Freedom is Good News Part 130

I was looking at a scripture yesterday that got me to thinking.  It is not an unusual or obscure scripture but one that should be quite familiar.  It is found in the Gospel of John chapter 14:1.  But before I type it out, let’s fill in a little background.

Jesus has just spent approximately thirty-three and one half years on this earth.  Of those years, He has been with the twelve apostles for about three and one half years.  When we get to chapter 13 of John we encounter Jesus partaking of His final Passover on this earth and the twelve are gathered around Him. 

I’m not sure if the events leading up to this Passover were any different than the others He had spent with the twelve but He alone knew that this would be a very special Passover; He would be the true Passover Lamb – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. 

He had been giving the Apostles clues about what was to happen.  Four times in the book of Matthew He mentions to them that He would have to suffer and be crucified (16:21, 17:22, 20:18 and 26:2), but they never really comprehended His words.  And now in the book of John 13:1 we are told, “It was just before the Passover Feast.  Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father.”

It is appropriate for us to examine this part of scripture at this time of year, for we are headed toward the time of Passover.  The next line in John 13:1 reads, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.”  Wow!!  The full extent of His love!!  And it is that line that leads me into the scripture that I was about to type at the beginning of this article.

Jesus is confronting His imminent death – a most torturous, hideous and painful type of death; death by crucifixion.  But at this last Passover meal, His thoughts are upon His disciples and not upon Himself.  He takes time to comfort His friends.  John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many abodes; if it were not so would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

Jesus had just washed His disciple’s feet.  He shared a meal with them and He brought forth the symbols of His own life – the bread (“Take and eat; this is my body.”)  And the cup (“Drink from it all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant.”)

And so He now takes advantage of this precious time with the twelve and begins to teach them some of the most profound things He could ever share with them!!  (Read John 14, 15, 16 and 17)  And yes, He begins by saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”.  I am reminded of the words of a song, “Hallelujah, what a Savior”.

Yes, there is more to come on this subject.

Freedom is Good News Part 129

I was reading an article a short time ago on the subject of “balance”.  The author was contemplating this busy world in which we live and the struggle we encounter as we strive to deal with balancing the many activities in our lives: family, job, exercise, sleep, entertainment and diet. 

Did I leave anything out?  Well, yes, I probably did and I’m sure you might be able to add to this list.  The question that must be asked here is, where does God fit into our busy schedules?  Do we just figure that God has to fit into a one hour slot when we gather together with others to sing a few songs and listen to a message?  Is that all that God deserves?

This article I was reading made this statement, “Your effort to balance life is a waste of time, like striving after the wind.  Don’t even try.”  And then the author quoted this scripture, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33)

You see, God does not deserve the leftovers of our lives.  The God that we should be serving is the one who is the Creator of all the universe.  He is the God that confronted Job and asked where he was when God “laid the foundations of the earth” and the same God who commissioned Isaiah to cry out to His people concerning their sins.  He is the one who sent His only begotten Son to die an extremely torturous death so that we might have life.  Do we really understand who this God is?

What was it Isaiah said when he realized that the majesty of God was in front of him?  What was it that he spoke when the angels that accompanied God cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Is. 6:3)  Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Is. 6:5)  Did Isaiah realize something at that point?  Did his whole life change at that moment?  You bet it did!  As much as his small human mind could comprehend what he was experiencing at that moment, his whole life took a great pivot Godward!!

Who is this God?  Let us read the words of King David, the man after God’s own heart,

“Praise to you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, from everlasting to everlasting.  Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hands are power and might to give strength to all.  And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

Read that again – slowly!  These are true words of praise and honor to the only living God.

Freedom is Good News Part 128

Do you know what I love about that quote from our previous article?  The one in 2 Timothy 3:14-17?  It tells us that Timothy learned the Sacred Writings in his childhood.  In other words, someone was busy teaching this young child about the salvation of God.

And of course, the message of salvation through a Messiah, sent from the Father, is taught in many places throughout the Old Testament!!  Now, if we go back to the first chapter of this letter to Timothy we read this:  “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Tim. 1:5)

In the book of Acts, chapter 16 we read of Paul coming into contact with Timothy.  We are told that he was a disciple, that his mother was a Jewish believer and that his Father was a Greek (possibly not a believer).

This young man was blessed to have a godly mother and a godly grandmother who desired that Timothy know and understand the ways and purposes of God!  These women were knowledgeable of the scriptures and so they were familiar with Deuteronomy 4:9, “Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”  Isn’t it a beautiful thing that Paul commends both mom and grandma in his letter to Timothy? 

