QUESTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL

People have all kinds of ideas about heaven and hell. Some believe that the bliss and joy in heaven is everlasting but that the pain and anguish in torment in hell is not everlasting. Some believe that heaven will be here on earth after it has undergone a renovation by fire. Some of these same people believe that the person who goes to hell will be vaporized with a “poof” and completely annihilated. (“Poof” was actually used to describe the end of those who are lost: Christian Chronicle Podcast featuring Rubel Shelly, hosted by B.T. Irwin, March 2026). All that anyone really knows about heaven and hell is that which is revealed in the Bible. Everything else is just idle speculation and wishful thinking.

To help us focus on these matters, I raise the following questions. The first three are foundational to the ones that follow.

If the English reader of the New Testament knows nothing about the Greek in which it was originally written, can the average man on the street take his English New Testament and learn therefrom what it teaches about both heaven and hell?

Could he/she lay several English translations side by side and by comparing them arrive at what God has taught us about heaven and hell?

If the reader of the English New Testament cannot learn from it what it says about heaven and hell, can he/she learn anything else the New Testament was intended to teach mankind (the virgin birth of Christ, the purpose of Christ coming to earth, what He did and taught, His death, burial, and resurrection, how to be saved from sin, how to acceptably worship God, how to live a life that is pleasing to God)?

When Jesus said to the penitent thief “today you will be with Me in Paradise,” was He talking about a place somewhere here on earth or a place somewhere else? (Luke 23:43).

When Christ died His body was buried in Joseph's tomb and His soul went into Hades but it did not remain there (Acts 2:25-31). (Note: Hades is not synonymous with hell, but refers to the unseen realm of the dead). Is Hades some place here on earth or is it somewhere else?

When Jesus had completed His mission here on earth He ascended back to heaven (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11)? Is the heaven to which He ascended somewhere on earth?

When Jesus ascended back to heaven He said to His apostles (and, by extension, all His faithful followers), “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Did He go to some place here on earth to prepare that place? Or is He not now doing what He said “I go” to do, and will do it later at His second coming?

When He comes again to receive us to Himself, will that be some place here on earth or a place that He left this earth to go and prepare for us somewhere else?

When Paul was “caught up to the third heaven” (II Corinthians 12:1-7) to where was he caught up? To some place here on earth, or to some realm above the earth?

Did Jesus say that everlasting punishment would be co-extensive with eternal life, i.e., each at long as the other? (Matthew 25:46).

What is the significance of Christ's quotation of Isaiah in Mark 9 when He spoke three times of a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”? (Vv. 44, 46, 48).

In speaking of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus said that Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom (likely another reference to Paradise), while the rich man was “in torments in Hades” (Vv. 22-23). Were both the rich man and Lazarus somewhere here on earth when one was in Abraham's bosom and the other in torments? Or, were they in realms beyond the earth?

When the rich man asked Father Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, did Abraham say to him, “Hold on a little while longer, son; in a few minutes your torment will be over and you will be 'poofed' out of existence?”

How did Paul view heaven and hell when he wrote in Romans 2:6-10 and said that at His second coming Jesus “will render to each according to his deeds: to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality—eternal life; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek”?

Did not Christ say that the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels? (Matthew 25:41). Will the devil and his angels be vaporized with a “poof”?

What is the significance of the apostle John's statement that the devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone “where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”? (Revelation 20:10)? (From the earlier chapters of Revelation we learn who the beast and the false prophet were—people).

What did John have in mind when a few verses later he said, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire”? (Revelation 20:15). When cast into the lake of fire would they be vaporized with a “poof,” or like the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, would they also be “tormented day and night forever and ever” (V. 10)?

One final question: Can a gospel preacher, using his English New Testament, preach and teach about heaven and hell in the very words used in the New Testament to describe these two places and by so doing teach God's truth about these two places?

We all have many questions about both heaven and hell. The ones mentioned above should stimulate us to serious thought and study. More importantly, they should move us to live as God intended for us to live so that we might gain heaven and avoid hell. Let us rely on the knowledge and wisdom of God rather than the wisdom of men in regard to these vital questions. (See I Corinthians 1:18-25).

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (II Timothy 4:4, ESV). Is this what some have done when it comes to the Bible doctrine of heaven and hell?

