Can we know God exists?

You have learned the truth about God only through His Self-Revelation in the Bible.

Be careful to acquire a saving knowledge of God through the gospel.

Don’t allow yourself to slip back into unbelief and lose your reward.

 

In the opening chapter of Romans, 1:16-25, the Holy Spirit, having revealed the power of the gospel to save all believers, made a tremendously important point concerning Gentiles’ knowing God:

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged

the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!

Note verses 19-23 again, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”

 

The Gentiles referred to, here, had known God because God had revealed himself to them. The Scripture does not say they knew there was a god; it says they had known the one, true living God. In Acts 14:11-17, Paul says something very similar: First he tells them there is a true God (revelation); then he says God bears witness by sending rain and fruitful seasons. (What they can see for themselves adds to what God has revealed in his word and through his people – Israel and the church.)

 

Friends, any thoughtful person can look at the heavens and know that there is a god or gods of some sort with sufficient wisdom and power to create our universe; but the only way you can know that this god is our Creator Jehovah is if God has made this truth known by revelation!! No one, unaided by divine revelation, can just look at the universe and conclude that the true living God we call Jehovah has created it! David knew the heavens declare the glory of God because God inspired him to know it! It’s in the divine revelation at Psalm 19! (For a thorough discussion, try and get a look at Jim McGuiggan’s commentary on Romans. I have also very recently had email discussion with Jim about this).

 

God is saying in Romans 1 that these Gentiles had received divine revelation about him – probably from God’s dealings with Israel. Remember these words?

 

“I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6

 

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:17-19

 

The wild beasts will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:20-21

 

What God tells Christians in 1 Peter 2:9 – that they are to declare his praises (implied “to the whole world”), God had also told Israel. The world had heard about Jehovah and the great things he had done. There were many, many Gentiles who knew the one true and living God – either through Israel, or through Christians! But many had also chosen to later dishonour him! This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 1. In Romans 2, Paul alludes to Gentiles who had honoured God rather than dishonour Him!! 2:9-16

 

Here are two examples from the Scriptures of Gentiles in Old Testament times who believed in Jehovah God:

 

Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Joshua 2 :8-11

 

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey.

And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be

overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 4:4-9

1 Corinthians 1:21 says much the same thing:

 

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

 

Also note these three gems from Jesus: “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.” John 17:6

 

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is

written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father

comes to me … John 6:44-45

 

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living

God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17. Read also John 6:37,39; 10:29; Galatians 1:15-16

 

“Ultimately, whether people believe or not lies hidden in the will of God (John 6:35-40) …” David Rensberger, Spirituality and Christology in Johannine Sectarianism, an essay from Word, Theology and Community in John, editors John Painter, R. Alan Culpepper, and Fernando F. Segovia. Chalice Press, Missouri, 2002.

 

Acts 17:27 says the God who made us did so in order that we might seek him, grope for him and find him.  But seeking him alone will not in itself find him unless God also somehow reveals himself to us, or, as 2 Chronicles 15:2 says, “lets us find him.”

 

God has ways of revealing himself – making himself known to those who seek him - through the preaching of his word:

 

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

“‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ Acts 15:15-18, quoting Amos 9:11-12

 

And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”  Acts 15:7

 

These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ Acts 11:12-14

 

These last three Scriptures are all referring to God’s conversion of the Gentile Cornelius. It is clear that this Gentile already knew enough about God to be regarded as “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” How he first learned about God we are not told (but plenty of Jews around to pick it up?), yet all his devotion had not brought him a saving knowledge of God. He needed more revelation from a Christian. It is possible to know about God and believe in God, but not know enough to be saved through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is some more of the story about the Roman,  Cornelius:

 

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.  About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea” … And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”    Acts 10:1-6,21-22

 

[It is recorded there are two Romans in Acts who become Christians: Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, and Sergius Paulus the Proconsul of Cyprus in Acts 13. No ordinary Romans, either! Luke says that the Proconsul was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:12. The Proconsul wasn’t gullible! He wasn’t fooled by the magician!!]

