many others as he could to do the same. Read carefully: “Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 34:31-33). In other words, Josiah REPENTED, and that’s the part we too often leave out.

Some folks will tremble when they hear or read God’s word, but that’s as far as it goes. Felix trembled when he heard Paul preach the gospel (Acts 24:25), but he didn’t respond; he didn’t make the necessary changes. Even demons tremble (James 2:19), and we know there is no hope for them. I want to be more like King Josiah, and I’m sure you do too. We must—if we want to go to heaven

See if you can answer the following questions, all of which have the same answer. Why did Cain kill Abel? (Genesis 4:4-8; 1 John 3:11-12). Why did Joseph’s brothers first conspire to kill him, and then sell him into slavery? (Genesis 37; Acts 7:9). Why did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram lead a rebellion against Moses? (Numbers 16:1-3; Psalms 106:16-18). Why did King Saul make numerous attempts to kill David? (1 Samuel 18:7-9; 18:28-29; 20:31). Why did the Jewish rulers deliver Jesus to the Roman authorities to be crucified? (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10; John 11:47-48). The culprit in every case was envy, the “evil eye” Jesus speaks of in Mark 7:22 (“envy” in some translations).

Envy was a problem for these Bible characters, and it’s still a problem—perhaps a bigger problem than we sometimes realize. We can become envious of those who make more money, those who are in a higher position, those who are more gifted, those who receive more praise, those who have better behaved children, etc. And because we’re envious, we either treat them poorly, or we just don’t treat them quite as well as we might others. They’ve done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment, mind you, but that’s the nature of this sin—it makes us do and say crazy things.

Look again at the examples above. They illustrate at least three major points about envy (and its close cousin, jealousy). 1. Envy is a powerful force. When it gets rolling, it can wreak a lot of havoc—in families, in churches, in relationships in general. “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4). 2. Envy never stands alone—it will always be accompanied by other evils. “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16). 3. Envy may actually cause us more harm than the object of our envy. “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). If you doubt that, just ask King Saul, whose envy practically consumed him. Sir Thomas Fuller once wrote, “Envy shoots at others and wounds herself.” That’s the truth, because the Bible confirms it.

Clearly then, envy has no place in the life of a Christian (Mark 7:21-23; Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 2:1)—for the reasons given above, but also because it had no place in the life of Christ. You can’t “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” and still have envy in your heart (Romans 13:13-14). It may have “once” had a place, when we were apart from Christ (Titus 3:3), but no more. It hurts us; it hurts the object of our envy; and it will cause our souls to be lost in hell.

So how do we get rid of it? First, get rid of pride, which is really the source of envy. “Let us not become conceited...envying one another” (Galatians 5:26). “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts...” (James 3:14). Did you notice how the two are joined together? Secondly, love the way God intended—the very way Christ demonstrated. “Love does not envy” (1 Corinthians 13:4); what it does instead is “rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15).

When studying the Bible, it’s a good idea to assign a title to each chapter, something that will help us remember the contents of that chapter. Let’s use Paul’s Epistle to Titus as an example. Titus has three chapters, so we’ll assign a title to each one, and then explain how the contents fit each title.

Chapter One: Every church needs elders. Note carefully Paul’s instruction to Titus in v. 5: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.” What qualities would these elders need to have? Look beginning in v. 6: “If any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children...” (the list of qualifications continues through v. 9). Why do we need men like this in a local church? For one, we need them to protect the church from false teaching. Look beginning in the middle of v. 9: “that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped...” (vv. 9b-11). Every church needs elders—it is commanded, and it is for the good of God’s people.

Chapter Two: Act your age. This is a fitting title for chapter 2, because it deals with the responsibilities of different age groups: older men (v. 2), older women (vv. 3-4a), younger women (vv. 4b-5), and younger men (vv. 6-8). This section concludes with some admonitions to servants (vv. 9-10). One of the interesting things about this chapter is that in addition to the instructions given, it also gives various incentives to obey these instructions: “that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (v. 5); “that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (v. 8); “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (v. 10); and finally, the greatest incentive of all—the grace of God (vv. 11-15).

Chapter Three: Do good works. A quick look at some verses will reveal this emphasis. “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work” (v. 1). “...those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (v. 8). “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (v. 14). Does this emphasis on good works in any way diminish the love, kindness, mercy, and grace of God, upon which we are so dependent for our salvation? (vv. 4-7). How can that be, when the very design of God’s grace is to produce a people “zealous for good works”? (2:14). Good works—works of obedience—do not diminish the grace of God; they bring it into clearer light for all to see (Acts 11:23). Besides, do we really expect God to show mercy to those who refuse to do His will?

So here is Paul’s Epistle to Titus in a nutshell. 1. Every church needs elders. 2. Act your age. 3. Do good works. That’s easy to remember, and it should help us remember other details in these three chapters.

My view of the Scriptures was settled a long time ago—when I came to believe in Jesus. I knew then that I had to follow His example in everything, including His attitude toward the Scriptures. So how does Jesus view the Scriptures? To be more specific, does He express full confidence in their inspiration?

When Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, which says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). According to Jesus then, Scripture comes from the mouth of God. But did He believe this was the case with ALL Scripture?

He certainly believed this to be the case with the Old Testament Scriptures, and He demonstrated this confidence in several different ways. 1) He talked about how these Scriptures must be fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44). He could speak with certainty about their fulfillment because He knew they came from the mouth of God. 2) He settled arguments with O.T. Scripture. Three of His favorite words were, “it is written,” followed by a quotation from Scripture (see Matthew 4:1-11). On other occasions, when there was a misunderstanding or a question, Jesus would ask, “Have you not read?” and again He would quote Scripture. In fact, Jesus quoted from at least thirteen different Old Testament books. Whenever a Scripture was quoted, that was the end of the matter, as far as Jesus was concerned. 3) He spoke of Old Testament Scripture as that which “cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

But what about the New Testament Scriptures? The first four books (Matthew-John) contain many words spoken directly by Jesus, and so the source is still the same—the mouth of God. Listen to Jesus: “...I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say...whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50). To make sure His words were faithfully preserved, Jesus made this promise to His apostles: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

What about the remainder of the New Testament? When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles (Acts 2), He did more than just remind them of what Jesus had already taught. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15). I believe Jesus fulfilled this promise. I believe He did send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth, that they in turn wrote all truth down in the Scriptures (Ephesians 3:1-5), and that every word came ultimately from the mouth of God. That’s what Jesus said would happen, and I believe Him.

I have full confidence in the inspiration of the Scriptures, and my confidence in them is based on my confidence in Him.

