~ Future Reality – Glorification ~
Last time we considered salvation from the aspect of sanctification. Sanctification is marked by the bookends of “justification” and “glorification.” At some future point—perhaps today—Christians will be changed into new glorious bodies and we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). Perhaps very soon the process of “sanctification” will end. When Jesus Christ returns to take His sanctified saints home to live with Him forever, they will be glorified!
Glorification is really all about joy! Our joy of glory is the final result of our salvation (Jude 24). Our glorification also causes great joy for our God.
Salvation is past tense, Christians have been saved from the penalty of sin. They have a new position in Christ—positional salvation and positional sanctification.
Salvation is present tense, Christians are being saved from the power of sin. They have a new condition as their new spiritual nature allows them to become more and more like Christ. This is present salvation and present sanctification.
Salvation is future tense, Christians will be saved from the presence of sin. They have an expectation of becoming just like Christ. At that time they will have perfect salvation and perfect sanctification.
Salvation past, justification, is a free gift and results from trusting Jesus Christ.
Salvation present, sanctification, is a process of ongoing growth and maturity.
Salvation future, glorification, includes evaluation to determine rewards for our life on earth.
Past justification is a one-time event—it is a birth process bringing spiritual life (the germ).
Present sanctification is a life-long process—it involves a new kind of life (growth).
Future glorification includes a one-time event at the Judgment Seat of Christ—it ushers in eternal life with God (harvest).
The Christian was translated at conversion (Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18).
The Christian is being transformed by contemplation (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Christian will be transfigured at glorification (Romans 8:17, 29-30; 1 Corinthians 15:49-53).
The eternal God is the source of all!
Our eternal salvation is God’s greatest work!
Our eternal life is God’s richest gift!
Our eternal inheritance is guaranteed now!
God has offered such a wonderful free gift! But we must claim it. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
EXTRA: Seeking God?
~ Response to a Comment ~
A recent comment posted by Jay to my blog states: “I am a muslim and am interested to know about the Christian way to God.” As a blogger I am taking this comment at face value and assume it has great sincerity. Before providing my answer I would like to remark that the five Christians who gave their lives and were the subject of the post you replied to possessed guns with live ammunition. They could have easily saved themselves but they had previously determined not to use their weapons against these native people. Their reasoning was that they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that when they died they would be with God. On the other hand, they feared for the eternal future of the natives they were trying to reach with God’s love. Here is my two-fold answer to your question:
(1) I highly recommend that you obtain a Bible and begin by reading the Gospel of John. The Bible is divided into two major portions—the Old Testament takes up the first two-thirds of the book and is followed by the New Testament. The Gospel of John is the fourth book in the New Testament. As you read, please be open. You might say a prayer in your own words, something to the effect of “God, if You are really God, will You show me the way with no uncertainty—that I might know the true and living God.” If you do these things, I believe God will reveal Himself to you in no uncertain terms.
(2) What follows is an appendix to my next book which is due to be released in the second quarter of this year:
There was a time when I collected prints of scenes from the Pacific Northwest. I remember the time that I was looking through a hardware store in a small town along the Columbia River. I always enjoy hardware stores, especially in small towns, and in this case the anticipation of a bargain was high due to the “going out of business” signs in the windows. It wasn’t long before I spotted something I had not anticipated. It was a large discarded painting in the back room—in the “Employees Only” area. It was extremely dirty and dusty but I thought I could make out that it was a painting of Crater Lake, Oregon. The painting had no future and was headed for the dump when the store closed for the last time.
I found the owner of the store and asked about it. He was surprised that I had spotted it and amazed that I showed an interest in it. He brought it out and we blew off some of the dust. I quickly discovered some prior do-it-yourself efforts to clean the painting—which were clearly unsuccessful. Apparently someone had used gasoline or other solvent, smearing the oils—the painting looked beyond repair. But since my wife and I had honeymooned at Crater Lake and we returned to that special spot regularly, to his delight I gave the store owner a few dollars and then left with an original oil painting. My intention was to restore the painting.
At home I briefly cleaned it the best I could and hung it in our basement, but it was clearly damaged goods. The painting hung in our basement for a number of years.
One day through a business contact I learned of a local oil painting restoration expert. His services turned out to be far more reasonable than I expected and the beauty of the original creation was brought back to life. The vibrant colors were amazing. It turned out to be a painting from the late 1800s by a well-known painter. Some years later we took it for a formal valuation and confirmed that the painting which had been headed to the trash was indeed valuable.
The painting now occupies a prominent spot in our dining room—it is on display for others to see and admire.
Just like that painting, many lives have been wasted and now exist in back rooms missing out on the purpose for which they were created. Many others appear very successful on the outside, but inside they are empty and missing the most important thing in life. Like the painting, they are covered with dirt from past experiences, circumstances, and wrong decisions.
When the surface is cleaned up and a deeper analysis is made, the evidence of past do-it-yourself improvement projects is evident. No lasting success was achieved; in fact, often they are worse off than before their “pulling up by bootstraps” efforts were completed.