 

I’m sure we all came to believe in God and become Christians for various reasons. Some had their door knocked. Others started visiting churches. Someone invited you. Or University. In my own case, the question of God and eternity really hit me when I was in my mid-twenties. I wasn’t happy, and I was thinking about the suffering associated with the Vietnam war. That started me reading the Bible and it made sense. I also visited a couple of churches. One day an aunt told me she had seen an ad in the newspaper for a religious debate in Newcastle. It was early 1974, and the debater was Jim Waldron, from East Tennessee - then preaching for the Kurrajong church. I went to the debate and that began my contact with the churches of Christ, and my conversion followed a couple of months later, 5th May 1974. God can use all kinds of people and circumstances to call a seeker!

 

Once we have a saving knowledge of God through Jesus, the Book of Hebrews warns us to value our salvation:

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:1-3

 

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:12-15

 

No one can see God, but to the seeker, God makes himself known – either directly though his self-revelation in the Bible, or through His people proclaiming the excellencies of God for the benefit of seekers:

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

 

“Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.” Let the Lower Lights be Burning, Philip Bliss, 1871. Bliss was an American composer,

conductor, writer of hymns and a bass-baritone Gospel singer, well-known for the tune of “It is well with my soul.”

 

--David Carr

 

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  That’s wise advice from the voice of experience.  But men are inclined to alter things that are currently working pretty well, with the notion that they can make it better.  Unfortunately the opposite often happens.  The machine that was running smoothly now won’t function at all; the business enterprise that was successful and prospering now is losing money; the structure that once stood strong and tall is now in danger of collapsing.

Change, you see, is not always a good thing.  Unfortunately there are some folks that are never content with ‘things as they are’.  They are always seeking to do it in some new, different way.  They frequently end up ‘breaking’ what wasn’t ‘broke’ in the first place.

Nowhere is this urge to ‘change’ more potentially dangerous than in the Lord’s church.  But, for some reason, we have brethren who constantly push for changing things.  To these people we would offer these observations:

1) If the way things are happen to be that way because God ordained it to be so, then we have absolutely no authority to be changing it.  Period.  Through the centuries misguided men have brought in a host of innovations to God’s simple plan for the worship, work, and organization of the church.  ALL of them are wrong.  Let us never be so presumptuous as to imagine we can change or improve on His design.

2) In matters of general authority - where our judgments in areas of expediency are allowed - it is typically the case that we’ve reached sound decisions based upon what ‘works’.  If you want to see it done in a different way, you need to be prepared to show why your way is better – not just different.  We’re not interested in ‘fixing what ain’t broke.’

3) Realize that ‘change for change’s sake’ is usually not helpful.  What are you seeking anyway?  Do you hope for a subjective, emotional ‘high’ if we change the order of worship?  Dim the lights? Sing more or different songs?  Do you think you can artificially stimulate folks to deeper study if we alter the Bible class arrangement?  Do you suppose that members will become more involved simply because some new scheme for personal work is proposed?  Maybe.  Perhaps these things might work temporarily.  But, of course, the underlying problems of the heart have not been addressed at all by these superficial ‘changes’.

4) There is legitimate value to stability.  We benefit from knowing how things are and how they will be.  This is true in our homes, at school, on our jobs, AND in the church.  Men should think long and hard before ‘troubling God’s flock’ with unnecessary and unhelpful suggestions aimed at ‘fixin’ what ain’t broke’.

- by Greg Gwin

 

Ready to use sermon outlines

Here are some “ready to use sermon outlines.”

 

Here is also one of our new listings:

 

https://www.alignable.com/elkhart-in/http-www-teachothersalso-foundation

Don’t Swallow without Chewing: Listen to Bible teaching in a careful and discerning way! Think as you listen, and then Apply!

 

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Ephesians 3:1-6

 

What do we learn from this well-known Scripture?

1.    God, in his grace, through the Holy Spirit, revealed truths about Christ and the church to the apostles.

2.    Paul said these truths were given to him … for you!

3.    What was given miraculously to an apostle by divine revelation is knowable non-miraculously to anyone who will read that revelation now available in the Bible.

