Good News For The Sinner

I John 1:8 - 2:2

Today’s message is on a topic that is not a very popular one to discuss, whether among each other, and certainly not from most pulpits.  That topic is sin.  Most people don’t like to hear about sin, especially their own sins.  Many pastors are loath to talk about sin from the pulpits in their sermon messages.  They are afraid to step on anyone’s toes, offend them, or lose their interest, so that they stop attending.  However, that is a message that needs to be told, and it is my topic today.  With the Scripture selection today, there is much good news, so this is not a completely negative topic or message.  Let’s look into God’s Word.

As mentioned, sin is not a favorite topic.  Many people are resistant, and opposed to admitting that they are sinners.  They will say that since they never murdered anyone, or robbed a bank, they aren’t sinners.  And it has become popular today in some groups and with progressive thinkers to say that there is no black and white with regards to sin.  Everything is various shades of gray.  What one person calls a sin, another may say that they don’t consider it a sin, so it is not a sin to them.  Let’s be clear, what the Bible, God’s Word, calls a sin, what it says is wrong, then it is a sin and it’s wrong.  And God has said that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).  If we are honest with ourselves, we will readily admit that we all have sinned.  Those who say otherwise are deceiving themselves, trying to deceive others, and are not being truthful (vs. 8).  They are also calling God a liar (vs. 10), as His Word very clearly says that all have sinned, not just some.

All people are sinners by nature and by practice.  The first step in order to be saved is to admit that one is a sinner.  If someone never admits to being a sinner, salvation cannot result.  Do not be deceived.  We all are sinners who need to be saved by grace.  Even after we get saved we still sin and need to confess.  Every day we sin and do things that offend God.  We need to confess them to Him, and receive His forgiveness.   Yes, sin is bad news, it is depressing, and people don’t want to hear it.  However, we have some good news in verse 9, very good news.  God promises us in His Word that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us, and cleanse us from the sin-stains.  We can come to Him every time we do something wrong, every time we mess up, and He has promised to forgive us.  It is best to keep a clean record, and not let unconfessed sins pile up.  Confess and forsake them, and God will cleanse us.  Doing so removes the barrier to fellowship that our sins put up between us and God (Psalm 66:18-19).

When we do something wrong, we have to face the consequences and take the punishment.  Sometimes we might even need to hire an attorney to represent us in court.  When we stand before the Lord God, guilty of all sorts of sins, we have the best possible Attorney, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 1).  Jesus is our Advocate, our Defense Attorney.  Satan continually prosecutes believers before the Father, due to our sin.  However, Jesus’ High Priestly ministry guarantees our acquittal (Hebrews 4:14-16).

After becoming a Christian we still retain our sin nature.  We do not have “sinless perfection”.  The person who makes such claims makes God a liar because God’s Word says otherwise.  Nor does confessing sin and receiving forgiveness give us a license to continue to sin casually and indiscriminately.  Our sinful tendencies should be conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As the Apostle John continues, he says that Jesus is the “propitiation” for our sins (vs 2).  That is a big word, one not generally in our vocabulary every day, or usually ever.  It means “appeasement” or “satisfaction”.  The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross satisfied the demands of God’s holiness for the punishment of sin.  Jesus died for everyone in general, but each person must individually accept Him for themselves.  If they don’t, they are not saved, and will not see heaven.

In closing, there are many churches today that want to put less, or even no emphasis on sin and other “negative” aspects of Christianity.  They say that God loves us all, and that Jesus accepts everyone just the way they are.  They tell us not to judge, and don’t make anyone feel bad by pointing out sin.  Jesus did accept people the way they were, but He didn’t leave them that way.  He told sinners, after He forgave them, to “go and sin no more”.  The good news here is that Jesus is our Defense Attorney.  His death satisfied God’s justice.  When we confess our sins, He promises to forgive.  This isn’t bad news, it is good news!

A New Song Of Praise

Psalm 98

Easter should still be fresh in our memory, as it was just over two weeks ago.  It is a holy day of great rejoicing for Christians, and our psalm for this week is one of great rejoicing, as well.  Believers and followers of the Lord Jesus should be people of joy.  Let’s take a quick, brief look at this short psalm of praise.

As Psalm 98 opens, the author calls on us to sing a new song to the Lord.  There are so many things to praise the Lord for, so many blessings we have received.  There is always something new to praise Him for.  And with so many songs and hymns of praise, whether we prefer traditional or more contemporary worship music, we could sing a different one every day for quite a while!

Our psalmist gives us some reasons for praising the Lord.  One is quite obvious, and that is because God has done marvelous things (vs. 1).  Look around the world, especially with springtime upon us, and we can find so many marvelous things that God has done.  He doesn’t do mediocre things, or sloppy things.  When we look at the workmanship of so many things today, that is frequently what we find - mediocre and even sloppy quality.  But not with what God does, for our God does marvelous things!