Are you a Christian? Are you living a faithful Christian life? If you are not living a faithful Christian life and died today, do you know where you would spend eternity? Is that where you really want to be throughout eternity? (Note: “spend eternity” is an accommodative expression. Eternity cannot actually be “spent”; it goes on and on and on, without any end).

Hugh Fulford

 

What does Bible say about Marriage, Divorce and remarriage?

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND REMARRIAGE (AGAIN)

“Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I (Jesus) say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality/fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery' ” (Matthew 5:31-32).

“He (Jesus) said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality/fornication, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery' ” (Matthew 19:8-9).

“And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery' ” (Mark 10:11-12).

Jesus speaking: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:18).

The apostle Paul speaking: “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man” (Romans 7:2-3).

The apostle Paul speaking: “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife” (I Corinthians 7:10-11).

“A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord” (I Corinthians 7:39).

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

The language in the above texts is clear and straightforward. All quotations are from the New King James Version. You are encouraged to read all of these passages in several versions of the New Testament: King James Version, American Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, et. al. The Greek scholars have done an excellent job of translating the original language into the English language. We do not have to be Greek scholars in order to know what Christ, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews said in the above passages. All of the various versions are in complete agreement on what they say.

In the light of the preceding passages, it requires a lot of “jumping through hoops and loops” to say that one under the law of Christ can divorce and remarry for any reason whatsoever and still NOT be guilty of adultery! In that case, the law of Christ would be no different from what the law of Moses permitted. If such were the case, then neither the words of Christ nor those of the inspired apostle Paul have any real meaning. If one can divorce and remarry for many reasons and not be guilty of committing adultery, then, pray tell me, when would a divorce and remarriage constitute adultery? Christ and His apostles did not not engage in such word games and “double-speak.” Their words are plain and easy to understand and the point they make is clear and direct.

Paul dealt with various marital problems in the church at Corinth, some of which had been addressed by the Lord while He was on earth and some of which He had not addressed while on earth, but which Paul addressed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 7; cf. I Corinthians 14:37). Nothing that Paul wrote in I Corinthians 7 regarding various marital situations contradicted or countermanded what he and the Lord had said in the texts cited above. Many people, wanting to divorce their present spouse and marry another but with no scriptural ground for doing so, often go looking for “loop-holes” as to how they may divorce and remarry with the Lord's approval. Most of the time, this is done when a forbidden marriage has already been entered into.

It is regrettable that many people have gotten their marital lives so badly tangled with multiple marriages, divorces, and remarriages, or by simply living together without a civil marriage ceremony. I grieve for those who have done so, and my heart goes out to the children who have been the innocent victims of these unscriptural marriages or “living-together-but-not-married” arrangements. God has not commissioned me to untangle these marriages and unholy relationships. Only the parties involved in them and who know why they divorced and remarried can untangle them. But I (and all other gospel preachers and teachers, including elders) have been charged with the responsibility to teach what the Lord and His apostles taught on this important subject as set forth in the above passages.

Do not be taken in by the trickery of men who, for whatever reason, want to get around what the word of God plainly teaches about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Don't go looking for “loop-holes” in what the Bible says. Over the years, I have observed that when an effort is made to get around a plain, positive statement of scripture, behind that effort is an agenda to defend someone who has violated that scripture and who is living (or practicing things) contrary to the Scriptures.

I pray that all marriages that have been entered into in harmony with God's word will be strong and lasting just as God Himself from the beginning ordained (Genesis 2:24-25).

Hugh Fulford

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does the church of Christ believe?

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS UNIQUE?

(Note: The following article was written by John Jones, minister of the church in McEwen, TN and appeared in that church's bulletin of August 4, 2025. I have never met brother Jones, but for a period of over thirty years, beginning in 1980, I conducted at least six meetings with the church in McEwen and spoke there at various other times on special occasions. I know most of the present elders and what they stand for. I commend brother Jones' excellent article to all readers of Hugh's News & Views. It is a fitting sequel to the article two weeks ago on "How Do You View The Church of Christ?" If some think my emphasis on the distinctiveness of the church of our Lord is a case of "overkill," I would simply note that it is "the squeaking wheel that gets the grease." Far too many Christians, including many preachers and elders, have either forgotten, never knew, or have abandoned, what the New Testament says about the one church Christ established. The denominational world has absolutely no concept of Christianity except from a denominational perspective. Brother Jones' article follows).