I have some good news for you. Jesus Christ is the Master Restorer. He restores broken and cast-off lives. He also brings clarity and brilliance to all who come to Him. Bringing your past to Jesus Christ and trusting Him for the future is the only effective answer. He has already paid for your restoration at the Cross. You only need to deliver yourself to the Master Restorer. When He restores, all your stains are removed and vibrancy is restored. Like my painting, you can be restored to what you were intended to be.
As you grow in your knowledge of Him, you take on His character. Like the painting, you can now fulfill the role for which you were created. Your life will have meaning and purpose, and like the painting, you will bring joy and pleasure to others. You will no longer be headed for the trash bin, rather now you have a secure home. Others looking on will admire what they see.
That painting is a picture of many individuals today. Because of Adam’s original sin all of mankind is doomed to sin, suffering, and death. The just and righteous Creator of the universe cannot overlook crime against His holy nature—the price must be paid!
The Good News is that your penalty has been paid by Jesus Christ.
The sin of man grieved the heart of God so much that He sent His only Son to die at Calvary to pay the penalty of your sin. However, there is a simple requirement in order for you to escape the ultimate judgment and corresponding eternal suffering. You must make a decision to accept the gift of salvation that the death of Jesus Christ provided for you.
But please do not take my word for it—take God at His Word. Consider the following quotations from the Word of God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 NKJV). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because He has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).
Please now understand the significance of that word “whoever.” That last paragraph may be correctly read as follows: “For God so loved [your name] that He gave His one and only Son, so that if [your name] believes in Him [your name] shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn [your name], but that [your name] might be saved through Him. If [your name] believes in Him [your name] will not be condemned, but if [your name] does not believe [your name] stands condemned already because [your name] has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The fact that Jesus Christ overcame death proves He was God. Over 500 eyewitnesses saw the resurrected Christ at one time. There were also numerous other appearances in His resurrected state including appearances to those who knew Him very well. He not only has power over death but also the power to give you a never-ending life of great joy and happiness in the world to come.
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). However, this world may be at 11:59 p.m. on the dial of the “earth’s history” clock, and when the hour strikes midnight it will be too late.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire” (2 Peter 3:9-10).
God has promised that if you come to Him in faith He will save you for all time and provide you with a deep inner assurance of the reality of your salvation. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, emphasis added). Once you have accepted the free gift of having your sins paid for by the death of Jesus Christ, the way to confidence and assurance of your future is to regularly read the Word of God and to pray to God.
As you follow God you will gain complete confidence in your future. If you have made the decision to accept the death of Jesus Christ on your behalf, welcome to the kingdom of God! I am so happy to have you as my new brother. (I would welcome contact with you.)
A recent comment posted by Jay to my blog states: “I am a muslim and am interested to know about the Christian way to God.” As a blogger I am taking this comment at face value and assume it has great sincerity. Before providing my answer I would like to remark that the five Christians who gave their lives and were the subject of the post you replied to possessed guns with live ammunition. They could have easily saved themselves but they had previously determined not to use their weapons against these native people. Their reasoning was that they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that when they died they would be with God. On the other hand, they feared for the eternal future of the natives they were trying to reach with God’s love. Here is my two-fold answer to your question:
(1) I highly recommend that you obtain a Bible and begin by reading the Gospel of John. The Bible is divided into two major portions—the Old Testament takes up the first two-thirds of the book and is followed by the New Testament. The Gospel of John is the fourth book in the New Testament. As you read, please be open. You might say a prayer in your own words, something to the effect of “God, if You are really God, will You show me the way with no uncertainty—that I might know the true and living God.” If you do these things, I believe God will reveal Himself to you in no uncertain terms.
(2) What follows is an appendix to my next book which is due to be released in the second quarter of this year:
There was a time when I collected prints of scenes from the Pacific Northwest. I remember the time that I was looking through a hardware store in a small town along the Columbia River. I always enjoy hardware stores, especially in small towns, and in this case the anticipation of a bargain was high due to the “going out of business” signs in the windows. It wasn’t long before I spotted something I had not anticipated. It was a large discarded painting in the back room—in the “Employees Only” area. It was extremely dirty and dusty but I thought I could make out that it was a painting of Crater Lake, Oregon. The painting had no future and was headed for the dump when the store closed for the last time.
I found the owner of the store and asked about it. He was surprised that I had spotted it and amazed that I showed an interest in it. He brought it out and we blew off some of the dust. I quickly discovered some prior do-it-yourself efforts to clean the painting—which were clearly unsuccessful. Apparently someone had used gasoline or other solvent, smearing the oils—the painting looked beyond repair. But since my wife and I had honeymooned at Crater Lake and we returned to that special spot regularly, to his delight I gave the store owner a few dollars and then left with an original oil painting. My intention was to restore the painting.
At home I briefly cleaned it the best I could and hung it in our basement, but it was clearly damaged goods. The painting hung in our basement for a number of years.
One day through a business contact I learned of a local oil painting restoration expert. His services turned out to be far more reasonable than I expected and the beauty of the original creation was brought back to life. The vibrant colors were amazing. It turned out to be a painting from the late 1800s by a well-known painter. Some years later we took it for a formal valuation and confirmed that the painting which had been headed to the trash was indeed valuable.