4.    Therefore what was once divine mystery is now public knowledge to anyone willing to read the Bible.

5.    The specific truth referred to here in Ephesians is of the utmost importance in that it is about equality of blessing to every person who is a member of Christ's church.

Jesus basically said the same thing another way: God's truth is not meant to remain hidden. But he added: you

have to listen carefully! They're my words. Here's exactly what Jesus said:

 

And Jesus said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear [Take care what you listen to, NASB]: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:21-25

 

The Translators' Handbook on Mark (Robert Bratcher and Eugene Nida) suggests that the expression, "Pay attention to what you hear," could be taken to mean either: Pay attention to what you hear, or discriminate carefully between the things you hear. It prefers the former in the context, but it seems to me that both are important – especially when you note the many contexts that warn of false and deceiving teachers. Matthew 7:13-15; Acts 20:27-32; Romans 16:17-18; Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:8-13; 5:19-22; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2; 11:3-4,13-15.

 

C.E.B. Cranfield, in his classic Greek commentary on Mark, says the clause is "also an appeal for spiritual perception. Perhaps a challenge to penetrate beyond the outward forms of what Jesus says – e.g. parables as mere stories – to the message they are meant to impart." Jesus also knew false teachers were everywhere.

 

Luke reports Jesus saying: "Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." Luke 8:18

 

Take care what you listen to (blepete ti akouete) and take care how you listen (blepete … pōs akouete)! Both the what and the how are vital. This is my thinking, but Cranfield says the substitution by Luke of pōs for ti in Mark, "does not materially alter the sense; for the right way to hear Jesus' teaching is to hear what he means to say … And if one hears the Word and recognises it as such, then one's hearing cannot stop short at hearing, but must become a response of faith and obedience and gratitude." (All of this is on page 166 of his commentary of 1959. Cranfield was Professor of Theology at the University of Durham, UK). This commentary is costly, as I recall, but a very useful addition to your library.

 

Henry Barclay Swete, commenting on the same passage in his Gospel According to St. Mark, said: "Your attention to the teaching will be the measure of the profit you will receive from it."

 

There are plenty of places in the New Testament that deal with this. Let's initially look at just one of these to see the point; then we'll examine others:

Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

 

When you hear/read a Scripture in a lesson, do not "despise" it or ignore it; think about what that Scripture is saying, how it is being used by the Bible writer and the Bible teacher, and its relevance to your life. Then again, the teacher might be misusing the Scripture. He might even be a false teacher using Scripture to deceive. Remember the false teaching on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Timothy 2:18? Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Remember Satan quoting Scripture in the temptations in the wilderness, but misusing it to draw Jesus into something sinful? Essentially, this is what the 1 Thessalonians 5 passage is getting at when it says to hold to the good, but abstain from every form of evil. "Form" is "appearance" meaning "outward show" of evil or perhaps even "class" of evil. Jesus essentially said to Satan: "Your misuse of Scripture is plain evil. I'm abstaining from it!"

 

Earlier, in 1 Thess 4, Paul made it clear what would happen at the final coming of Christ, but clearly there were those who were confusing first century Christians on this. See Mark 13:21. So he says more on this in his second letter – chapters 1 and 2 - where also the consequences of not desiring truth are frighteningly stated.

 

Just to clarify my remark about possible deception or false teaching, I'm not saying be suspicious of every teacher's use of Scripture. I'm saying be discerning. There's a huge difference. Think about what is being taught, how it is being taught, what the Scriptures are saying, and how it can be applied. Discernment was needed re teaching on the resurrection, as seen above. Bible studies ought to be exciting, productive events in your life - something you're eager to participate in and learn from - as they were for the first disciples: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine …" Acts 2:42. As William Barclay put it, "When there was an opportunity to learn from the apostles, the disciples were there!"

 

Again from 1 Thessalonians:

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. At this point, let me encourage you to read both Thessalonian letters in one sitting to see the common themes. Especially note the importance of a trustworthy teacher as it relates to acceptance of new truth.