Children Are A Blessing

by Bryan Gibson

July 17, 2009

Seems obvious, right? Well, children may be regarded as a blessing to some, but there are plenty of parents who don’t see it that way. They neglect their children while they are under their care, and then they can’t wait to get them out of the house. Let’s look at a few passages of Scripture to remind ourselves that children are indeed a blessing.

“Behold, children are a heritage (gift—NASV) from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalms 127:3-5). Children are not a burden; they are a gift from the Lord, a reward.

“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord” (Psalms 128:1-4). Parents, if you don’t fear the Lord and walk in His ways, don’t blame your children when they give you trouble. You can help them flourish—“like olive plants all around your table”—and enjoy them much more, if you model godliness before them.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me’” (Matthew 18:1-5). Sure, children can be exasperating; they don’t always behave the way they should. But they also have some qualities we would do well to imitate, and humility is one of them, as the above passage indicates. Sometimes, we may see more of a likeness to God in our children than we do in ourselves.

“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world” (John 16:21). If you’ve been blessed with the birth of children, you know exactly what Jesus is talking about in this passage. It’s hard to imagine any greater joy than what we feel at that time, but there are at least three occasions when our joy for them will be even greater—when they are born again (John 3:3-5); when they marry someone who will help them get to heaven; and when we see them “in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Thank you, God, for the gift of children. Please help us to train them in Your ways. Help us to train them in OUR home, so they can one day live in YOUR home.

The Bible is filled with warnings, some very direct and explicit (“beware of false prophets”—Matthew 7:15), and some implied. Some of these implied warnings come from the stories told in the Scriptures. Let’s look at some of these warnings and the stories that illustrate them.

Be careful where you “pitch your tent” (the story of Lot: Genesis 13-19). Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12), exposing his family to people who “were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13). It turned out to be a disastrous decision. Go and read the details—if you’re not already familiar with them.

Do not commit sexual immorality of any kind, including homosexuality (the story of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction: Genesis 19). If there is any doubt that these cities serve as a warning to us today, look at what Jude 1:7 says: “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

Be careful who you marry (the story of Solomon: 1 Kings 11:1-4). The law of Moses contained explicit warnings about marrying foreigners who served other gods (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Solomon ignored these warnings and here’s what happened: “his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David” (1 Kings 11:4). Marry someone who will help you get to heaven, not someone who will stand in your way.

Do not rebel against authority (the story of Korah: Numbers 16). Korah, joined by Dathan and Abiram, rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron, which, in effect, was rebellion against the Lord (Numbers 16:30). It didn’t take them long to wish they hadn’t. “The ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up...they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Numbers 26:10 says that they “became a warning”—not just to the people then, but also to us today.

When it comes to the worship of God, do not act without His authority (the story of Nadab and Abihu: Leviticus 10:1-3). They erred the same way many do today—they offered something to the Lord “which He had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1). And they paid for it with their lives—“fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:2). Granted, we’re under a different covenant today, but the need for authority is just as vital (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 1:9; Matthew 15:7-9).

Do not wait for a convenient time to obey the gospel, to become a Christian (the story of Felix: Acts 24:22-27). Felix was moved when he heard the gospel, but he said to Paul, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:25). To the best of our knowledge, that convenient time never came for Felix and so he died outside the Lord. Please don’t let that happen to you. Heed the warning!

The Old Testament Scriptures contain prophecies of a kingdom, a kingdom over which the Christ or Messiah would reign. According to premillennialists, this kingdom is not spiritual, but earthly. They say that Jesus will sit on the literal throne of David in Jerusalem, and reign for exactly 1000 years. Obviously, nothing like that has happened, so according to them, the kingdom of Old Testament prophecy has not yet been established. Jesus wanted to set up this kingdom, but when the Jews rejected and crucified Him, that plan was put on hold. According to their doctrine, this kingdom will finally be established at the second coming of Christ.

1. Are you saying that Jesus failed, that even though He wanted to set up His kingdom, He was just no match for His opposition? That flies directly in the face of Psalms 2, where it is clearly indicated that God would establish His Son as King, despite the plans of His enemies. Please read that entire Psalm, and then notice how the apostles applied it in Acts 4:23-28.

2. Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, especially verses 29-36. Wouldn’t you agree that Peter is proclaiming Jesus as king? Isn’t Peter saying that Jesus became king when He was raised from the dead and ascended to His Father? That would certainly agree with the prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, where the Messiah is pictured as coming to the “Ancient of Days,” where He is then “given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.”

3. John the Baptist preached that the kingdom was “at hand” (Matthew 3:2), and so did Jesus (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). Were they wrong? We realize that according to you, the kingdom would have been set up, if not for the death of Jesus. But didn’t Jesus know he was going to die, and didn’t He speak openly of His death (Matthew 16:21)? So why did He still preach that the kingdom was “at hand” if His death was going to prevent it? Perhaps you need the faith of the thief on the cross who said, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). He knew Jesus was going to die, but he had faith that the kingdom would still be established.

4. Do you eat the Lord’s Supper, and if so, why? When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). According to you, there would be no sense doing it now, because we can’t commune with the Lord until His kingdom is established.

5. Why do you still insist on an earthly kingdom, when Jesus plainly said it would not be? “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). The Jews would have loved to make Jesus an earthly king (John 6:15), but that’s the very thing Jesus did not want to be. Jesus is reigning right now over a spiritual kingdom, and all who would be saved must submit to His rule.

Here is a question for all those who preach the gospel. Do you feel the same way about it that Paul did? Read closely: “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:14-16).

His attitude is revealed in the three “I am” statements—let’s take a closer look.

“I am a debtor...” or, “I am under obligation...” (NAS). Why did he feel such an obligation? For one, he was commissioned by the Lord to preach the gospel (Acts 26:16-18). It was his duty (and ours) to take the gospel to a lost and dying world. But don’t think for a minute that he was merely “doing his duty.” It was a labor of love—for the Lord and for the souls of men (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:8). Too, Paul felt like he owed people the chance to experience the same blessings in Christ that he did (Philippians 3:7-8). When King Agrippa said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian,” Paul replied, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:28-29).

“I am ready...” or, “I am eager...” (NAS). Paul was eager to pay off his debt. Rome was one place he had been hindered from going (Romans 1:10-13), so he was very anxious to go there and preach the gospel. Now, before we declare ourselves ready, let’s think about a couple things. First, we can’t say, “I am ready to preach the gospel,” unless we are ready to study. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Secondly, we can’t declare ourselves ready to preach until we’re ready to preach “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Ask Jeremiah and Ezekiel what that means—they can tell you. They kept right on preaching, even when hardly anyone was listening.