The painting now occupies a prominent spot in our dining room—it is on display for others to see and admire.
Just like that painting, many lives have been wasted and now exist in back rooms missing out on the purpose for which they were created. Many others appear very successful on the outside, but inside they are empty and missing the most important thing in life. Like the painting, they are covered with dirt from past experiences, circumstances, and wrong decisions.
When the surface is cleaned up and a deeper analysis is made, the evidence of past do-it-yourself improvement projects is evident. No lasting success was achieved; in fact, often they are worse off than before their “pulling up by bootstraps” efforts were completed.
I have some good news for you. Jesus Christ is the Master Restorer. He restores broken and cast-off lives. He also brings clarity and brilliance to all who come to Him. Bringing your past to Jesus Christ and trusting Him for the future is the only effective answer. He has already paid for your restoration at the Cross. You only need to deliver yourself to the Master Restorer. When He restores, all your stains are removed and vibrancy is restored. Like my painting, you can be restored to what you were intended to be.
As you grow in your knowledge of Him, you take on His character. Like the painting, you can now fulfill the role for which you were created. Your life will have meaning and purpose, and like the painting, you will bring joy and pleasure to others. You will no longer be headed for the trash bin, rather now you have a secure home. Others looking on will admire what they see.
That painting is a picture of many individuals today. Because of Adam’s original sin all of mankind is doomed to sin, suffering, and death. The just and righteous Creator of the universe cannot overlook crime against His holy nature—the price must be paid!
The Good News is that your penalty has been paid by Jesus Christ.
The sin of man grieved the heart of God so much that He sent His only Son to die at Calvary to pay the penalty of your sin. However, there is a simple requirement in order for you to escape the ultimate judgment and corresponding eternal suffering. You must make a decision to accept the gift of salvation that the death of Jesus Christ provided for you.
But please do not take my word for it—take God at His Word. Consider the following quotations from the Word of God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 NKJV). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because He has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).
Please now understand the significance of that word “whoever.” That last paragraph may be correctly read as follows: “For God so loved [your name] that He gave His one and only Son, so that if [your name] believes in Him [your name] shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn [your name], but that [your name] might be saved through Him. If [your name] believes in Him [your name] will not be condemned, but if [your name] does not believe [your name] stands condemned already because [your name] has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The fact that Jesus Christ overcame death proves He was God. Over 500 eyewitnesses saw the resurrected Christ at one time. There were also numerous other appearances in His resurrected state including appearances to those who knew Him very well. He not only has power over death but also the power to give you a never-ending life of great joy and happiness in the world to come.
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). However, this world may be at 11:59 p.m. on the dial of the “earth’s history” clock, and when the hour strikes midnight it will be too late.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire” (2 Peter 3:9-10).
God has promised that if you come to Him in faith He will save you for all time and provide you with a deep inner assurance of the reality of your salvation. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, emphasis added). Once you have accepted the free gift of having your sins paid for by the death of Jesus Christ, the way to confidence and assurance of your future is to regularly read the Word of God and to pray to God.
As you follow God you will gain complete confidence in your future. If you have made the decision to accept the death of Jesus Christ on your behalf, welcome to the kingdom of God! I am so happy to have you as my new brother. (I would welcome contact with you.)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
EXTRA: Announcement
Jim Elliot ~ Book Release
Question: Why did five bright young men lose their lives to savage spears?
Answer: God used that event to bring thousands to Himself and countless others to renew their commitment to Him.
Now for the first time some of Jim Elliot’s spoken messages are available in print. This is a truly inspiring book which will deepen your daily walk with your Savior. Jim Elliot once wrote, “Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.” This new book will lead readers into a deeper, more extraordinary, and more satisfying life for God.
Title: Jim Elliot: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You
ISBN: 978-1-61579-764-6 (paper)
Availability: Xulon Press, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other fine outlets.
More Information: See the column on the right of this page.
Question: Why did five bright young men lose their lives to savage spears?
Answer: God used that event to bring thousands to Himself and countless others to renew their commitment to Him.
Now for the first time some of Jim Elliot’s spoken messages are available in print. This is a truly inspiring book which will deepen your daily walk with your Savior. Jim Elliot once wrote, “Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.” This new book will lead readers into a deeper, more extraordinary, and more satisfying life for God.
Title: Jim Elliot: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You
ISBN: 978-1-61579-764-6 (paper)
Availability: Xulon Press, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other fine outlets.
More Information: See the column on the right of this page.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Salvation – 2 of 3
Current Process – Sanctification
Last time we considered salvation from the viewpoint of God’s gracious act of justification which grants us a new position before God. Now we consider the much misunderstood topic of the practical aspect of our salvation through the sanctification of our daily lives on earth.
Salvation begins with the simultaneous events of “justification” and “sanctification.” Both are instantaneous! Justification is sometimes referred to as “Positional Sanctification”—I was set apart to God (past tense at the point of salvation). Sanctification literally means set apart for a higher use.
At the time of our salvation we are fully justified and fully sanctified—set apart to God by God (1 Corinthians 1:30). There is no partial salvation and there is no partial sanctification. If you are a child of God, you are set apart for God at the moment of salvation—it is not that you will be set apart but that you have been set apart!