God continues with Moses here in Deuteronomy 4:10, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”  But God isn’t finished.  He knows we have short memories and so in Deuteronomy 6:6, He tells us again, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” 

One more time God tells of the importance of godly instruction.  In Deuteronomy 11:18 He says, “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  This last expression: sitting, walking, lying down and rising is used to let us know that we should be teaching our children at every opportunity we get.  God was, and still is, serious about this teaching of our children – He mentions it 4 times in these three chapters.  And then King David picks up the command in the 34th Psalm verse 11, “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois must have done a wonderful job of instructing him.  He was a valuable asset to the Apostle Paul in so many areas of preaching the good news.  Paul even calls him “His true son in the faith” and the New Testament mentions his name 27 times. 

Teach your children.  Teach them diligently.  Teach them about God.  Instruction from someone else is O.K. but instruction from Dad and Mom pleases the Heavenly Father.

Freedom is Good News Part 127

I have heard some people say the Old Testament has been done away with.  Making a statement like that, puts an individual on very shaky ground!!  Last week we took a look at a couple of statements Paul wrote to his young assistant, Timothy.  Let’s take a closer look at them.

In his first letter we find this admonition, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13)  What scripture did Timothy have to read and teach from?  At the time of this letter, the only scripture available to Timothy was the manuscript (or series of scrolls) we call the Old Testament – the New Testament had not yet been penned.  Timothy was to read, preach and teach the Old Testament, or as Jesus called it, “the law and the prophets”.

Are you familiar with the books from Genesis through Malachi?  Jesus certainly was; and so was Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter and James.  Over and over, these men quoted from them; they understood them; they taught from them – Jesus said, at one point, that they were the words of life (Matt. 4:4) and when He said this He was quoting from the book of Deuteronomy 8:3, “(God) humbled you (Israel) causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Jesus used these words when Satan was tempting Him to turn some stones into bread.  In Matthew 4:4-10 Jesus quoted words from “the Law” each time Satan posed a temptation, “Jesus answered him, ‘it is also written: You shall not put the LORD your God to the test’” (Deut. 6:16); and finally, “Away from me Satan!  For it is written: Worship the LORD your God and serve Him only.’” (Deut. 6:13)

I believe I have indicated in the past that the bible may be compared to a jig-saw puzzle.  God wants us to read, to think, to meditate and so to put together an understanding of His true plan for mankind.  But if we toss out three quarters of the puzzle, we have a very skewed; yes a very incomplete picture.  The Old Testament is an integral part of the picture God wants us to see.  And now we come to the second quote mentioned in last week’s article, “But as for you, Timothy, 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 competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14-17)  

Here, Paul calls the Old Testament “the sacred writings” and also tells us that they are able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  Let me end here by stating that salvation is significant to the good news we seek!!

Freedom is Good News Part 126

The bible, from Genesis through Revelation, is a unified piece of literature consisting of 66 books with approximately 40 authors.  That statement, in itself, is astounding.  I do not believe that there is anything like it in all of the world’s literature.  The one thing that makes it a unified text is that its editor is God. 

Yes, God used humans to pen this tome in order that we might have an instruction manual for life itself!

Paul put it this way, “But as for you, Timothy, 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 competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14-17)

Paul, here, is urging his young assistant to continue to teach the scriptures.  These scriptures with which Timothy was acquainted, consisted of the Old Testament; Genesis through Malachi.  In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him to, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13)

The only Scriptures extant at that time were the Old Testament.  These scriptures, Paul tells him, were “able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ”.  Consider that for the time being – we’ll talk some more about it next time (God willing).

Freedom is Good News Part 125

There are those who enjoy the snow.  In past years it has been evident, from the tracks in some of the fields and meadows, that snow mobiles are used around here!  Now, mind you, I actually enjoy the walks my wife and I take in the early morning crisp cold air - but the snow!!!

The reality here is that it is just a matter of perspective.  A recently aired news piece on TV had the reporter interviewing those who enjoy the snow and so encouraged others to get out and go sledding or ice skating, etc.  And I see their point.  So, what is your perspective? 

OK, this is not an article concerning the weather or the amount of snowfall!  But what is your perspective concerning the world in which we live?  In other words, what is your worldview? 

Some years ago I encountered this concept of “worldview”.  At first I didn’t know what to make of it.  “What is your worldview?”  “Do you have a secular worldview or a biblical worldview?”  I believe the answer to that question tells a lot about how a person sees their relationship with God.

There are a lot of venues in the world today from which to garner information.  On-line or hard copy, we can read opinions, ideas, or theories about politics, science, history or current events.  But in today’s world, how do you know what is true?  My comment on this is that if you put forth an expert on a subject, someone else will put forth 3 experts confirming an opposing view.