 

Paul is essentially saying: "You heard the word we taught. You knew we were trustworthy. You accepted it as the word of God. It's now working in you who have believed it." God's word is meant to be heeded so it can benefit the hearer/reader in various ways. Just as Jesus said: "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and

still more will be added to you."

 

Here's another example from another apostle: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

 

Peter is saying: "Desire God's pure word, and apply it by obeying its command to put away malice, deceit, envy,

hypocrisy and slander. This is the way you will grow in your salvation in relating to others. Reading or hearing leads to tasting the product to prove that the author knows what He's talking about. Compare Romans 12:1-2.

 

These are examples of being careful what you listen to and how you listen. In other words, listen to God's word

in such a way that you will know how to act on it and it will therefore do something spiritually beneficial for your life as a Christian. As James says: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:19-22

 

And another:

 

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

 

Again:

And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." Matthew 13:52

 

And again:

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. Romans 15:14

 

So brethren, practise listening to or reading carefully the word of God with a view to improving your faith and your life in Christ, and passing this on to others. The more you do this the more you will see your faith, knowledge and maturity improving in leaps and bounds. The key is – you've got to want it!

 

We repeat what Jesus said, as mentioned at the start, and then some things Paul wrote that are applications of the principle Jesus laid down. Jesus and Paul led believable lives - models of godly faith and life we can emulate.

 

Pay attention to what you hear; with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Mark 4:24-25

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

 

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Look how profitable Scripture is meant to be!

 

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:29-32

 

Be alert! God is at work, but so is Satan. Enjoy reading the Bible. Listen expectantly and carefully to your teachers. Think deeply. Discuss with others. Apply determinedly. Share eagerly. Grow joyously. Be thankful. It's serious, eternal business.

 

[This work was motivated by an excellent lesson brother Bob Abney sent out this past week in his Thinking Thoughts: "A Quote And A Three Pronged Attack." Bob's lesson has some similar thoughts but also some other thoughts. I'd encourage you to get hold of that if you're able. I'm keen to send it to anyone who wants it.]

 

--David Hunter

Devil Facial Tumor Disease

The Tasmanian Devil population is being decimated by a strange, deadly malady known as "Devil Facial Tumor Disease."  It is a cancer that horribly disfigures an ever-growing portion of the carnivorous marcupial's body until it suffocates or starves from lesions in the neck.   Horrific as the disease is, its means of spreading through that animal population is even more so.  The best guess of scientists is that the cancer cell is transmitted when the Devils bite each other during the course of fights.  In attacking their fellow species, they are infecting themselves and likely precipitating their own demise.  Their infamous ill temperament may be facilitating their own extermination.

 

False teachers troubled Galatia.  This troubled Paul, who by inspiration denounces especially the Judaising troublemakers in the latter part of the epistle.  Paul uses many graphic ways to describe their doctrine and approach.  It was "bondage" (5:1).  It nullified the effect of Christ's atonement in their spiritual lives (5:2).  It indebted one in a way impossible to pay (5:3).  It estranged one from Christ, causing that one to fall from grace (5:4).  It hindered true obedience to God (5:7).  It was destructive leaven (5:9).  It was brought by troublemakers and persecutors (5:11,12).  It was fleshly (5:13, 16ff).   It led to spiritual destruction (5:17-21).  It was harmful to "one another" relationships (5:26).

 

Yet, the most graphic description in the midst of several is found in Galatians 5:15.  Paul warned, "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another" (NKJV).  Paul had just hyperbolically yearned that the troublers would figuratively mutilate themselves (5:12), but now he says those with such a divisive, ungodly methodology were destined to spiritually wound and even destroy them.

 

Liberalism is a dominating, troubling concern in spiritual Israel today.  The church faces so many battles centering on proposed changes that threaten to undermine its authority and identity.  Many want to change things clearly and principally set forth in scripture to suit their own desires and inclinations.  In some places, there is an outright push to denominationalize the church of Christ and pollute our pulpits and classrooms with blatantly false ideas.