One truth that we cannot overemphasize is that the church of Christ is unique in the religious world today. We claim to be the church you can read about in the Bible because we follow what we see as a pattern in the New Testament for the establishment of the Christian church (not used as a "name" for the church, but as a descriptor of the New Testament church, as distinct from "the church in the wilderness" composed of fleshly Israelites, Acts 7:38, hf). We meet together on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7), sing songs of praise to God without instrumental musical accompaniment (Ephesians 5:19), give of our means to support the work of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1–2), offer prayers to God (1 Timothy 2:1), and hear a message from God's word (Acts 2:42). We do these things because this is what the early church did in their worship. We recognize the apostle's doctrine of male spiritual leadership (1 Corinthians 14:33–34) but also appreciate the roles of service our hard-working women provide the church (Titus 2:3–5). We follow the pattern of each congregation having elders who lead the local church to follow Jesus (1 Timothy 3:1–6). We emphasize, scripturally, that baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). These biblical principles make us unique in the religious world today!

The ability to provide a scripture reference behind each of the spiritual activities we do is very important to us. We believe in biblical authority that comes from recognizing the Lord's authority in the running of His church. He purchased it with his own blood (Acts 20:28), He built it (Matthew 16:18), and He is its head (Ephesians 5:23), therefore He commands and we obey. But those commands are given in a spirit of love because He knows what is best for us. When we obey Him, we recognize His love for us and respond submissively to Jesus because we love Him (John 14:15).

Unfortunately, I've recently seen some of our members act like the church of Christ is just one among many denominational options or, sadly, that their membership is only tied to where their parents raised them. I'm worried that we may be turning into the Israelites of Judges 2:10 - "And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel." I've heard some recently explain that former members here are now attending with the Baptists or Methodists and, instead of expressing deep sadness over this, act as if its better to be worshiping in falsehood than not at all.

Don't get me wrong, we love everyone. But our love for them ought to be shown in a deep concern for their souls. If we believe all churches are essentially the same, other than some minor differences, we have completely missed the point. Jesus built one church and disunity among Christians is condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10). Jesus calls all Christians to a unity that is founded upon the truth of His word (John 17:17, 20–23). If we give up on that, can we really claim to be Christ's followers?

Do we know who we are and what we stand for? Do we understand the "restoration plea"? Are we still interested in Christian unity from a "back to the Bible" perspective? Let's encourage our brethren about what makes us unique and invite everyone we know to join us in the ongoing work of restoration: restoring individuals to God and restoring the church to the pattern the apostles show us clearly in the pages of the New Testament.

Hugh Fulford

Bible Truths...Baptism

BIBLE TRUTHS ABOUT BAPTISM

 

* John the Baptist preached "baptism for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:4).

 

* Those who refused John's baptism rejected the counsel of God (Luke 7:30).

 

* Jesus Himself was baptized by John and God was well pleased with Him (Matthew 3:13-17).

 

* Jesus had no sins (I Peter 2:21-22), but in being baptized Jesus "fulfilled all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13-16), i.e., He obeyed a commandment that God had given through John the Baptist and all of God's commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172).

 

* Jesus also was baptized to avoid the conflicting position of being "a teacher come from God" (John 3:2) while not submitting to the preaching of another teacher from God, John the Baptist (John 1:6-7).

 

* Jesus and His disciples baptized (John 3:26; John 4:1-2).

 

* Jesus said that a man who had experienced the natural birth from his mother's womb must nevertheless be "born again...of water and the Spirit" (John 3:3-5).

 

* Jesus commanded the apostles to teach all nations, baptizing people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

* Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

 

* The apostle Peter told sinners to "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

 

* As a result of having Christ preached to him, the Ethiopian eunuch asked to be baptized, and upon confessing his faith in Christ, he immediately was baptized (Acts 8:35-39).

 

* Baptism is a complete immersion in water (Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39; Romans 6:4-5; Colossians 2:12).

 

* The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized the same hour of the night in which they learned what to do to be saved (Acts 16:25-34).

 

* "And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8b).

* There is but one baptism: baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of sins (Ephesians 4:5; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38).

 

* Baptism is so important that Paul re-baptized about twelve men who had received the outdated baptism of John the Baptist (no longer valid if administered after Acts 2), i.e., the men had to make a second trip to the water in order to be right with God (Acts 19:1-7).