Generally speaking, before answering anyone who would ask me my opinion on a given subject, I have to formulate my answer through the truth of the bible.  In other words, I have a biblical worldview – for me there can be no other way.  You see, those with a secular worldview can make up any answer they might want to because they don’t have the “sure foundation” of the bible. 

In this society where truth seems to be very illusive, how do we know what is “truth” and what is not?  The only foundation for truth that we have is the word of God for we read “Thy Word is Truth”.  The truth is, apart from that foundation, all human beings are liars; in fact the bible puts it this way, “Let God be true, though every man a liar”. (Rom. 3:4)  Now it is always possible for a person to be in error as to what he says – but deliberately telling an untruth is lying.

How then can a person who says he is a Christian and believes the bible to be the word of God, make a comment that involves secular reasoning or understanding and which also contradicts the word of God?  Allow me to end this session by quoting from the true Lord’s Prayer found in John 17:  Jesus was in prayer to the Father and says this, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  And yes we are seekers of truth and good news! 

Freedom is Good News Part 124

I mentioned in our previous article that, “the grace of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Remember the short definition of grace we used last week?  “Grace is getting something that you do not deserve.”  Do any of us deserve eternal life?  Well, actually – NO, we do not.  Does that come as a surprise to you?  It should not be surprising if you are familiar with the word of God.  Because through the scriptures we are brought into a knowledge of God – who He is and what His will is for us, His children.  We come to see just what it is that God requires of us and just what God will do for us.

I have mentioned many times before that God desires a relationship with us, but that there is no way for us to enter into that relationship while we are dead in our sins.  Yes, it is axiomatic that we needed a Savior, a Redeemer, someone who would be willing to bear the burden of our sins – and that someone is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.  This redemption from God fits within our short definition of mercy, “mercy is not getting what you deserve.”

Our God is a Holy God, this we know.  But do we truly realize that our Holy God cannot dwell with that which is unclean (unholy)?  We accept the blood of Jesus, we believe He cleanses us from our sin and we obey His holy and righteous commands so as to begin to form a relationship with Him.  And God promises eternal life.  If we will accept it, He gives us a “helper” to guide us in this path of righteousness.  Why do I say, ‘if we will accept it’?  Because many of us do not utilize this gift – this grace – of our Father. 

I know that some of this can be quite deep.  But it really only brushes the surface of the depth of the goodness and love that God has for us, His children. 

At His last Passover (sometimes called the last supper) Jesus says this, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to abide with you forever – the Holy Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17).   Some translations of the bible say He will give us a ‘Comforter’ and the Greek word that Jesus uses actually has the meaning of ‘one who come to the aid, comfort or consolation of another’.  God in His goodness and His grace is willing to give to us repentant sinners, a piece of His very self to aid, comfort and console us.

In other words, God is rooting for us all the way.  He wants – yea even desires – that we successfully navigate this world around us, to keep our hearts, our minds and our eyes fixed upon Him. 

He has given us His only begotten Son.  He has given us His written instructions in the bible.  He has given to us the counselor; a part of His very being.  These are things that a hundred generations before us never were privileged to understand.

Yes, He loves us more that we could ever know.  Would you meditate upon these things?  Would you get on your knees today and visit with Him?  Would you thank Him for His GOOD NEWS?

Freedom is Good News Part 123

In our last article we talked a little about the Godly concepts of justice and mercy.  You see, if God were not a God of justice He could not show forth His mercy.  For mercy does not, yea cannot, exist where there is no justice.  How can someone show forgiveness if there is nothing to be forgiven of? 

There is a third aspect of God’s character that must be introduced at this point: grace!  May I give you a succinct definition of these three aspects of God’s character?  Justice is getting what you deserve; mercy is not getting what you deserve; and grace is getting something that you do not deserve. 

And so, we are sinners – what is the result of sin?  “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23)  You and I as unrepentant sinners will find, in the justice system of God, the verdict of “death”.  We cannot complain for God has spelled it out for us.  But God has provided a way out and lets us know that He has sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice to take away our sin.  1 John 4:10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  WOW – now that is mercy, tremendous mercy.  But wait!  God does not stop there.  He goes on to express unto us the third element of who He is – grace!

What is this grace that God showers upon His children?  What is this gift of God that goes beyond what we deserve?  Let’s go back to finish the scripture quote in Rom. 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the grace of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  So does this ‘three part trail’ go from: 1) we are sinners worthy of death to; 2) we accept the mercy God has provided through the blood of His Son to; 3) eternal life in our Savior?  If that were so, then once we repented and received baptism we would be whisked away into the kingdom of God to be with Him forever – no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, just joy and bliss with God.  Guess what, that did not happen.  Not even with the Apostles!  In March of 1979 after I came up out of the waters of baptism, the same people were in the room, the same snowstorm was happening outside.  That was almost 40 years ago and this physical life is still all I see around me.