 

However, one is naïve who believes only one side (i.e., the "left") is attacking biblical center.  There are too many from another direction who are equally damaging and vicious in their attacks on the body of Christ.  In one sense, they are more dangerous due to their contention that they are rooting out all false doctrine and exposing all error.  Where they are doing so with proper ethics, attitude, and balance, they are to be applauded.  Yet, there is a mentality that seems wholly obsessed with full-time heretic detection, slandering brethren, and scrupulously elevating minutia as on par with Christ's doctrine.  They unnecessarily divide brethren and split congregations.  They polarize and draw away disciples after themselves.  They are fight-pickers, seemingly eager to engage in lengthy, unending diatribe and debate to the exclusion of other Christian obligations, of righteous, Christlike conduct, and of a charitable spirit that "is not rude...keeps no record of wrongs...does not delight in evil..." (1 Corinthians 13:5,6).

 

Yet, a pattern seems to be emerging among such contentious brethren.  First, they are increasingly turning on one another.  Further, they are succeeding in infecting themselves by their biting and devouring.  Then, they are facilitating their own demise-that of their influence, reputation, trustworthiness, and respectability.  However, they have also viciously wounded good men and women from among us in the process.  It is an epidemic that deserves closer attention and needs eradication.

If there is biblical center, it can be abandoned in more than one direction.  The antidote is Christ-like love that leads to love of truth and kind treatment of brethren.  To do less leads to horrific disfiguring of the body of Christ.

 

Is dancing a sin?

Dancing

Through the years, gospel preachers have warned against dancing.  "Revelries and such like," which Paul condemned as works of the flesh (Galatians 5:21), have been commonly defined by lexicographers to include dancing.  In the past, both Christians and non-Christians considered dancing worldly.  Devout parents urged their children not to dance and many a teenager missed the Senior Prom because it involved a dance.  In the last thirty years there has been less and less teaching against dancing, and more and more young people from good homes are participating.

We have already observed that the word revelries in Galatians 5:21 is often defined to include dancing.  Perhaps even more to the point is the word lasciviousness (licentiousness, KJV), also found in the Galatians passage.  The Greek word which it represents is found in nine other New Testament texts, always to be condemned.  Paul says of both revelry and lasciviousness that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." But what is lasciviousness?

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon defines lasciviousness as "wanton acts or manners as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females."  If the dances that are now popular are not "indecent bodily movements" it would be difficult to know what indecent bodily movements would be.  Many dances, both old and new, also include unchaste handling of males and females.

Surely this is an area where Christians must be different than the world in which they live.

- by Sewell Hall

 

Why Do People Drink on St. Patrick's Day?

It's really confusing. This is supposed to be a day dedicated to a guy named "Saint Patrick." This is supposed to be a day recognizing Christianity coming to Ireland. So why is St. Patrick's Day a day to get smashed for so many?

St. Patrick seems to have been a very moral and upright person. He is known for evangelizing in Ireland. This wasn't just your average religious man though. St. Patrick started 300 churches and baptized 120,000 people in about 30 years. While it isn't clear what religious group he was a part of, he was clearly one who was focus on spiritual things. So what about any of this screams, "let's get drunk," to people? Ironically, all of that started because of Catholic traditions.

When the Catholic Church made this a holiday in the 17th century, the day fell smack dab in the middle of Lent. Lent is a six-week period before Easter which the Catholic Church created to encourage people to repent of sins, live morally, eat less, and stay away from alcohol. For some reason, the Catholic Church decided to lift these moral restrictions for one day, St. Patrick's Day. These lifted restrictions encouraged people to go out to drink and party, which is why this day is now so well known for such things.

Let's allow Scripture to clear all of this up. First of all, there is nothing in the Bible about "Lent" or a similar period of time of moral restrictions. God's moral guidelines do not come and go, but are for all people at all times, including St. Patrick's Day (Acts 3:18-19; 17:30-31; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 2:10). Secondly, there is nothing in Scripture which gives any man the authority to lift these restrictions and allow sin. Not the church, not the Pope, and not even an angel from heaven (Galatians 1:6-9). Lastly, Scripture speaks often about the foolishness and dangers of alcohol, and clearly condemns drunkenness and carousing (Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3; Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-25; Isaiah 5:11-12; etc). Even if our society says it's fine, God says otherwise.