“I am not ashamed...” Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, “for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...” (Romans 1:16). How could we ever be ashamed of such a message? And yet there is that temptation, especially when there is opposition to what we’re preaching. There is that ever present temptation to water down the truth just to make sure we don’t offend anyone (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Here’s what Paul wrote to Timothy: “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8). Paul then offered himself as encouragement to Timothy: “For this reason I suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). Listen carefully to Jesus on this point: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

“I am a debtor...I am ready...I am not ashamed”—if only we all felt this way.

Want to learn a lot about love in a short period of time? Read 1 John. Various forms of the word love appear 46 times in this short epistle. Here are some questions about love that are answered in this book.

If we really want to learn the true meaning of love, where (or to whom) should we go? That’s easy. “Love is of God” (4:7), or to put it another way, “God is love” (4:8, 16). The only way to determine the true meaning of love is to look at the character of God, to examine what is revealed in His word about Him and His love. “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), but love learned from any other source will fail. That’s exactly why so many marriages fail—people are not practicing the love of God.

How has God demonstrated His love for us? Let the verses speak for themselves. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (3:16). “God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (4:9). “He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (4:10). “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (3:1). All this, and we didn’t deserve any of it! That should tell us something about the difference between His love and what we sometimes call love.

How do we learn of God’s love, and how can we be sure all this really happened? We learn of His love from the inspired testimony of the apostles: “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (4:14). They heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him—even after He had been raised from the dead (1:1-4). And so because the testimony of the apostles is so reliable, “we have known and believed the love that God has for us” (4:16).

When we believe the love God has for us, what effect will it have on us? It will have several effects, all of which are related. One who really believes in the love of God will 1) love God in return (4:19; 5:1); 2) will hate anything opposed to God (2:15-17; 4:1-6); 3) will keep the commandments of God (2:5; 5:2-3); and, 4) will show that same love to others, especially his brethren (3:16-18; 4:7, 11; 4:21; 5:1). It is only when love has these desired effects that we can “have boldness in the day of judgment” (4:17).

What about the poor soul who never learns to love others as God has loved him? If he still claims to love God, he is a liar. “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (4:20). This poor soul is in darkness (2:11), because he acting more like a child of the devil than a child of God (3:10-12).

“Looking for love in all the wrong places”—it’s more than just a line in an old song; it’s exactly what many are doing today. We know better, don’t we?

Study the Bible For Yourself

by Bryan Gibson

June 12, 2009

You have probably learned a lot about the Bible from others (and hopefully a few things from these articles). There is nothing wrong with that; just don’t let that take the place of your own personal study. Often times, in His exchanges with others about the Scriptures, Jesus would ask, “Have YOU not read?” (Matthew 12:3, 5, et al) or something very similar. When a lawyer came to Jesus with the question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the law? What is YOUR reading of it?” (Luke 10:25-26). The point we’re trying to make here is very simple. You need to read the Scriptures; you need to draw your own conclusions from your own personal study. Here are just some of the benefits to studying and learning on your own.

1. First of all, there is a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from learning something on your own, from seeing the results of your own diligent study. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet” (Ecclesiastes 5:12)—that would seem to apply to any form of labor, including Bible study.

2. When you learn something on your own, you tend to learn it more thoroughly; it sticks with you longer. You know that to be true in other areas, so why wouldn’t it apply to Bible study, too?

3. Learning on your own produces stronger convictions. When you see the truth in God’s word for yourself; it’s going to be awful hard for someone to convince you otherwise. God wants you to become “grounded and steadfast” in His word (Colossians 1:23), to “no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). Doing some study on your own will go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

4. When you’ve put in some study of your own, the teaching you receive from others will be clearer, and will sink much deeper into your heart. When Philip began with what is now Isaiah 53 and preached Jesus to the Ethiopian treasurer, it had a great impact, because the treasurer had already been reading from that passage (Acts 8:26-39). Your own study will help you benefit even more from the study of others.

5. Doing a lot of study on your own will make you a much better teacher, for many of the reasons already cited. You’re excited about the things you’ve learned for yourself; you’ve learned them more thoroughly; and your convictions are much stronger. You’re able to separate truth from error, so the chances of you leading someone astray are greatly diminished. You know what God says on a particular matter, and you want to share it with others.

So go ahead. Get busy today with your own study. “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3-5).

Thinking About Becoming a Christian?

by Bryan Gibson

June 5, 2009

We sure hope you are, because quite frankly, there is nothing better than being a Christian. To help you decide if you’re prepared to take this important step, here are a few questions to consider.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? When the jailer in Acts 16 asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” he was told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:30-31). To be saved from your sins, you must first have complete faith in your Savior. If you really believe in Him, you’ll want to do whatever He asks of you.

Do you understand the seriousness of your sin, AND the seriousness of remaining in your sin? If you have sinned, and we are sure that you have (Romans 3:23), then you have been separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and there is no worse state than that. When you’re cut off from God, you’re cut off from everything that is truly good. If you remain in your sins, you will be lost forever—this separation from God will become eternal (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). The more you appreciate the seriousness of your condition, the more you’ll appreciate what Jesus did for you—how He took the punishment you should have received.

Are you willing to turn away from all your sins? That’s what the New Testament means when it uses the word repent, and that’s exactly what Peter told people to do in Acts 2:38 and 3:19. You shouldn’t have a problem with that—if you understand the seriousness of your sin. If there is some sin that you want to keep doing, then you’re not ready.

Are you willing to deny yourself, take up YOUR cross, and follow Jesus? Read Luke 9:23 and you’ll see that this is exactly what Jesus expects from you. It’s no longer about what you want to do; it’s about following your Savior and His will for your life. The rich young ruler wasn’t ready to become a follower of Christ, because there was something he was not willing to do (Mark 10:17-22). You may not understand everything expected of you right now, and we all know you won’t be perfect, but you do need to be willing to do whatever Jesus asks you to do, no matter how difficult it may seem. Just to make sure you understand the commitment you need to make to Him, please read Luke 14:25-33.

Does Jesus mean more to you than anyone else? Yes, that includes all your friends; it even includes your family. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). This is important, because somewhere down the road, someone may try to pull you in a different direction than the one Jesus is taking you. The New Testament tells of some who would not follow Jesus, simply because their friends meant more to them than Jesus did (John 12:42). Don’t let that be you. Put Him first today and then keep Him there.

If all this sounds challenging, it is, because Jesus is serious about the commitment He wants from you. Remember, when you come to Christ, you are coming to Him for the cleansing of your sins, but you are also coming to Him with the determination to serve Him with all your heart.

If you’re ready to do that, then don’t wait any longer. There is a Christian somewhere who will be glad to assist you. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ, and then have that person baptize you into Christ for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-39; Acts 22:16). If I can help, please call me (334-868-0801).