Teaching on sanctification often focuses on the process of “Practical Sanctification” as the Christian grows spiritually. It is extremely important to note a key distinction here. Many erroneously believe that over time with the help of the Spirit of God and the Word of God their nature improves until it begins to resemble Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth! Nowhere in Scripture will you find any indication of repairing our fallen nature! God is not slowly repairing our old “sinful” nature (see 1 Corinthians 2:14, Galatians 5:17-18).
The Word certainly does teach that we are to grow in the knowledge of God and to apply the truth which we have learned. God at the time of our justification gave us a new “spiritual” nature through a new birth (i.e., “born again”) and as newborns, literally “born from above” with a new spiritual nature, we first desire milk (1 Peter 2:2) and continue to grow until we require strong foods (Hebrews 5:14). As we mature we become more Christ-like (2 Corinthians 3:18). It is our new spiritual nature, our new nature in which we were born from above, which grows Christ-like.
The important distinction is that the natural man cannot understand spiritual realities because he has not been born spiritually. This is as true as saying an unborn embryo cannot understand the things of life on earth because he has not been born physically.
In the future we will be with Christ and possess perfect salvation and “Perfect Sanctification” in eternity future as we dwell with our Lord. In our next blog we will look at the third key aspect of salvation.
Last time we considered salvation from the viewpoint of God’s gracious act of justification which grants us a new position before God. Now we consider the much misunderstood topic of the practical aspect of our salvation through the sanctification of our daily lives on earth.
Salvation begins with the simultaneous events of “justification” and “sanctification.” Both are instantaneous! Justification is sometimes referred to as “Positional Sanctification”—I was set apart to God (past tense at the point of salvation). Sanctification literally means set apart for a higher use.
At the time of our salvation we are fully justified and fully sanctified—set apart to God by God (1 Corinthians 1:30). There is no partial salvation and there is no partial sanctification. If you are a child of God, you are set apart for God at the moment of salvation—it is not that you will be set apart but that you have been set apart!
Teaching on sanctification often focuses on the process of “Practical Sanctification” as the Christian grows spiritually. It is extremely important to note a key distinction here. Many erroneously believe that over time with the help of the Spirit of God and the Word of God their nature improves until it begins to resemble Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth! Nowhere in Scripture will you find any indication of repairing our fallen nature! God is not slowly repairing our old “sinful” nature (see 1 Corinthians 2:14, Galatians 5:17-18).
The Word certainly does teach that we are to grow in the knowledge of God and to apply the truth which we have learned. God at the time of our justification gave us a new “spiritual” nature through a new birth (i.e., “born again”) and as newborns, literally “born from above” with a new spiritual nature, we first desire milk (1 Peter 2:2) and continue to grow until we require strong foods (Hebrews 5:14). As we mature we become more Christ-like (2 Corinthians 3:18). It is our new spiritual nature, our new nature in which we were born from above, which grows Christ-like.
The important distinction is that the natural man cannot understand spiritual realities because he has not been born spiritually. This is as true as saying an unborn embryo cannot understand the things of life on earth because he has not been born physically.
In the future we will be with Christ and possess perfect salvation and “Perfect Sanctification” in eternity future as we dwell with our Lord. In our next blog we will look at the third key aspect of salvation.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Salvation – 1 of 3
Past Event – Justification
We serve a triune God—three persons with three distinct personalities. Should it be a surprise that He offers salvation with three distinct aspects?
Salvation is the result of an individual decision to accept a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). The sinner comes to God with nothing to offer—the only part we have in salvation is that we did the sinning! But while the gift of God is available to all, it must be personally accepted. Regarding the Cross, Dr. C.I. Scofield once remarked, “The thief was saved that none should despair; but only one that none should presume.”
Salvation is an event, a specific point in time, when a sinner is transformed into a saint! Think of the winner of a large lottery sum. There is a point in time when they learn that they have won the lottery. Yet knowing about their winnings is of no value unless they claim their winnings. Knowing about Christ’s free gift of salvation is good—but of no practical value until His free gift is accepted. At the point when any person accepts the gift of salvation, they pass from being spiritually dead to eternally alive. Now that is an event worth noting!
The source of justification is God.
The cost of justification is Christ’s blood.
The principle of justification is grace.
The way of justification is faith.
The proof of justification is a changed life and good works.
At the point of salvation we are “justified,” which is a gracious act of God in which He declares us righteous. Such a declaration is only possible by accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf at the Cross of Calvary. Because of our faith in Christ, God not only declares us righteous but removes the guilt and penalty of sin because His Son has paid the price of our sin. Justification makes it “just as if I had never sinned.”
“He accomplishes, in those who believe, everything that the Law of Moses could never make good on. But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is declared good and right and whole before God. ‘Don't take this lightly’ ” (Acts 13:39-40, The Message). “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified” (Galatians 2:16, NKJV).
We serve a triune God—three persons with three distinct personalities. Should it be a surprise that He offers salvation with three distinct aspects?