 

* Baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16).

 

* Baptism is into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27).

 

* Baptism is into the death of Christ where He shed His blood (Romans 6:3-4; John 19:33-34).

 

* It is in baptism that one contacts the blood of Christ (note the preceding) and has his sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

 

* Baptism is not a work of human merit, but a work of God (Colossians 2:11-12).

 

* God saves people according to His mercy "by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-7).

 

* Baptism is into the one body, the church (I Corinthians 12:13; (Ephesians 1:22-23).

 

* The church of the Lord (the composite of all those who have been saved—Acts 2:47) is sanctified and cleansed "with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:25-26).

 

* Baptism saves (I Peter 3:21).

 

Hugh Fulford

 

He Lives

He Is Alive

 

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead . . . . . . . .(1 Corinthians 15:19-20)

 

 Jesus has been crucified, his body taken from the cross and laid in a sepulchre that is tightly sealed with a stone (Mk. 15:46-47). With high hopes and dreams, the disciples of Jesus had given their hearts, souls and minds to him. Up to a few days ago everything was going well but now they have watched as Jesus was crucified and his body placed in that sepulchre. Now his disciples are miserable and gather together mourning and weeping (Mk. 16:10). Suddenly, Mary Magdalene appears telling them that Jesus is alive, she has seen him. The mourning and weeping will now be replaced with joy.

 

As I sit here today, these words from a beautiful song echo within my heart: "Because he lives I can face tomorrow, Because he lives all fear is gone, Because I know he holds the future, And life is worth the living just because he lives." We don't have any inkling of an idea what lies just around the corner in front of us. It may be good but it also may not be good. Thanks be to God, we don't have to be fearful of the next moment (Isa. 12:2-3); Heb. 4:14-16; John 14:1-3, 27; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:35-39).

 

So long as we obey him and him only, so long as we love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, ever trusting and confiding in him, his faithful love will surround us with tender care and, not in a literal sense, by faith he will whisper to us, "You are not alone" (Mark 12:30; Psalm 62:8; Heb. 13:5-6). We are greatly blessed with the privilege of walking each day of our life with him as our friend, our companion and protector always instructing and safely guiding us whatever betides us (John 15:14; Psalm 145:18-20; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).We know that he holds the future in his hands and with confidence we can face each day knowing we have the touch of the Master's hand on our heart.

 

I can think of no better way to end this thought than by the words written by A.H. Ackley in the song, He Lives: "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

 

Charles Hicks

 

No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

 

We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him (2 Cor. 5:8-9).

 

As I think about this passage from 2 Corinthians 5, some beautiful words from the song, Anywhere Is Home, begin fill my heart: "Oft I'm tossed about and driven by the foe, Sad within without wherever I may go, But  I press along still looking up in prayer, For its home sweet home if Christ my Lord is there." Long ago I came to the conclusion that wherever you go, whatever you do, there just is no place like the comfort and peace of a home filled with the faithful love of Christ. As much as this is true in the temporal realm, I, for one, believe to be absent from this body and be present with the Lord is far greater.

 

I love this life and want to stay here for as long as possible. Yet I know that this world is not my permanent dwelling place and neither is it yours (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:11). With all our being we should be reaching forth to that which lies in front of us knowing that with the passing of each day, yea even the passing of each minute of each day, we are brought  one step closer to shedding these earthly bonds (Phil. 3:13-14). Yes, I do love this life and want to stay here a little longer, yet there is within my heart a longing for that day when I will shed these earthly bonds and be present with the Lord. What do you say about yourself?

 

Life as we know it is so uncertain. Job tells us it is of few days as well as like a swift ship (Job 14:1, 9:26); Isaiah compares life to a thread soon to be cut Isa.:38:12); 2 Sam. 14:14 tells us life is like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again and James tells us that our life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14-15). Psalms 90:9-10 is a great summation of life: "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our days as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away."

 

As we journey through this earthly life, I pray that for each of us it will be one in which happiness, contentment, prosperity, reasonably good health, comfort and peace of mind will far outweigh the adverse conditions that will surely strike our human frame from time to time. But most of all I pray that when we take that journey from which we will not return, it will be well with our eternal soul on that great appointed judgement day. O, how I want one day to stand in the presence of the Lord and proclaim, Home, Home at last! How about you?