Is Your Pastor Really a Pastor?

by Bryan Gibson

May 31, 2009

The words in the Bible—these are God’s words (1 Corinthians 2:13), and so we need to be careful to use them the same way He does. This would help clear up much of the religious confusion in the world today. That the word “pastor” has been frequently misused can be seen from the following study.

The word “pastor” is only found one time in the major translations of the New Testament—in its plural form: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11, NKJV). It is translated from the Greek word, poimen, which simply means shepherd. Not surprisingly, then, the other 17 times this Greek word appears in the New Testament, it is translated shepherd. Sometimes it refers to actual shepherds of sheep (e.g. Luke 2:8); other times it has a spiritual application, referring to Jesus Christ, who is the Shepherd of our souls (e.g. Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25).

The pastors or shepherds mentioned in Ephesians 4:11—these are men who serve a particular role in the church (the context of the passage makes that clear). These are the same men who are elsewhere called elders, and it is God’s will that every local church have them (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). When Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:17), he gave them this instruction: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). When the apostle Peter addressed elders (1 Peter 5:1), he gave them similar instructions: “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers...” (1 Peter 5:2).

Notice, too, in the passages just cited that these men are also called “overseers,” which comes from a word that is sometimes translated bishop (compare Titus 1:7 among the different translations). So when you’re talking about pastors, shepherds, elders, overseers, and bishops, you’re talking about the same servants within the local church. These are not different offices, just different terms used to describe the same work or function in the local church.

Obviously, not everyone who preaches can accurately call himself a pastor. One has to be appointed to that role, and not before he has met the qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Interestingly enough, some women even call themselves pastors, despite the fact that one of the qualifications is that he must be “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6).

Can there be one pastor (shepherd, elder, overseer, bishop) over a local church? Not according to the New Testament. Check the references yourself and you’ll see that every time elders are mentioned in a local church, it is always in the plural (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2; 20:17; 21:18; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1). If we’re going to follow the New Testament pattern, we’ve got to have more than one.

How to Die Gracefully - 1

by Bryan Gibson

May 16, 2009

Your doctor has just delivered the grim news. You’ve got six months to live. How do you deal with news like that? How are you supposed to feel? Well, it’s time you learn how to die—not just how to die, but to how to die gracefully. And you can, provided you’re prepared to meet the Lord.

Dying gracefully begins with having the right attitude toward your impending death.

Understand, first, that you’re not really dying. Your body is dying; it will go to the grave, but your spirit will return to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Here’s the promise of Jesus: “If anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (John 8:51). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Take the time to thank Jesus, because He “has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

Understand, too, as strange as it sounds, the day of your death will be better than the day of your birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1). That doesn’t seem right, especially when you contrast the mood of the delivery room with the mood of the funeral home. But think about it. If you’re a faithful Christian who is prepared to meet the Lord, the day you die is the beginning of what you’ve looked forward to your entire life.

This is probably not the way you would describe it, but in the eyes of the Lord, your death is a precious thing—“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Psalms 116:15). It is precious to Him, for one, because of all that He has invested in you, including the death of His Son. This was all done to prepare you for this very day. Your death is precious to Him, because He is about to give you what He planned for you from eternity.

Your death will be a “loss” for those you leave behind, but not for you. For you, it is the greatest “gain” you can possibly experience. What awaits you is “far better” than anything you’ll ever experience in this life (Philippians 1:21-23). It’s not a loss; it’s a victory, a victory over sin and the grave, made possible through your Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

Is it okay to cry? Sure it is; just don’t cry like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). They are about to spend eternity with the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41); you on the other hand are about to spend eternity with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17). You will have some sad moments as you approach death; after all you’re about the leave the people who are the dearest on earth to you. But surely in the midst of all this sorrow, you can find time to rejoice (2 Corinthians 6:10). You sure do have a lot to look forward to.

...more to come next week on how to die gracefully...

How to Die Gracefully- 2

by Bryan Gibson

May 22, 2009

You’ve been told that you’ve got six months to live. If you’re prepared to meet the Lord, then you should have the attitude toward death that we discussed in the previous article. But in order to die gracefully, here are some other things you need to do.

Keep trusting in the Lord until the last hour, because He will be with you and uphold you through this whole ordeal. The fact that you’re suffering now does not mean that you’ve been separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-37). God has been carrying you from the day of your birth; He’s not about to drop you now (Isaiah 46:3-4). After all, His arms are “everlasting” (Deuteronomy 33:27). “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).

It’s certainly okay to ask the Lord for more time; just be prepared if that is not His will. Hezekiah asked for more time, and was given 15 more years (2 Kings 20:1-6). Epaphroditus “was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him” (Philippians 2:27). Perhaps God will have mercy on you and grant you more time, but then again He may not. You’ll just have to pray the same way Jesus did—“let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

Learn to be content in this “state.” Paul’s statement, “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11), certainly applies to your impending death. Contentment won’t come easy; you’ll have to fight the urge to complain, or to become despondent, but remember what else Paul wrote in this same passage: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Take advantage of this opportunity to show the Lord’s strength and power. When Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh, the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). Your body will become weaker and weaker in your final days, but keeping praying for strength, and when it is granted, the source of it will be obvious to everyone. Your task is to magnify the Lord, not only in life, but also in death (Philippians 1:19-20).

Make things right with anyone you may have wronged (Matthew 5:23-24), and forgive anyone you may have failed to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15). If you’re at odds with your brethren, then you’re going to be in trouble with the Lord, and that’s the very thing you want to avoid at this late hour. Make things right, because the day is fast approaching when that opportunity will run out.

Spend your last days encouraging others to be faithful, to continue in the work of the Lord. That’s exactly what Paul did in his second letter to Timothy, when he knew that the time of his departure was “at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). He warned Timothy about temptations; he urged him to continue in the things he had learned; he exhorted him to preach the word. You’re bound to have a captive audience during your last days, so take full advantage of it.

The heavenly Father said this about His Son, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Hebrews 1:9). Jesus spoke of his love for righteousness (John 5:30; 6:38), but He did much more than that—He proved it, in a number of ways, including the following:

He proved it by His baptism. Jesus had committed no sins, but He still insisted on being baptized, saying that it was necessary to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-15). Others refused to be baptized by John (Luke 7:30), but Jesus obeyed, just like He said He would (John 5:30; 6:38). Jesus commands all today to be baptized in His name for the remission of sins (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). We can prove our love for righteousness—and for Him—by doing just that.

He proved it by driving the moneychangers from the temple—on two separate occasions (John 2:13-17; Mark 11:15-17). He couldn’t stand what they had done to His Father’s house—making it a “house of merchandise” (John 2:16), and a “den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). Where is that same righteous indignation today, seeing that many have turned his spiritual house (the church) into something He never intended?