Salvation is the result of an individual decision to accept a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). The sinner comes to God with nothing to offer—the only part we have in salvation is that we did the sinning! But while the gift of God is available to all, it must be personally accepted. Regarding the Cross, Dr. C.I. Scofield once remarked, “The thief was saved that none should despair; but only one that none should presume.”
Salvation is an event, a specific point in time, when a sinner is transformed into a saint! Think of the winner of a large lottery sum. There is a point in time when they learn that they have won the lottery. Yet knowing about their winnings is of no value unless they claim their winnings. Knowing about Christ’s free gift of salvation is good—but of no practical value until His free gift is accepted. At the point when any person accepts the gift of salvation, they pass from being spiritually dead to eternally alive. Now that is an event worth noting!
The source of justification is God.
The cost of justification is Christ’s blood.
The principle of justification is grace.
The way of justification is faith.
The proof of justification is a changed life and good works.
At the point of salvation we are “justified,” which is a gracious act of God in which He declares us righteous. Such a declaration is only possible by accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf at the Cross of Calvary. Because of our faith in Christ, God not only declares us righteous but removes the guilt and penalty of sin because His Son has paid the price of our sin. Justification makes it “just as if I had never sinned.”
“He accomplishes, in those who believe, everything that the Law of Moses could never make good on. But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is declared good and right and whole before God. ‘Don't take this lightly’ ” (Acts 13:39-40, The Message). “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified” (Galatians 2:16, NKJV).
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
4 Activities of Christians
Lessons from the ends of the Four Gospels
Matthew wrote about Christ as the Messiah.
He wrote about what Christ thought and His righteousness.
We are to be holy because He is holy.
Christ is the King and Matthew writes about His kingdom and the path of righteousness.
In the last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew we find that Christians should be Worshippers of Christ (28:9).
Mark wrote about Christ as a Servant.
His writing is about what He accomplished and is filled with action.
(For example, Mark uses the word “immediately” 42 times. The word is used only 33 times in the other three Gospels combined.)
We are commanded to be doing the work of Christ.
Mark’s Gospel is about His humanity and what He did and relates the path of suffering.
At the very end of the Gospel of Mark we find Christians as Workers with Christ (16:19).
Luke wrote about Christ as a Man, the Son of Man, who came to reconcile us to God.
Luke, a physician, wrote about the feelings of our Lord and His relationship to His Father.
Like Christ, we should be telling others about our great God; this is the path of wisdom.
At the end of Luke’s Gospel we find Christians as Witnesses of Christ (24:47-48).
John wrote about Christ as the God-man, the Son of God.
Much of John’s Gospel relates His deity and who He was.
(For example, John uses the word “love” 57 times. The word is found only 33 times in the other three Gospels combined.)
We are to be known by our love for one another and for those who do not know Jesus Christ. We are to walk in the path of love.
Towards the end of the Gospel of John, as the crucifixion neared, we find Christians are reminded of His return and that they are to be Waiting for Christ (16:22).
Matthew wrote about Christ as the Messiah.
He wrote about what Christ thought and His righteousness.
We are to be holy because He is holy.
Christ is the King and Matthew writes about His kingdom and the path of righteousness.
In the last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew we find that Christians should be Worshippers of Christ (28:9).
Mark wrote about Christ as a Servant.
His writing is about what He accomplished and is filled with action.
(For example, Mark uses the word “immediately” 42 times. The word is used only 33 times in the other three Gospels combined.)
We are commanded to be doing the work of Christ.
Mark’s Gospel is about His humanity and what He did and relates the path of suffering.
At the very end of the Gospel of Mark we find Christians as Workers with Christ (16:19).
Luke wrote about Christ as a Man, the Son of Man, who came to reconcile us to God.
Luke, a physician, wrote about the feelings of our Lord and His relationship to His Father.
Like Christ, we should be telling others about our great God; this is the path of wisdom.
At the end of Luke’s Gospel we find Christians as Witnesses of Christ (24:47-48).
John wrote about Christ as the God-man, the Son of God.
Much of John’s Gospel relates His deity and who He was.
(For example, John uses the word “love” 57 times. The word is found only 33 times in the other three Gospels combined.)
We are to be known by our love for one another and for those who do not know Jesus Christ. We are to walk in the path of love.
Towards the end of the Gospel of John, as the crucifixion neared, we find Christians are reminded of His return and that they are to be Waiting for Christ (16:22).
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
10 Failures of Samson
Samson Made Bad Choices Which Led to His Death
Samson tried to follow God without being willing to turn from sin. Ultimately he was defeated because of lack of determination to follow God. His love for Delilah proved greater than his love for God. Here are some basic principles which can cause failure in the Christian life:
(1) He went where he should not have gone! (Judges 14:1) ~ Timnah was a Philistine town just a few miles from Samson’s home. The Philistines did not love God. Israelites were forbidden to go to the land of the Philistines.
(2) He involved others! (14:5) ~ Samson involved his parents with the Philistine woman.