God is good!  Remember, Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone”.  And so God in His goodness provides for the repentant sinner in many ways.  Acts 2:36-39 says, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The gift of the Holy Spirit!  To have a piece of God in-dwell the new child of God is an amazing concept – so let’s take a look at that next time, God willing.

Freedom is Good News Part 122

In our previous article we considered the statement ‘God is good’.  And I asked the question as to whether you might know someone who believes that the God of the Old Testament is mean, angry and harsh.  How would you answer them?

I might start off by quoting the verse from James 1:17 (the verse I ended with last week) “(God) does not change like shifting shadows”; or perhaps the verse in Malachi 3:6, ‘I the LORD do not change’; or maybe Hebrews 13:8, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever’.  These three scriptures are quite persuasive in letting us know that God did not change His ways from the front of our bibles to the back of them! 

It was Jesus Himself who told us that ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’.  And in the letter of 1 John 4:8 & 16 we find out that ‘God is love’!  Peter chimes in with his second letter 3:9, ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you; He is  not willing that anyone should perish, but that  everyone should come to repentance.’

Wow!!  This God we are called to serve really does love His creation – He loves us and desires that we abide with Him and His Son for all eternity. 

One thing we must know about God; He is a God of justice.  He told our first parents, Adam and Eve, what not to do.  They paid no attention and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then they denied culpability for the sin, “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”  The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”  Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen. 3:11-21)  This was the world’s first example of passing the buck. 

Again, God is a God of justice and so punishment needed to be meted out.  God went back up this ladder of blame and cursed the serpent first, then punished the woman and finally pronounced punishment upon the man.  Then God, in His mercy and love for His children, provided garments of protection and modesty.

Do you remember how God worded His one and only commandment to Adam?  “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

In a manner of speaking, they did die that day.  The special fellowship they had enjoyed with God in the garden ended and any promise of eternal life for them ended that day.  But on the other hand, the God of mercy and grace, bestowed upon them His forgiveness. 

Freedom is Good News Part 121

“As Jesus was walking along the way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him.  ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  ‘Why do you call me good,’ Jesus answered.  ‘No one is good except God alone.’” (Mark 10:17-18)

We may get into this “eternal life” question at some time but I would like to ponder Jesus statement that “No one is good except God alone”.  Have you ever run into someone who said, “The God of the Old Testament was mean, angry and harsh”?  Perhaps you have said it yourself!  Or maybe you know someone who thinks that God cannot be good because there is so much suffering in the world.

Since the beginning of time, from when Adam and Eve were created, has there been anyone who has known God the Father better than the Son of God, Jesus Christ?  In the book of Matthew 11:27 Jesus makes this statement, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”  If ever there was a tight relationship it would have to be between God, the creator of all things, and His Son, the Savior of all mankind.

A question for you:  has the Son of God chosen to reveal to you the Heavenly Father?  This is a very personal question.  Many people go around talking about Jesus and how He has done many things in their lives; they preface their prayers with “Dear Lord” and so address our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  But in Matthew 6:9, Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father …” And I very seldom hear people talk about what the Father has done for them in their lives.

And so it is good to understand your relationship with Jesus.  It is also good to develop closeness to the Father of all mankind.  Jesus tells us He is good.  Let’s let the scriptures tell us how good He really is.

Shall we take a look at a couple of verses from the book of Isaiah and consider  his thoughts about our God and Father?  “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” (Is. 41:10&13)  This One who desires to take hold of our right hand is God.  Some may incorrectly state that the God of the Old Testament is harsh – but the God I serve wants, yes desires my love and attention.  He wants to strengthen and help me.  Jeremiah tells it this way, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will hope in him.”  The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentation 3:21-26)

“He does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)   Oh, there is so much more - God is good, all the time!!

Freedom is Good News Part 120

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of (faithful) witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

How strong was the faith of Jesus Christ?  To be slightly glib, I would say that on a scale of 1 to 10, He was at a 12!!  He came down from heaven (from the heavenly throne room of the Father) and became flesh.  Paul, in his letter to the Philippians 2:5-8, says this, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Our Savior went to the cross for us.  As He hung there, losing every drop of blood unto death, He had to have profound faith that He would be brought up unto resurrection from the grave by the mighty hand of the Father.  And then we read in the book of Hebrews, quoted above, that He is “the founder and perfecter of our faith”.

If you have faith in what the Heavenly Father has done; if you have faith in what your Savior, Jesus Christ, has done; and if you have faith in the understanding that you are walking in the path of righteousness with your Father and His Son, then you can rejoice that your faith has been founded in Jesus Christ and will be perfected in Him.  In his letter to the Galatians 2:20 Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Wow!! This is heavy stuff!!  But whoever said the bible was light?  These words of Paul are not things to be read over and forgotten – they are the truth of God and they are facts.