He proved it by resisting every temptation. Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), but not one time did He succumb to temptation. Jesus was constantly harassed, constantly tested—but He just kept doing and saying the right thing. Those who truly love righteousness will fight temptation at every turn.

He proved it by continuing to preach the truth, even when many of His disciples turned away (John 6:60-66). If Jesus had sought popularity and big numbers like many do today, he would have given the people what they wanted to hear, rather than what they needed to hear. Those who love righteousness will teach the truth—period!

He proved it by the people He regarded as family—“whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). The people He felt the closest to were those who had the same love for righteousness that He did. If we truly love righteousness, we will feel a kinship to those like-minded.

He proved it by His commitment to the cross. Jesus was “deeply distressed” and “exceedingly sorrowful” as he approached death (Matthew 26:37-38). He even prayed to the Father three times to “let this cup pass from me,” but then added, “not as I will, but as you will.” As difficult as this was for Him personally, He was still committed to doing the Father’s will. Let’s remember that phrase the next time we’re torn between our will and the Lord’s—“not as I will, but as You will.” We’ve got to do right, no matter how much personal hardship it may bring.

It’s easy enough to talk about our love for righteousness; it’s time we proved it.

Early Lessons from the Book of Job

By Stan Hammonds and Dave Brown

edited by Bryan Gibson

May 1, 2009

The book of Job is one of the more complex books in the Bible. There are, however, some fairly easy to understand lessons that can be gleaned from the early chapters without delving into all of its complexities. It is important that we understand these concepts on our first pass of the book, realizing that the more advanced lessons will always be there when we return to it later.

We’ll try to summarize them as follows:

1. Suffering is sometimes necessary. Job’s suffering was not just an experiment of God; it served several vital purposes. It was necessary to prove that Job was not just God’s trained puppy; it was necessary for Job to prove his faith in God and thus defy Satan; it was necessary for us to better understand that blessings can come from suffering if we maintain the right attitude toward it (2 Cor. 12:7-10). And, if it was necessary for Job it may well be necessary for us!

2. Satan does not stop after one failed attempt to weaken our faith. When Job successfully withstood the initial onslaught (the loss of his children and his wealth), Satan looked for another way to go after him. It is no different for us today; we have a persistent adversary.

3..Friends can sometimes be more helpful just by “being there” than by trying to help with words. Job’s friends meant well, but they began to cause problems when they spoke. Job told his friends that what he really needed in his time of suffering was their kindness. We would do well to remember this point whenever we interact with one another, but especially when suffering is involved.

4. We need to go to great pains to make sure we’re expressing God’s view, and not our own. It seems that Job’s friends were honest, they felt like they had the truth, and they felt that they could really help Job if he would only listen to them. But as well meaning as they were, they were wrong (at least on some points), and we can be wrong too! If we’re not sure we’re right, it’s better to remain quiet until we are sure.

5. There is a time and place for everything. Even a true statement wrongfully placed can cause harm. A great deal of what Job’s friends said was true, but if it’s said in the wrong way or at the wrong time, even the truth can be harmful to those we’re trying to help.

6. The troubles of this world—from minor everyday struggles to major life-changing events—can cause us to “get down.” How we deal with these struggles will reveal a lot about our attitude toward God and our relationship with Him.

7. Humans tend to rationalize away suffering. When something bad happens to someone else, we often attempt to provide a reason, and that reason will sometimes reflect negatively upon the person who is suffering. Let’s not fall into that trap. It is a logical fallacy (hasty generalization) to think that all suffering is caused by the one who is suffering. Obviously it is at times, but not always. This rationalization is motivated by an attempt to think that we can avoid suffering ourselves; however, we might as well put that thought out of our minds—everyone suffers...

8. No one gets out of this life without suffering of some sort. It will seem to be as bad as we can imagine, and we may sometimes feel burdened with what feels like the weight of the world. But, we should take heart in knowing God will not allow us to suffer beyond what we can handle (1 Cor. 10:13). Therefore, the only question for each of us to ponder is this: Will I be prepared for the suffering when it comes? God has provided His wisdom in the Bible, and especially in the book of Job, to help us answer this question with a resounding “Yes I will!”

Understanding the Book of Revelation - I

by Bryan Gibson

March 17, 2009

The Book of Revelation contains a number of references or allusions to events found in the Book of Exodus, in particular the Israelites’ deliverance from Egyptian bondage. We should be able then to use what happened to the Israelites as a basis for understanding the events described in the Book of Revelation. Let’s look at four major points about the Israelites’ deliverance, and then we’ll look at how these correspond to the experience of the saints in the Book of Revelation.

1) The Israelites were sorely oppressed by Egypt, an oppression that began with hard labor, but soon included the murder of male children (Exodus 1).

2) Because they were so oppressed, the Israelites cried out to God for help (Exodus 2:23-25), and He heard their cry: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry, because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows” (Exodus 3:7).

3) God answered their cry by punishing Egypt and redeeming His people, using of course the ten plagues, and then miraculously delivering them through the Red Sea while He destroyed the Egyptian army (Exodus 7-14).

4) The Israelites rejoiced in their deliverance, and sang praises to God (Exodus 15).

In the Book of Revelation, the characters change, but the story line is essentially the same. Let’s take a closer look.

1) The saints were sorely oppressed or persecuted by Rome, persecution that had been earlier prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 7:23-25). They were persecuted in a number of ways, including death by force (Revelation 13:15; 20:4), and a slower form of death, where they were prohibited from buying or selling (Revelation 13:16-17).

2) Because they were so oppressed, they too cried out to God for help: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). God certainly heard their cry, and in many ways, the rest of the book is an answer to their cry.

3) God’s answer to their cry was that He would punish Rome, and redeem His people. It wouldn’t happen right away (6:11), but their blood would be avenged (Revelation 18:20; 19:2). The details of this punishment and deliverance again sound very similar to the exodus from Egypt. For example, the language of the plagues is used throughout to describe this punishment (boils, hail, locusts, darkness, etc.). Also, like the Israelites, there was a sea between these saints and the Promised Land—“before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal” (Revelation 4:6). Later, we see the victorious saints “standing on the sea of glass” (Revelation 15:3). They didn’t just pass through it; they’re standing on it!

4) The saints rejoiced in their deliverance (Revelation 18:20) and sang praises to God (see in particular 15:3, where they sing “the song of Moses,” an obvious allusion to the experience of the Israelites).

We’ll look at a few other points of comparison in next week’s article. Until then, keep studying this wonderful book. Don’t fall for all the wild speculation; study it for yourself.