(3) He partook of the forbidden! (14:8-9) ~ As Samson continues his downward slide the Bible says he went “down” to Timnah and came to the spot where he had previously killed a lion. He couldn’t resist looking to see if the carcass was still there which was expressly forbidden (Leviticus 11:27). We should not think of this as a skeleton of the lion—but the carcass. In hot dry climates all the moisture in a body evaporates sometimes in less than 24 hours following death—without passing into a state of decomposition. The body remains for a long time like a mummy—without change or stench. This is why bees often live in carcasses.
(4) He followed the pattern of the world and did the customary thing! (14:10) ~ Samson’s life had been consecrated to God. After his wedding Samson held a feast which lasted for a week. One favorite way of entertaining guests in those days was posing riddles—hard questions with tricky answers.
(5) He became a party boy! (14:11-12) ~ Samson enjoyed being in the limelight as the life of the party. It wasn’t long before trouble developed between him and his Philistine wife (14:20). Things continued in a downward spiral and his wife and father-in-law were burned to death (15:6).
(6) He began to play the field! (16:1-2) ~ For the second time Samson went back to Gaza, a Philistine city, to see a woman. Once again he was flirting with disaster.
(7) He met his match! (16:4) ~ Delilah was a Philistine woman whom Samson took into his confidence. She was not the first Philistine woman he saw. Sin has a way of allowing the sinner to appear to get away with sin at first.
(8) He lost his source of power! (16:4-19) ~ Three times Delilah tried to deliver Samson to the Philistines. By now his sins had desensitized him to the danger to which he had become accustomed.
(9) He was bound! (16:21) ~ Delilah most likely urged him to take a nap—customary for men during the hottest part of the day. Samson was in the habit of trusting the wrong people.
(10) He died in disgrace! (16:31) ~ Samson’s strength had been in the Lord, not in his hair. God used Samson mightily because of his Nazarite vows. But Samson continued in his own way until enough was enough! God humbled Samson.
Samson’s life warns us of the high cost of sin—and encourages us to trust the Lord and to resist Satan’s subtle temptations. “… truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3).
CONTEMPLATE: Samson’s failures (Judges 13-16) and their final result.
Samson tried to follow God without being willing to turn from sin. Ultimately he was defeated because of lack of determination to follow God. His love for Delilah proved greater than his love for God. Here are some basic principles which can cause failure in the Christian life:
(1) He went where he should not have gone! (Judges 14:1) ~ Timnah was a Philistine town just a few miles from Samson’s home. The Philistines did not love God. Israelites were forbidden to go to the land of the Philistines.
(2) He involved others! (14:5) ~ Samson involved his parents with the Philistine woman.
(3) He partook of the forbidden! (14:8-9) ~ As Samson continues his downward slide the Bible says he went “down” to Timnah and came to the spot where he had previously killed a lion. He couldn’t resist looking to see if the carcass was still there which was expressly forbidden (Leviticus 11:27). We should not think of this as a skeleton of the lion—but the carcass. In hot dry climates all the moisture in a body evaporates sometimes in less than 24 hours following death—without passing into a state of decomposition. The body remains for a long time like a mummy—without change or stench. This is why bees often live in carcasses.
(4) He followed the pattern of the world and did the customary thing! (14:10) ~ Samson’s life had been consecrated to God. After his wedding Samson held a feast which lasted for a week. One favorite way of entertaining guests in those days was posing riddles—hard questions with tricky answers.
(5) He became a party boy! (14:11-12) ~ Samson enjoyed being in the limelight as the life of the party. It wasn’t long before trouble developed between him and his Philistine wife (14:20). Things continued in a downward spiral and his wife and father-in-law were burned to death (15:6).
(6) He began to play the field! (16:1-2) ~ For the second time Samson went back to Gaza, a Philistine city, to see a woman. Once again he was flirting with disaster.
(7) He met his match! (16:4) ~ Delilah was a Philistine woman whom Samson took into his confidence. She was not the first Philistine woman he saw. Sin has a way of allowing the sinner to appear to get away with sin at first.
(8) He lost his source of power! (16:4-19) ~ Three times Delilah tried to deliver Samson to the Philistines. By now his sins had desensitized him to the danger to which he had become accustomed.
(9) He was bound! (16:21) ~ Delilah most likely urged him to take a nap—customary for men during the hottest part of the day. Samson was in the habit of trusting the wrong people.
(10) He died in disgrace! (16:31) ~ Samson’s strength had been in the Lord, not in his hair. God used Samson mightily because of his Nazarite vows. But Samson continued in his own way until enough was enough! God humbled Samson.
Samson’s life warns us of the high cost of sin—and encourages us to trust the Lord and to resist Satan’s subtle temptations. “… truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3).
CONTEMPLATE: Samson’s failures (Judges 13-16) and their final result.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
12 Successes of Samson
Samson Made Good Choices and God Used Him Mightily
Other Judges had led armies to victory, but God chose to use Samson as a single-handed champion. Samson was similar to the Apostle Peter in that he had so much success and failure. Many of us can identify with both of them—they both had so much potential, yet showed their sinful nature. Samson’s story is told in Judges 13-16.