 

Charles Hicks

 

BABY JESUS AND BIG JESUS

 

BABY JESUS AND BIG JESUS

 

We are at that time of the year when people's attention is drawn to the birth of Christ. The Bible does not tell us the date of His birth. We only know that "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…" (Galatians 4:4-5). We rejoice over that birth—as well as the earthly life, teaching, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, coronation, intercession, and promised return of Christ. How wonderful it would be if the world could be as excited about Christ the whole year 'round as it is at Christmas—though I am deeply thankful that at least once in a while people will give Him some thought!

 

How great it would be, too, if the world would be as attracted to the "Big" Jesus as it is to the "Baby" Jesus. Perhaps it is just part of human nature to be smitten by a baby. (I have never seen an ugly baby—at least one that I would say was ugly!)

 

As we approach what the world knows as Christmas, let us look again at the "Baby" Jesus, and then do some serious thinking about the "Big" Jesus.

 

Baby Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit and born in Bethlehem of Judea. All of this was in fulfillment of divine prophecy made centuries before the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18 – 2:12; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2). (Let me encourage you to turn in your Bible and read this beautiful story of how our Savior came to earth. It will build your faith in the word of God and it will touch the hardest of hearts to read for yourself this wonderful story of God's love for all mankind). It is hard to see how anyone would not believe these passages of Holy Writ and rejoice greatly that our Savior was born and that the Word (Christ in his pre-fleshly existence with God the Father from all eternity) became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14).

 

But Jesus did not stay a baby. He grew to become a boy and then a man. As a boy, He was subject to Mary and Joseph (who married Mary after the birth of Christ, Luke 2:1-7, especially v. 5) (Luke 2:51). As a boy, Jesus advanced "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). He grew mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. (Note: Parents today might well ask themselves, "How are my children growing and developing? What am I doing to train my children in these four areas of a well-balanced life?").

At about the age of thirty, Jesus was baptized, being immersed by John the Baptist (Baptizer) and began His ministry of teaching (Luke 3:21-23). However, His teaching did not sit well with many who heard Him, and it does not sit well with many people today—even with some who profess to follow Him. The adoration that people have for Baby Jesus does not always translate into adoration and agreement with Big Jesus.

 

Consider the following:

Jesus came to bring "peace on earth and good will among men" (Luke 2:14). But in another sense He did not come to bring peace but a sword and to cause division even among families when some family members choose to follow Christ and other family members reject Christ (Matthew 10:34-39). (Note: Christ bringing both peace on earth but also a sword is one of the great antinomies of scripture, a situation in which two seemingly contradictory statements are made, but which, in reality, are two contrasting yet reasonable and valid truths, two sides of the same coin).

Christ makes demands of people that they don't want to meet (Matthew 16:24-26). Christ taught things that people do not want to hear. He condemned anger and hatred toward others (Matthew 5:21-22. He said that lust was equal to adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). He permitted divorce and remarriage for only one reason (Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:1-9; Romans 7:4). He taught that the two greatest commandments was to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and to love one's neighbor as he loves himself (Matthew 22:36-38) and to do to others as we would have them do to us (Matthew 7:12). He said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

Jesus taught that He is the only way to God (John 14:6; Acts 4:11-12). He said that if people do not believe in Him they will die in their sins (John 8:24), and that if one does not repent he will perish. (Luke 13:3). He said if we do not confess Him before men, He will not confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). Jesus taught the necessity of being baptized (immersed in water) in order to be saved (Mark 16:16; John 3:3-5). Many do not accept the "Big" Jesus on these matters.

Christ emphasized the necessity of obedience to God—instead of the substitution of pious deeds that one might do in His name. In other words, no one can buy or earn his or her way into heaven by just being a good person, with a good heart, and who does some good things along the way of their life (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus said things that caused people to to turn away from Him (John 6:66-68).

Yet in none of these things was Jesus trying to discourage people from becoming His disciples. In fact, He sought to do the very opposite. Big Jesus said (and still says), "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will fine rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). But such involves counting the cost and being willing to pay the price. (Luke 14:26-28).

So, at this season of the year, as we adore the Baby Jesus let us remember that the baby became a man who made demands. In many ways, He was the demanding Christ.

Are we big enough to commit ourselves to the Big Jesus?

Hugh Fulford