It's sad, but St. Patrick's Day has become just one more excuse for people to drink, party, and engage in sin. It's great to enjoy some of the fun and innocent traditions of this holiday (e.g. wearing green and pinching those who don't), but instead of conforming to our world, let's always do what is good and acceptable before the Lord (Romans 12:2).

Brett Petrillo

Jesus and the Nations: "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him"

 

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10

 

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices  will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:6-8

 

When Jesus entered our world, the above and following Scriptures from the Old Testament would have been ringing in his ears. Jesus knows he will be both the faithful servant of Israel and the bringer of hope for the Gentiles.

 

God’s Concern for all nations:the stone became a great mountain and filled the earth

 

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And

your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be

blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:15-18

 

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved

of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6

 

But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:35

 

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages  should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

 

Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of

the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8:22-23

 

Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:10-11

 

Time is short; judgment is coming

 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” Malachi 4:5-6

 

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

 

Jesus was coming to his people, Israel, but also to all nations: The light of the world

 

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11-13

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17. See John 12 below.

 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:6-11

 

Let us look at an extended passage in John to see what was at the heart of Jesus’ mission on the earth:

 

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:20-36

Note three things in these verses:

 

1.  Some Greeks wished to see Jesus. Note Zechariah 8:23. Oh that many more wished to see Jesus!

2.  Jesus, in his death on the cross, would draw all people to himself. Not just Jews, but all people!

3.  Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man. Jesus the Son of God is also the Son of Man who will be the light of the world. God takes on human form to bring hope to anyone willing to die and be reborn. Philippians 2:5-11

 

One man wrote this: We suggest that the relation between Christ and our plurality of cultures may be understood from at least three perspectives:

 

First, Christ is the Reconciler of cultures — he is the one who can bring people of different cultures together. Second, Christ is the Redeemer of cultures — he brings wholeness and hope to people of all cultures.

Third, Christ is the Ruler of cultures — he is the one who establishes the standards by which all cultures are ultimately to be judged.

 

Question: Does dealing with all cultures mean dealing differently with all cultures?? See Acts 10:34-35; 17:26-27.

We do not adapt the gospel to fit the culture; we adapt our lives to find ways of loving and relating in different cultures so as to get people to listen to the never-changing gospel. The gospel doesn’t change, but we change!

 

In Acts 17:26-27 Luke records Paul preaching that from one man God made all men to dwell on the face of the earth and seek Him. God sent his Son into the world to redeem people from all over the face of the earth, and to bring those disparate people together in unity in Christ. Jesus came into a world of rich and poor, slaves and free, marginalised, outcasts, knowledgeable and ignorant, seekers and uninterested, demon-possessed, blind and paralysed, tax-collectors, prostitutes, Jews, Samaritans, Romans and Greeks, self-righteous and the worst of sinners, Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, Essenes, Herodians and Zealots. He had the same essential message for everyone: “believe, repent and follow me if you want to have eternal life and avoid eternal destruction in hell!”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3. “If you seek him he will let you find him.” 2 Chronicles 15:2. God said this to Jews but Jesus is seeking the lost, Luke 19:10, whether Jew or Gentile.

 

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 8:5-11

 

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” Matthew 12:15-21

 

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called

the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:11-22

 

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:9-11

 

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all involved in a united purpose in the creation of the universe, and they are all involved in a united purpose in the redemption of man and the building of the church to bring all nations together in preparation for eternal glory. The Father had known and planned everything before the foundation of the world. When Jesus came into the world he knew the task that lay before him, and the Spirit empowered him through his itinerary. Luke 4:14; Acts 10:38. In heaven as Lord of all, He sent the Spirit to continue his work throughout all nations. 1 Cor 12:13. What are you doing to bring Christ to all nations? Mt 28:19

– David Hunter