Samson was dedicated to the Lord’s service at his birth. God used him to destroy many Philistines. When we consider Samson’s entire life, we find he was weak spiritually though strong physically. Ultimately he lost his strength when his Nazarite vow was broken. But God restored his strength when he turned back to God in faith. Here is a recap of his major successes:
(1) Slaying the lion (14:5-6) ~ “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”
(2) Slaying the 30 Philistines at Askelon (14:19) ~ We read a second time, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”
(3) Sending the 300 foxes among the corn (15:4) to destroy the crops with fire ~ It was harvest time (15:1) and the fields were dry.
(4) The slaughter near Etam (15:7-8) ~ After this he rested, the Philistines invaded his homeland, and 3,000 of his own people captured him (15:11-12).
(5) Bursting the two new cords of the men of Judah (15:13-14) ~ He had been bound by his own people, but “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.”
(6) Slaying of 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (15:15) ~ God continued to use Samson in spite of his many failures.
(7) Quenching his thirst at Lehi (15:18-19) ~ After a great battle Samson was thirsty and God performed a miracle on Samson’s behalf.
(8) Carrying the gates of Gaza (16:2-3) ~ Gaza was one of the largest and most fortified cities in Philistia. The heavy iron gates—the only way in or out—were always locked at night. Imagine the excitement when the locals learned Samson was in their city—now they would capture him. They strengthened the doors to assure Samson could not escape. But God had other plans and Samson tore the doors, posts, and bars off. He carried them to the top of a hill near Hebron, about 30 miles away.
(9) Breaking the seven bowstrings (16:7) ~ These cords were made of twisted strong green twigs.
(10) Bursting the new ropes (16:11) ~ New ropes without any wear and tear or frays of any kind.
(11) Tearing away the loom and the web (16:13) ~ Once again Delilah had used deception in order to bind him.
(12) Pulling down the pillars (16:29-30) ~ Samson had finally told Delilah that his hair was his source of strength (16:17). As a result Samson lost his strength, was blinded, bound, mocked, and put in prison. Samson’s hair began to grow back, symbolizing his renewed faith and commitment to serving God.
Delilah was directly involved in 9, 10, and 11. Despite Samson’s wayward ways, God continued to use him and give him success throughout his life. But, like Peter, there is another side of Samson’s story, which we will consider next time.
CONTEMPLATE: Samson’s life and its successes (Judges 13-16).
Other Judges had led armies to victory, but God chose to use Samson as a single-handed champion. Samson was similar to the Apostle Peter in that he had so much success and failure. Many of us can identify with both of them—they both had so much potential, yet showed their sinful nature. Samson’s story is told in Judges 13-16.
Samson was dedicated to the Lord’s service at his birth. God used him to destroy many Philistines. When we consider Samson’s entire life, we find he was weak spiritually though strong physically. Ultimately he lost his strength when his Nazarite vow was broken. But God restored his strength when he turned back to God in faith. Here is a recap of his major successes:
(1) Slaying the lion (14:5-6) ~ “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”
(2) Slaying the 30 Philistines at Askelon (14:19) ~ We read a second time, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”
(3) Sending the 300 foxes among the corn (15:4) to destroy the crops with fire ~ It was harvest time (15:1) and the fields were dry.
(4) The slaughter near Etam (15:7-8) ~ After this he rested, the Philistines invaded his homeland, and 3,000 of his own people captured him (15:11-12).
(5) Bursting the two new cords of the men of Judah (15:13-14) ~ He had been bound by his own people, but “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.”
(6) Slaying of 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (15:15) ~ God continued to use Samson in spite of his many failures.
(7) Quenching his thirst at Lehi (15:18-19) ~ After a great battle Samson was thirsty and God performed a miracle on Samson’s behalf.
(8) Carrying the gates of Gaza (16:2-3) ~ Gaza was one of the largest and most fortified cities in Philistia. The heavy iron gates—the only way in or out—were always locked at night. Imagine the excitement when the locals learned Samson was in their city—now they would capture him. They strengthened the doors to assure Samson could not escape. But God had other plans and Samson tore the doors, posts, and bars off. He carried them to the top of a hill near Hebron, about 30 miles away.
(9) Breaking the seven bowstrings (16:7) ~ These cords were made of twisted strong green twigs.
(10) Bursting the new ropes (16:11) ~ New ropes without any wear and tear or frays of any kind.
(11) Tearing away the loom and the web (16:13) ~ Once again Delilah had used deception in order to bind him.
(12) Pulling down the pillars (16:29-30) ~ Samson had finally told Delilah that his hair was his source of strength (16:17). As a result Samson lost his strength, was blinded, bound, mocked, and put in prison. Samson’s hair began to grow back, symbolizing his renewed faith and commitment to serving God.
Delilah was directly involved in 9, 10, and 11. Despite Samson’s wayward ways, God continued to use him and give him success throughout his life. But, like Peter, there is another side of Samson’s story, which we will consider next time.
CONTEMPLATE: Samson’s life and its successes (Judges 13-16).
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Shortest Man
Who Was The Shortest Person In the Bible?
Let’s have some fun. Most people can quickly tell you that Methuselah was the oldest person in the Bible (Genesis 5:27), but do you know who was the shortest person in the Bible?
Who do you think was the shortest person mentioned in the Bible?