Understanding the Book of Revelation - II

by Bryan Gibson

March 24, 2009

This is a follow up to last week’s article, where we compared the events described in the Book of Revelation to the Israelites’ deliverance from Egyptian bondage. There are just too many references to the experience of the Israelites in this book to ignore this comparison. Let’s notice a few more comparisons this week, focusing this time on the judgment of the two nations, Egypt and Rome.

The method of judgment was the same—it was accomplished in stages. God could have delivered Israel from Egypt with one mighty blow, but He chose instead to send a series of judgments, in the form of ten plagues. This is the same pattern found in the Book of Revelation, where a number of warning judgments (seven trumpets) are given before the decisive blow. Clearly, God wanted to turn the hearts of these people to Him; He was giving them ample time to come to know Him and repent of their sins (Exodus 7:5, 17; Revelation 9:20-21). Of course, these warning judgments would also serve as a wake up call to any of God’s people who needed to repent.

God’s purpose behind these judgments was the same. Yes, He intended to punish the oppressors, and yes, He intended to deliver His people, but there was still another purpose—to show that He reigns! Read the song Moses and the children of Israel sang after God delivered them, especially the conclusion: “The LORD shall reign forever and forever” (Exodus 15:18). Compare this to the proclamation of the angel at the sounding of the seventh trumpet: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15). These were two powerful demonstrations of the Lord’s power and authority over all nations. This was the message God wanted to send, not just to these respective generations, but to all succeeding generations.

God’s care for His people during these judgments was the same. The Israelites suffered along with the Egyptians during the first three plagues, but starting with the fourth plague, God made a difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians (Exodus 8:22-23). The land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt, was not hit with the remaining plagues. They were protected from the final plague, the death of the firstborn, in a very interesting way—by the blood of the Passover lamb, which they sprinkled on the top and sides of their doorposts. Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, it seems that the people of God suffered along with everyone else initially, but notice what is said before the opening of the seventh seal: “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads” (7:3). The purpose of this was obviously protection, because later the command is given to harm “only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (9:4). The best form of protection they were given though was the blood of their Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Those who were washed in His blood and followed Him faithfully had no reason to fear anything that might happen to them (7:14; 12:11).

This was the question Pilate posed to the Jews, after they had requested that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus. Their answer, of course, was “let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:15-22). Let’s take this same question and direct it to you—“What then shall YOU do with Jesus?” You’ve got several choices.

You can put Jesus off like Felix did. Felix was moved when he heard Paul preach about faith in Christ, but he said, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:24-25). There is no record that Felix ever found that convenient time. Putting Jesus off is not a good option. When He calls (through His word), you don’t say, “Let me first go and...” (Luke 9:59-61).

You can ignore the mountain of evidence and choose not to believe in Jesus. You can ignore all the Old Testament prophecies He fulfilled, all the eyewitness testimony, His resurrection from the dead, etc. Just be aware that if you take this route, you will die in your sins (John 8:21-24). You will acknowledge Him as Lord one day (Philippians 2:9-11), but it will be too late then.

You can believe in Jesus, but refuse to confess Him, verbally, or otherwise, just like the blind man’s parents in John 9, and the rulers in John 12. They believed Jesus was who He claimed to be, but they wouldn’t say so, because they were afraid of what their peers would say and do.

You can believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess Him (at least verbally), but not abide in His teachings. That won’t get you to heaven, according to Jesus: “Not everyone who says Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). A true believer, a true disciple will abide in the teachings of Jesus: “If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed” (John 8:31).

You can choose the world over Jesus, just like the rich young ruler did (Matthew 19:16-22), and like Demas did (2 Timothy 4:10). That’s not a smart decision, because the world and everything in it is passing away (1 John 2:15-17). What Jesus offers will last forever.

You can choose to follow Jesus, but then deny him when the going gets tough, just like Peter did (Matthew 26:34ff.). If you do that, just make sure you do what Peter did afterward—return to the Lord and follow Him faithfully again.

You can choose to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost may be, no matter how difficult the road may become. You can choose to follow Him all the way to eternity.

“What will you do with Jesus, my friend? Neutral you cannot be: some day your heart will be asking, oh friend, ‘What will He do with me?’” (What Will You Do With Jesus?, Alton Howard).

Don’t Take the Bait - 1

by Bryan Gibson

March 27, 2009

The devil is powerful and relentless. We know that from Scripture—and from our own experience. But we’re not helpless against him; there’s plenty we can do to overcome the temptations he presents. Let’s focus this week on our attitude toward temptation and sin, and then next week, we’ll discuss some specific actions we need to take. Let’s keep the following facts in mind as we prepare to do battle.

1. Jesus died to save us, not just from the guilt of sin, but also from the practice of sin (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). According to these two passages, the proper response to the cross is to live for Him, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly. The death of Christ is a powerful motive to overcome temptation and sin.

2. Every temptation can be overcome, with God’s help. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Yes, the devil is powerful, but “He who is in you in greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

3. Sin is not nearly as satisfying and fulfilling as the devil would have us believe. It does bring a certain amount of pleasure, but this pleasure fades very quickly. Moses understood that (Hebrews 11:24-26), and it’s time we learned the same lesson. Sin can only satisfy the flesh; it cannot satisfy our deepest needs. Jesus says so, and we should trust Him.

4. Sin is nothing to play around with, because it can make us its slave (2 Peter 2:18-22). An unknown author once said, “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Don’t believe it? Just ask the man who continues his affair, even though it’s destroying him, his family, and his partner’s family. He knows all too well the pain he is causing, but he just keeps going back. “His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin” (Proverbs 5:22).

5. “Each victory will help you some other to win” (Yield Not to Temptation). Strength is gained each time we resist temptation, each time we exercise our faith. A whole-hearted “NO” to sexual immorality (or any other sin) the first time will make it easier the next time. Resistance can become a habit, too, and that’s the one we want to develop.

6. Overconfidence plays right into the devil’s hands. If we think we can go to all the wrong places, hang out with all the wrong people, and escape unscathed, we’re just fooling ourselves. Overconfidence leads to carelessness, and we cannot afford to be careless against a “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8). “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Overcoming temptation and sin begins with the right attitude—we covered that in last week’s article. This week, we need to go over our escape plan—specific actions we need to take to overcome temptation.

1. Pray. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). Our Savior knows what we’re going through, because “He was in all points tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). He knows the kind of help we need, and is willing to provide it, but we’ve got to ask (Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:14-16). “Ask the Savior to help you, comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through” (Yield Not to Temptation).

2. Flee temptation and sin, an oft repeated admonition in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22). Sometimes we may we have to literally flee, as Joseph did when he ran from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-12). But fleeing can also involve just staying away from a tempting situation, something we know ahead of time will be dangerous to our souls. “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3).