The good news here is that our Heavenly Father and His Son love us so much that “We have been given everything we need for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3)  Paul says as much in his letter to the Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” 

But you must take the next step.  You must ponder, you must meditate upon whether you have received this calling (yes this calling, right here in the words of this article) and that you have prepared the soil of your heart so as to receive the seeds of the Gospel and to become one of the chosen ones of God.  In Acts 2:38, Peter told us what to do, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Do you have the faith to take this step?  “And with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Freedom is Good News Part 119

Some might feel that the activity of having faith is as easy as falling off a log (I’ve never actually done that! – fall off a log, that is!).  We have been considering faith – the faith that Abraham had – and that it involves much more than just some mental exercise.  It truly involves some kind of activity, just as Abraham’s faith did!

Ultimately, what are we looking for?  As I see it, God has given us life so that we might begin a journey toward Him!  A good word to use here would be “relationship”.  God wants to have a relationship with His creation, yes, with His children.  Isn’t that what we are looking for?

But one thing the scriptures teach us is that our God is Holy and we are not; and that presents a problem, because that which is unholy cannot draw near to that which is holy.  This we know, for the scriptures also teach us that we need to be redeemed from our unholyness, our sinful nature.  God, in His wisdom and understanding, has, from the foundation of the world, considered and provided for our needs in this case.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  “Whoever believes in Him” … Did you catch that?  Faith or belief is involved here!

OK, so back to my question, ultimately, what are we looking for?  In a word, we are looking for righteousness!  It is righteousness that will bring us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father and because we have no righteousness of our own, we must be redeemed by Jesus Christ and so accept His righteousness through the blood of His sacrifice.  Do you believe that Jesus’ blood imputes righteousness to you so that you might fellowship with the Father?

We have come a long way in just a short space; allow me to insert here a quote from my daughter, Cynthia Saladin, “If God is your God and you want fellowship with Him, the law is part and parcel of your relationship with Him.  It defines what is acceptable conduct in His presence.  The law is a reflection of the character of God.”  I know I am prejudice toward my daughter but that statement says a mouthful!!  Remember what James said, “Faith without works is dead.”  A short perusal of the faith chapter in the book of Hebrews should give us understanding here, “By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and thereby was commended as a righteous man … By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family … By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going …by faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, … because they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:4-23)  We could go on but I believe we see that each of these (and more) were commended for their faith by doing something.

Oh yes, faith is a huge subject – there is still more to come!!

Freedom is Good News Part 118

“You have faith that there is one God.  Good!  But even the demons believe that and shudder.” (James 2:19)  This is quite an interesting verse.  And one that should make us stop and think about our belief system.  There are many people in our society that say they believe in God and they will even say that they believe in the God of the bible.  But this same bible tells us that this kind of belief is no better than the belief of Satan and his minions. 

In our previous article I mentioned that Jesus says in John 8:39, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works Abraham did.”  Are you a child of Abraham?  In Romans 4:11 we read, “So then, he (Abraham) is the father of all who believe …”; and again in Galatians 3:29 “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”  Well, only you can answer the question as to whether you are Abrahams offspring or not, and only you can answer the question as to if you are doing the works that Abraham did. 

Friends and brethren, this is an important discussion.  We have been considering the scripture in Rev. 17:4 concerning the “called, the chosen and the faithful”.  Each one of these concepts builds upon the next – for how can you be a chosen one of God if you have never been called and to whom are you to be faithful if God has not chosen you?  Can you begin to grasp the depth of all this?  Those who are “called, chosen and faithful” are those who will accompany our Savior in the last days as Satan is being defeated and Christ is beginning the process of setting up the Kingdom of God on this earth!!!

Let’s consider the word “faithful”.  First, let’s notice it does not say “faithsome”.  OK, my computer is telling me that I just made that word up; but you get the point, our faith must be full and not just partial. 

Remember the incident in Mark 9:14-28, where a certain man asked Jesus to cast a demon out of his son?  The man’s words were, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus’ response was, “If you can?  Everything is possible for him who believes”.  And immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe help my unbelief!”  Jesus cast the demon out of the child but the father’s reply is one that we all share: “I believe, help my unbelief!”  Our God is loving and kind and merciful and full of grace toward His children, He does help our unbelief but we must do as the father did and ask.  This subject of faith is not an easy one.  The word itself is tied in with the concept of obedience. In the book of Hebrews we see that when the Israelites sinned in the wilderness and refused to enter the promised land, they were punished for their unbelief: “And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:18-19)

Oh yes – there is still more to come.  We are just coming to the part where the rubber meets the road!!