(a) Goliath
(b) Bildad
(c) Nehemiah
(d) Zacchaeus
(e) James
(f) Peter
(g) Paul
(h) Mary
A common answer is Zacchaeus based on Luke 19:2, which tells us that he was a short man. Recall that he was concerned that he would not be able to see Jesus when He passed by. So Zacchaeus remedied his problem by climbing into a sycamore tree.
Some might suggest James, the cousin of our Lord and the author of the Epistle of James, might be shorter than Zacchaeus since he is referred to in Scripture as “James the less” (Mark 15:40) which in the original language literally meant “little” (compared to James the son of Zebedee).
Others will suggest that a shorter man than Zacchaeus or James was Nehemiah since names in Scripture often had significance and his name, knee-high-miah, obviously indicates he was very short.
But considering the names of Biblical characters, some people might point out that Nehemiah was obviously a giant compared to Bildad who was a shuhite (shoe-height) and therefore obviously shorter than a knee-high individual (Job 2:11).
Still others, who are not as much into focusing on the meaning of names as considering the whole of Scripture, have a different view. They simply state that obviously Peter was the smallest of all since he was so tiny he was able to sleep on his watch (Matthew 26:40).
Let’s have some fun. Most people can quickly tell you that Methuselah was the oldest person in the Bible (Genesis 5:27), but do you know who was the shortest person in the Bible?
Who do you think was the shortest person mentioned in the Bible?
(a) Goliath
(b) Bildad
(c) Nehemiah
(d) Zacchaeus
(e) James
(f) Peter
(g) Paul
(h) Mary
A common answer is Zacchaeus based on Luke 19:2, which tells us that he was a short man. Recall that he was concerned that he would not be able to see Jesus when He passed by. So Zacchaeus remedied his problem by climbing into a sycamore tree.
Some might suggest James, the cousin of our Lord and the author of the Epistle of James, might be shorter than Zacchaeus since he is referred to in Scripture as “James the less” (Mark 15:40) which in the original language literally meant “little” (compared to James the son of Zebedee).
Others will suggest that a shorter man than Zacchaeus or James was Nehemiah since names in Scripture often had significance and his name, knee-high-miah, obviously indicates he was very short.
But considering the names of Biblical characters, some people might point out that Nehemiah was obviously a giant compared to Bildad who was a shuhite (shoe-height) and therefore obviously shorter than a knee-high individual (Job 2:11).
Still others, who are not as much into focusing on the meaning of names as considering the whole of Scripture, have a different view. They simply state that obviously Peter was the smallest of all since he was so tiny he was able to sleep on his watch (Matthew 26:40).
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
7 Roles of the Christian
7 Roles in 1 Chapter
The Word of God provides many word pictures of the Christian. There are seven in 1 Peter chapter 2.
(1) Babes in Christ (v. 2) ~ Babies need assistance even in feeding themselves. Babies are characterized by dependence. They naturally “desire the pure milk of the Word.”
(2) Living stones (v. 5) ~ Stones were used in Biblical times as major components in building. Jesus Christ is the foundation, and individual believers are added to the “spiritual house” of God.
(3) A holy priesthood (v. 5) ~ The priesthood assists others in worshipping God. We are to offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.”
(4) Strangers (v. 11) ~ A stranger is abiding away from home. As the old hymn states, “This world is not my home…” Our purpose and role on earth is to “glorify God.”
(5) Pilgrims (v. 11) ~ Pilgrims are more than strangers in that they are travelling toward home. “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” On our journey we are to be focused and avoid that which “wars against our soul.”
(6) Servants (v. 18) ~ Servants obediently meet the needs of others. They willingly sacrifice their own needs and desires for the good of their Master.
(7) Sufferers (v. 20) ~ Sufferers are more than servants in that they are submitting to undeserved hurt. Patience while suffering is “commendable to God.”
CONTEMPLATE: The difference between a stranger (or a pilgrim) and a tourist.
The Word of God provides many word pictures of the Christian. There are seven in 1 Peter chapter 2.
(1) Babes in Christ (v. 2) ~ Babies need assistance even in feeding themselves. Babies are characterized by dependence. They naturally “desire the pure milk of the Word.”
(2) Living stones (v. 5) ~ Stones were used in Biblical times as major components in building. Jesus Christ is the foundation, and individual believers are added to the “spiritual house” of God.
(3) A holy priesthood (v. 5) ~ The priesthood assists others in worshipping God. We are to offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.”
(4) Strangers (v. 11) ~ A stranger is abiding away from home. As the old hymn states, “This world is not my home…” Our purpose and role on earth is to “glorify God.”
(5) Pilgrims (v. 11) ~ Pilgrims are more than strangers in that they are travelling toward home. “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” On our journey we are to be focused and avoid that which “wars against our soul.”
(6) Servants (v. 18) ~ Servants obediently meet the needs of others. They willingly sacrifice their own needs and desires for the good of their Master.
(7) Sufferers (v. 20) ~ Sufferers are more than servants in that they are submitting to undeserved hurt. Patience while suffering is “commendable to God.”
CONTEMPLATE: The difference between a stranger (or a pilgrim) and a tourist.
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