3. Guard the mind. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). In other words, what goes in will come out—in some form or another. So let’s be careful about what we read, what we watch, what we listen to. Let’s keep bad things out and put good things in. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalms 119:11).

4. “Shun evil companions” (Yield Not to Temptation). “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). We’re asking for trouble when we hang around the wrong people, because eventually they will weaken our resistance to sin. Don’t doubt it, because it’s been proven time and time again.

5. Remove stumbling blocks, anything that might be leading us into sin. It might even be the computer we’re using to read this article. If we’re wandering to “adult” sites, we’ve either got to stop, or get rid of the computer. “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:29).

6. Keep anger in check. “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). When we’re angry, it becomes so much harder to control our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. Keep a firm grip on our emotions, and we stand a much better chance of keeping the devil at bay.

7. Learn to desire good things instead of sinful things. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14). It would be a big help, then, if we desired the right things. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6).

My wife and I have two daughters. Like most fathers, I’ve thought about what the future holds for my daughters. Here are some things I want for my girls, things I believe God wants for them, too.

I want my daughters to be beautiful—on the inside. It’s not that I want them to neglect their outward appearance; some things are just far more important. I want them to be clothed with “strength and honor” (Proverbs 31:25), with a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:3-5), with the kind of beauty that never fades (Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:4). I see in the New Testament many qualities I would love for my daughters to have—poor in spirit, meek, merciful, compassionate, tenderhearted, forgiving, kind, longsuffering, pure in heart, patient. I want them to hunger and thirst after righteousness; to mourn when they sin; to learn to rejoice, even in the midst of difficult times; to learn what it means to be truly content. In short, I want them to be like Christ, which should be the goal of every faithful Christian.

I want them to marry faithful Christians. I want this, partly, for selfish reasons. I want my daughters to be treated well, and if they marry faithful Christians, they will be. They will have unselfish husbands (Philippians 2:3-4), who love them as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25), husbands who love them “in word and in deed” (1 John 3:16-18). But there are other reasons—I want them to marry someone with whom they can pray; someone who will want the same things for the children they do; someone with whom they can be fellow-workers in the kingdom of God, like Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; 1 Cor. 16:19; Rom. 16:3-4).

I want them to be good wives—submissive to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24, 33), looking out for their interests as well as their own (Phil. 2:3-4), loving them in word and in deed (1 John 3:18), and doing them good as long as they live (Proverbs 31:12).

I want them to be good mothers, to see the importance God places on bringing up children (1 Tim. 2:11-15). I want them to be like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, who was very attentive to her children’s needs; like Hannah, who said of her son Samuel, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11); like Eunice, who taught her son Timothy the Scriptures from childhood (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15).

I want them to be ready to do good for others. I want them to be like the virtuous woman who “extends her hands to the poor” and “reaches out her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20); like Dorcas, who was “full of good works and charitable deeds” (Acts 9:36); like Phoebe, who was “a helper of many” (Romans 16:1-2). When they reach old age, I want it to be said of them that they have “diligently followed every good work” (1 Timothy 5:10).

Finally, I want my daughters (as well as my sons) to go to heaven. If they can do the things mentioned in this article, they will be well on their way.

We won’t find a better benefits package anywhere. Choose to walk in the path of righteousness, and these are just some of the benefits we will receive.

It is a pleasant path to travel. “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17). The marriage relationship, home life in general, relationships with others—these become much more pleasant when we follow His wisdom.

It’s the best thing we can do for our children. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7). Lois and Eunice were a great blessing to Timothy, because they chose this path (2 Timothy 1:5). The same could be said for Zacharias and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents, who walked “in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). We do our children a great disservice if we choose any other path.

We won’t find better traveling companions anywhere. Traveling companions can make or break a trip, and when we travel the path of righteousness, we’ll be traveling with the finest people in the world. Think of it as a family trip, because we’ll be going with a bunch of mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers (Mark 10:28-30).

We can walk this path with complete integrity. “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9). To get to where we want to go on this path, we don’t ever have to lie, or cheat, or take advantage of anyone.

Walking along this path enables us to sleep soundly at night. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). We can sure sleep soundly, when we know that all is well with our soul, when we know that if we don’t make it through the night, we’ll be in a better place.

Walking God’s path ensures us of God’s help. “He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints” (Proverbs 2:7-8). “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). We’re on our own if we choose to walk in another path.

It is a brightly lit path that grows brighter and brighter. “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). It may not seem that way in the beginning, because we don’t yet see all the benefits. This path may even seem a bit restrictive; we may feel like it’s “cramping our style.” But the longer we stay on it, the brighter it gets. Just ask any older Christian, who has been on this path for many years.

It is the only path that leads to eternal life, to eternal joy and gladness. “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” (Proverbs 12:28). The Book of Isaiah describes this path as the “Highway of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8), and says that those who walk on it will “come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

With so much figurative language in the Book of Revelation, it’s helpful to imagine the proceedings as a play, with the actors clothed in very elaborate costumes. Picture on stage now a great, fiery red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. He looks menacing enough, but then you see him take his tail and sweep a third of the stars from heaven to earth. This powerful dragon is standing before a woman who is about to give birth, ready to devour the child as soon as it is born (12:3-4). You’re already feeling sorry for the mother and child, because you just know this child doesn’t stand a chance.

But, this was no ordinary child. The male child this woman bore was Jesus the Christ, “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (12:5). That’s the very thing the dragon, or the devil (12:9) was trying to prevent, but he failed, and he failed miserably. Jesus was eventually put to death; but ultimately He “was caught up to God and His throne” (12:5). Look at the declaration in v. 10: “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come...” The devil and his angels lost this spiritual battle, and they were cast out of heaven (12:7-9).

Picture this same menacing dragon, but now with “great wrath” (12:12), to the point of being “enraged” (12:17). He failed to devour Christ, so now he is going after the followers of Christ, persecuting them (12:13), or making war with them (12:17). He won’t be happy unless he can destroy the church, and he certainly has powerful weapons at his disposal (12:15). But he is still no match for the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (12:11). Chalk up another loss for the devil.

In the context of the Book of Revelation, the particular agent used by Satan against the people of God was the Roman Empire, with its associated emperor worship (see the two beasts of chapter 13), and its filthy immorality (see the description of the “great harlot” in chapters 17-19). The devil knew that he only had a “short time” (12:12) to wage this war against the saints, and indeed in time the Lord did come and destroy this immoral, oppressive government (see especially chapters 15-19). The devil and his allies were no match for Christ and the “two-edged sword” coming out of his mouth (19:15, 21; 1:16). Have you ever seen a movie or play, where the hero rode in on a white horse to save the day? That is the very picture painted in 19:11-21. His people had cried out for help (6:9-11), and He came to their rescue.