Freedom is Good News Part 117

As we have peered into the topic of “good news” these past few articles, we have been considering an interesting scripture in the book of Revelation 17:14:  “And they will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”  We have talked about how it would be a good thing to be with our Savior at this point in time and so perhaps we should understand these 3 terms from a biblical standpoint.   We have seen how we may be called by God and we have seen how the choosing takes place, but what about the third category, “faithful”?  And then there is that fourth word, “followers”.  Let’s take a look at these last two words; shall we?

So let’s say you have been called by God (and I believe that if you have been reading these articles, you have been); and let’s assume you have prepared the soil for the scattered seeds that are being sown, and are being chosen by God; now you must pursue faithfulness!

In Romans 4 Paul gives us the ultimate example of a man of faith.  4:1 “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  For what does the Scripture say?  ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness….  ”.  Later, in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, often called the “Hall of Fame of the Faithful”, we read about Abraham in verse 8, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land… By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son.”

Abraham had faith in God when he was told that even in his old age he would have a son.  Abraham had faith in God when he was told to leave the land of his fathers and move to a new land.  Abraham had faith when God told him to sacrifice this very son that God had promised to him.  And then Jesus says in John 8:39, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works Abraham did.”  Wow, did I just read the word “works”?  I thought we were talking about faith.  Abraham is the father of the faithful – what is this about his works?  

The letter of James has something to say about this:  James 2:14, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead … You have faith that there is one God.  Good!  But even the demons believe that and shudder.”

We shall, God willing, look further into this subject the next time.  But isn’t this exciting – we have, in this study, gone from the book of Romans to Hebrews to John and finally to James.  The bible is a unified book and a treasure trove of knowledge!!

Freedom is Good News Part 116

“He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”  Who are the called, who are the chosen and who are the faithful? 

We saw, in our last installment, that the bible tells us, “Many are called but few are chosen.”  And yes, that call goes out in many ways.  For me, it was a conversation I had with a co-worker who told me of the truth of God.  I listened to him and realized that God was calling to me; God wanted me, a sinner, to be a part of His family.  Wow!  Imagine that, the God who created all things wanted me, this “nobody”; this blue collar welder, working in the oil fields of Wyoming, to be His child!

But I was hard headed and I balked.  It took two years of inner struggle with my old ways to finally realize that I could no longer ignore God.  The great God of the universe wanted my heart.  And I finally gave it to Him!

The call goes out in many ways.  Some might read something on the internet; some will read a tract or booklet left lying around.  Some might turn on a TV program that opens their eyes to the truth of God and still some might read an article written in a small town give away newspaper called the Danish Villages News.  Has God called you?  Does God want you to become one of His precious children?  Does the creator of all things want you to open up your heart to all that He has for you?  Only you can answer these questions.  But answer them you will; either with an emphatic yes, or a destructive no; for “Many are called but few are chosen”.

As we saw in the previous article, the seed of God’s calling will only produce fruit in the right type of soil:  “But some fell on good fertile soil and grew, producing a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  In that parable of Matthew 13, three quarters of the seed scattered did not produce any fruit – there was no “choosing” by God in those cases.  But God is truly looking for those few who will open up their hearts to Him.

When did God call you?  Do you remember His gentle hand leading you into the sheep fold?  Wait a minute Bill, you are mixing metaphors here – our ninth grade English teachers would be appalled – you started off talking about agriculture and now shifted to animal husbandry! 

Hmmm!!  God uses many metaphors to teach and to call.  Sometimes He uses fishing and other times He uses building construction.  God wants all of His children to “get” what He is saying and does not limit Himself to only one avenue. 

Are you being called now?  Do you have the good soil that will produce a hungry heart for God?  I hope you do.  We are not playing games here with God – He wants sons and daughters to love Him so that He might teach and bless.  Next time (God willing) we will talk about the third aspect of this topic – the faithful!

Freedom is Good News Part 115

In the past couple of articles, we have seen that although the good news of the Gospel consists of the life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it does not end there.  In fact, the resurrection of Christ begins for us (upon whom the ends of the age have come) the realization of the good news that was prophesied in the Old Testament.  But this good news, in all actuality, never ends!  For it finds its fulfillment in the eternal life that is promised to God’s called, chosen and faithful followers.

Are you there yet?  Have you been called by God?  If called, then have you been chosen?  And so, if called and chosen, are you faithful?

These three categories, called, chosen and faithful, are found in the book of Revelation 17:14:  “And they will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”

To be with our Lord and King at that time, is news of such great joy that it is really inexpressible!  But you must be called, chosen and faithful!!

In Matthew 22:14, just after Jesus telling of the parable of the wedding supper, we read, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Does that concern you?  Do you wonder, sometimes; perhaps you have been called of God but for some reason haven’t been chosen of God?  I mean, why would God call someone and not chose him?