The devil is a loser, plain and simple, but he does win some individual battles. During this early oppression of the saints by the Roman Empire, there were some who cowered in the face of persecution; there were some who became defiled by the immorality around them; there were some who quite simply did not persevere to the end. They let the devil win, and that’s a shame, because they certainly had the resources to defeat him. Don’t let Satan win the battle for your soul. Keep him on a losing streak.

You might prefer the term sluggard, one that the Bible uses on several occasions. A sluggard is a lazy person, one who works hard to get out of work. The Bible has quite a bit to say about the sluggard, and none of it is good. Read carefully the following characteristics of a sluggard, just to make sure you don’t fit the description.

A sluggard sleeps too much; he sleeps when he should be working. “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11). “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread” (Proverbs 20:13).

You need your rest, but when you show up late for work, or maybe miss work entirely because you’re “sleeping in,” you’ve got a problem.

A sluggard talks when he should be working. “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23).

A sluggard makes excuses to get out of work, excuses that sometimes border on the ridiculous. The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13), or, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13).

You may not always feel just right; conditions may be not always be perfect, but you may just have to work in spite of all that.

A sluggard is not nearly as smart as he thinks he is. “The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly” (Proverbs 26:16).

Don’t be the person who tells everyone else how to do it, but is unwilling to do it himself.

A sluggard follows after frivolity—he likes to goof off. “He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding” (Proverbs 12:11). “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! (Proverbs 28:19).

A sluggard, then, is a big source of irritation to others. “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him” (Proverbs 10:26).

The Lord has no use for laziness. Work hard, for in doing so, you’ll be a blessing in the workplace, and more importantly, in the kingdom of God.

We should never exalt men too highly (1 Corinthians 3), but certain men (or women), because of their labor in the Lord, should be acknowledged (1 Corinthians 16:18), or held in esteem (Philippians 2:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:13). The following is about a man that I hold in high esteem.

His life began on June 20, 1933, when he was born in Bell Creek, an Indian community in Escambia County, Alabama. His new life began in his early 20’s when he was converted to the Lord. His conversion was identical to those in the Book of Acts. He heard the gospel, which not only produced faith in his heart, but also convicted him of his sins (Acts 2:36-37; 8:12). He repented of his sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19), confessed his faith in Jesus (Acts 8:36-37), and was then baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:12; 18:8; 22:16).

A few years after his conversion, he and his wife, along with several other families, became very disturbed over the practices of their local church. Things were being done for which there was no authority in the New Testament, and when efforts to resolve their differences with the other brethren failed, they decided to begin a new congregation—one that would be dedicated to following the New Testament pattern. What other churches around them were doing mattered none to them; they were determined to go back to “the beginning” (1 John 2:24) for everything they did. Thanks to him and a number of other fine Christians, that church has remained firm in that commitment to this day.

His dedication to the word of God continued to grow through his adult years. He was by no means a polished speaker, but he preached whenever needed, and took regular turns teaching Bible classes in the local church. He determined early on to spend at least four hours studying before he taught a particular class. He did this, despite working a full-time job at a paper mill, running a small farm, gardening, picking up pecans, and working various side jobs at different times. Maybe that explains why he took his Bible to work with him, and to the deer stand in his later years. He wasn’t a highly educated man, but he was determined to learn the word, and that’s exactly what he did (1 Peter 2:1-3).

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) was exemplified by him in a variety of ways. He looked out for his brethren in Christ, even more so when he became an elder in his later years. He took very good care of both his immediate family and his extended family. He was good to his co-workers, to the people in his community, and to the many young boys he coached in Little League and Babe Ruth. He wasn’t the syrupy, sentimental kind; he wasn’t much on hugs and sweet words, but he demonstrated the love of Christ in many practical ways (1 John 3:16-18). Several people even remarked that he was like a “second father” to them.

One of the ironies about this man was that although he was a man of few words, he said what needed to be said. Perhaps he was a little too blunt at times; maybe he didn’t always season his speech with salt (Colossians 4:6), but he didn’t want people to be lost, and so if he needed to say something to get someone back on the right track, he said it. It must have been effective, because a number of people came back to thank him for the warnings he gave.

Some of you may have already figured it out, but this man was my father. He passed from this life on December 2, 2007, but he has not passed from my memory. He taught me a lot, and even though he is dead, he is still teaching me today (Hebrews 11:4). I hold him and other men like him in high esteem.

Some argue that the Bible is still being written today, that God is continuing to reveal Himself to certain individuals today. A couple of red flags should be raised, even before we examine the Biblical evidence. First, these supposed revelations often conflict with each other, and secondly, these supposed revelations often conflict with what is found in the Scriptures. This should be enough to create at least a little skepticism on our part, but let’s examine the Biblical evidence, because that’s what we need to stand on.

Before He returned to His Father, Jesus promised His apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them into ALL truth (John 16:13). If truth is still being revealed today, then Jesus was lying to the apostles. None of us, I’m sure, are comfortable with that conclusion. A number of later New Testament passages speak of the gospel as something that while previously hidden, had now been revealed (Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:7-13; Ephesians 3:3-5; Colossians 1:26-27; 2 Timothy 1:9-10). This, of course, is further evidence that the Holy Spirit did exactly what Jesus said He would do—guide the apostles into, or reveal to them, all truth.

Obviously, the apostles did not keep what was revealed to themselves. Jesus told them that they would “bear witness” of the things revealed to them (John 15:26-27), and that’s exactly what they did. They, along with New Testament prophets, not only preached the truth revealed to them, but also wrote it down in the Scriptures for all future generations to read and understand (Ephesians 3:1-5). What they “received” they “delivered”—that’s how it’s worded in both 1 Corinthians 11:23 and 15:3. All truth has been revealed in the Scriptures, and so we need not look for any further revelations. The real death blow to continuing revelation is found in Jude 1:3, where Jude exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith (gospel) which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Once for all—that’s the very expression used in reference to the sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 7:27), when the point is made that Jesus would never have to repeat this sacrifice, that this one time would be effective for all time. God has revealed His will to us in the Scriptures, and that is sufficient for all time.

According to the New Testament, Christians in the first century could believe the truth, know the truth, and walk in the truth (1 Timothy 4:3; 1 John 2:21; 3 John 1:3-4). It doesn’t sound like they were missing anything that was only made available to future generations. The truth is, they were given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Epaphras even prayed for his brethren that they “may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). Why pray that if all of His will had not been revealed? Admittedly, it was not until near the end of the first century that the New Testament was completely written, but they at least had the will of God in oral form. Was there any difference between what the apostles and prophets preached by inspiration and what they wrote by inspiration?

“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).