There are many ways in which God may call an individual.  Paul addresses this when he says in 1Cor. 3:6, “I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but it is only God who makes it grow.”  I must figure that everyone who is reading these articles are familiar with their bibles.  Perhaps many of you attend a worship service, at least from time to time.  Within the pages of the bible are many potential seeds that may be planted in the heart of the reader.  Within the words of a sermon or bible study are also many potential seeds.  And so it is within these articles, potential seeds abound. 

I mention that they are “potential seeds” because although they enter your brain through your reading or your hearing, those who are chosen of God are the ones that allow them to be planted within their hearts.  Remember the parable in Matthew 13 concerning the “Sower and the Seed”.  Some seed fell on the path to be eaten by the passing birds; some fell on rocky places but because of shallow soil the new shoots quickly withered; some fell  among the thorns and were choked out and died; but some fell on good fertile soil and grew, producing a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

So, receiving the seeds means you have been called.  But what kind of soil are you?  I believe God makes it clear that we must be good soil if we are to be found chosen.  God does the calling and the choosing but we must prepare the soil!!

Perhaps we should look at this some more next time.

Freedom is Good News Part 114

Well of course there is “good news”.  It is all around us.  There is joy and there is happiness and there is a merry heart for all who will believe!!  God tells us through Moses, “The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”  Jesus Christ died for you and for me that we might be reconciled to the Heavenly Father; that is good news.  We had been reckoned as sinners as the result of being descendants of our first father and mother; Adam and Eve.  But thanks be to God for the life we are offered through the Son of God!

May we level with each other through the confines of these words – without this sacrifice of the Son of God, we have no hope!!  As I mentioned in our previous article, we will have perhaps 70, 80 or 90 years to enjoy physical life (the only thing we, as human beings, know), and then we die.  Or as the scripture in John 3:16 says, “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.”  If we do not believe, we perish!

This is quite interesting because our God (the one and only God) is offering to us, free of charge, an extension of this life we have been experiencing and yet this extension is in no way to be compared to some overtime period in a field of sports – this is life eternal!!  It is interesting because most people on this earth do not accept this idea.  Let us bring that closer to home – most people in this country of ours do not accept this idea.  What about in the state of Iowa, the county of Shelby or even this local community of ours?  How about those of you reading this newspaper – do you accept this idea?

In our previous article, we paid a short visit (through a vision of the Apostle John) to the throne room of God.  We were in Revelation chapter 4.  John was permitted to see things that he, frankly, had no words to describe.  Throughout the book of Revelation, John uses metaphors, similes and analogies to try and get across the idea of what he saw.  The Apostle Paul had a similar experience that he mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:1, “I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.  And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”  Paul, one of the foremost servants of God in the New Testament, was not permitted to tell of his experiences when in the “third heaven” that is, the place where God dwells.

Then we find Moses, one of the foremost servants of God in the Old Testament, spending time in the presence of God.  Moses was not permitted to see God’s face but was allowed to experience that presence.  When God came down in the cloud on Mount Sinai, Moses bowed his face to the ground and worshiped.  And when Moses came down from the mount into the camp of Israel, his face had a radiant glow.  The scriptures say that the people were afraid to come near him!! (Ex. 34:8 & 29-30)  My friends, think upon these things and until next time, remember, we have good news all around us.

Freedom is Good News Part 113

What is it that you expect to be doing one thousand years from now?  To tell you the truth, it is hard to see that far into the future isn’t it?  On this earth, the bible tells us, we might expect to have 70 years of physical life.  This is what it says in Psalm 90:10, “The length of our days is seventy years – or eighty if we have the strength.”

There are many people in our little community that must have great strength for they have reached into their eighties and even into their nineties!!  At some point though, we must die – as the old saying goes, “there are no survivors on this planet”.  But then what?  If our names are written in the book of life, we wait for the resurrection from the dead.  But then what?  Whoa, let’s not go too fast here.  What do I mean by no survivors?

In the book of Hebrews 9:27 it is written, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement….”  Yes, all of us are given just this one opportunity to live a fleshly existence.  And even though Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, says, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51), those that do not “sleep” must shed this flesh and be clothed with a new body.  Paul goes on to say, “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed,  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:52-53)

OK, so what do you expect to be doing one thousand years from now? Is your name written in God’s book of life?

The most famous scripture in the bible is arguably John 3:16, “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.”  It we are looking for good news, this is a very good place to start.  (OK, if we are true to God’s word, we should start at Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But that is a topic for another time!)

God gave us His only begotten Son that through His death, we may receive life.  And that life is the life we are talking about – eternal life!  That life is beyond our understanding, beyond our comprehension and beyond anything we might imagine!!  It is a life spent with our Heavenly Father and with His Son.  It is a life that will be filled with joy and peace.  It is a life that will be spent experiencing the true glory of God – a glory that today is not available to us.  “Then Moses said, ‘show me your glory’.  And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name, Yahovah, …. But you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’” (Ex. 33:18-20)  In that day we will be allowed to see what the Apostle John saw when he was “in the Spirit”, “At once I was in the Spirit and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.  A rainbow resembling an emerald, encircled the throne …. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder ….”

What an awesome experience!!  And truly Good News.  Stay tuned for more.

Freedom is Good News Part 112

“Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

It is, indeed, a beautiful thing to have access to the word of our Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth!!  He is the Creator of all things and just as any manufacturing company will provide the user with an instruction manual, so our Maker and Designer has given us a manual to instruct us on the proper use and care of who we are and how we operate.

We have spent a few weeks looking into the first Five of the Ten Commandments of God.  And so now we will consider the last five.  God has not put as many details into these final five as He has the first ones but one of the first things we should take note of is that they all begin on a negative footing: “You shall not …”

I believe we all know what it means to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness and covet.  These are not obscure words that send us to the dictionary to search for their meanings.  And I believe if we spent some time in consideration of these 5, we would understand, if we are rational, just how good they are and how necessary they are for the safety and health of a society.  We all know that we “should not ……”!

But let’s take a look at some of these five from a positive perspective.  How do we do that?  I’m glad you asked! 

The Sixth Commandment is: “You shall not murder.”  So how do we look at this in a positive light?  Perhaps the simplest way is to consider how we might help others to live a better life.  In our little community of Elk Horn it has been my observation that we do a very good job.  There is always a helping hand, a visit to the sick or bereaved, a donation to those in need when tragedy strikes. 

When considering theft, we might turn it around and think about those in need and how we might give of ourselves.  Here in this community, we have a food pantry to donate to.  And there is usually a notice in the newspaper concerning an organization putting on a charitable fund drive.  We are so blessed to be able to give!

I am sure that you could add to this “positive aspect” list of the final five commands.  But let’s stop and take a quick look at what Jesus had to say about these commands.  Remember, He came not to abolish the law but to fill it to the full.  “You have heard that it was said ‘Do not commit adultery’.  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’”  (Matthew 5:27)

There is an immense amount of instruction given to us in the Word of God.  Sometimes we may think that the law is only found in the Old Testament but according to many commentaries, there are more commands in the New Testament – Jesus came to fill to the full.  God’s word is good and “the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”  Rom. 7:12.

Freedom is Good News Part 111

Several articles ago we began looking at the Ten Commandments and we’ve come through the first five with five more to go.  We have seen that God placed many details within the first five and have considered just how we should look at them.  But as we come to the last half of the Ten, they come at us rapid fire and quite straight forward.  “You shall not murder.  You shall not commit adultery.  You shall not steal.  You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.  You shall not covet: your neighbor’s house; your neighbor’s wife; his manservant or maidservant; his ox or donkey; or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

In Matthew 4 we read about Jesus baptism, His 40 days of fasting in the wilderness and, immediately following, the temptation by Satan in the wilderness.  Then in verse 17, we see that: “From thence forth Jesus began to preach.”  We read in chapter 5 that His message to the crowds began with what we call the beatitudes.  And then in chapter 5:17 we find Jesus laying down the “ground rules” for His ministry; He did not want anyone (including you or me) to misunderstand just how He approached His ministry.  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fill them to the full.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until everything has come to pass.”

We will (God willing) take a closer look at these final 5 commandments but for now I suggest that we take a short sidetrack and see just how our Savior saw this “Law” that was codified in the part of our bibles called “The Old Testament”.  I use the word “codify” here because this is what Jesus is talking about when He used the terms, “smallest letter” and “least stroke of the pen”.  To codify something means to write it down.

The Jews of His day, the Pharisees and Sadducees, etc., had developed something called the “oral law”.  This was not a part of the law that God gave to Moses to write down.  The Jews had their traditions and passed them on down through the generations by word of mouth – thus the “oral law”.  We find, later on in Matthew, that Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for this, calling them hypocrites and so in Matthew 15:3 we read, “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? … Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your traditions.”

This is a very important concept to understand.  Jesus specifically used the terms “smallest letter” and “least stroke of the pen” (in Matthew 5:18) in order to differentiate the written word of God from this so called “oral law”.  God’s word is truth – the Rabbi’s words, not so much!

As Jesus continues His preaching to the crowds in Matthew 5, He begins to teach about God’s law and to “fill it to the full”.  And we will look some more at this in our next article.  But remember this:  The Apostle Paul tells us in Rom. 7:12 that the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”  And that my friend is Good News!!