When we look back at the events that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus, we know that He was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, which He did every year.  All faithful Jewish people would try to go to Jerusalem for that celebration.  What was that holy festival, what did it commemorate?  That celebration was to commemorate the last of the ten plagues God had brought on the Egyptians, when God “passed over” the houses marked with the blood of a lamb, but striking down the first born of those who weren’t marked.  Immediately following that, the people of Israel fled Egypt, and the Lord parted the water of the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground.  God’s right hand and His holy arm got the victory over His enemies (vs. 1).

Again, after Jesus was crucified and buried, His enemies thought that they had succeeded in stopping Him for good.   But on the third day, that Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the dead  His right hand and His holy arm gained Him the victory over Satan and over death!  There are so many instances all throughout both the Old and New Testament where we see that God gets the victory over Satan and His enemies.  As one reads through the final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, we see very clearly that Jesus gets the final victory!

Another thing to praise God for, quite an important thing, is His salvation, which He has brought to us through the shed Blood of His Son Jesus upon the cross (vs. 2-3).  Salvation wasn’t, and isn’t for just a select few.  It is for all people at all times.  His parting words to the disciples was that they were to go into all the world, telling anyone and everyone the Gospel message of salvation.  God has made it known.  It isn’t kept secret for just a select few.  We can, and should, be a part of that, making salvation through Jesus known to all the ends of the earth, as well.

Next we see the psalmist instruct us to sing God’s praises with all sorts of musical instruments, a whole orchestra full (vs. 4-6).  The people are to shout and sing with music before the Lord, the King.  One favorite subject of mine is studying royalty, particularly the British royalty, from the present day to going all the way back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon kings.  Though not so much today, but there were several periods of time when the monarchs really went all out with pomp and ceremony.  The king would enter a great hall, and the trumpets and horns would ring out, announcing his arrival.  The composer Handel wrote some very celebratory music for both King George I and II, music that was to be played when the former rode his royal barge down the Thames, and when the latter hosted celebratory royal fireworks.  If grand music can accompany earthly royalty, then certainly we should play joyful and triumphant music for the Lord God!

As our psalm closes, the psalmist proclaims that all of nature will rejoice and sing their praises to the Lord (vs. 7-9).  The sea, the rivers, and the hills will all join together with creation to praise the Lord.  He will be coming to judge the earth, and when He enters He deserves an even grander celebratory praise than any earthly king!

No Other Name

Acts 4:5-12

There is a common phrase that many of you might have heard, or some variation of, and that is that there are many pathways that lead to God.  Those who say this believe that it doesn’t matter what way you choose, it doesn’t matter what religion you believe, what religious leader and teachings you follow, because they all lead to God.  Our Scripture today contains a message from Peter, the chief of the Apostles, which exposes this for the lie that it is, a malevolent and damning false teaching.  This isn’t a popular message among many people, but as it is God’s Word, we must listen to it.

Just prior to our Scripture beginning, the apostles Peter and John had prayed and healed a man crippled from birth in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:1-10).  This caused quite a stir in Jerusalem, and soon came to notice of the religious leaders, who were quite upset.  They had thought that by executing Jesus, His power and influence would also have died, but it hadn’t.  Peter and John were taken into custody and were asked by what power or name they had performed this miracle (vs. 7).  Only a few months earlier Peter had denied knowing Jesus.  Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly stood up for Jesus in front of the entirety of the ruling body of Israel, and gave his answer (vs. 8-12).  The Apostle clearly stated that the miracle was done in the Name of Jesus, and that salvation is only through the Name of Jesus (vs. 12).

Peter said that the Jews had rejected Jesus, but now He has become the Cornerstone of the Church (Psalm 118:22; Mark 12:10; I Peter 2:7).  Without Him there would be no Church, nor salvation.   The Bible unequivocally states that Jesus, alone, holds the key to salvation, and in fact He is salvation.  God, through His Word, says that if one is going to be accepted into heaven, one must be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:1-14).  That is not an option.  That is an imperative.  Whoever has accepted Jesus as Savior will have eternal life.  If they haven’t, then they do not go to heaven (I John 5:12).  Salvation is found in no other Name.

This truth offends many people, including some who claim to be Christians.  They say that we all need to be “inclusive”, and thus we need to say that any and all beliefs will lead us to God.  However, the Bible, God’s Word, clearly states that every path does not lead to God. It clearly says that Jesus is the only way of salvation, and those who reject Him will not have eternal life (John 10:9-10; John 14:6; I John 2:23).  Jesus said that the world will hate true Christians for believing that He is the Son of God, and the only way of salvation (John 15:18).  Jesus did not say that He was one of the ways to God.  He said that He was the Way (John 14:6).  To say otherwise goes against Scripture, and I will never do that.

There is a black and white, not just shades of gray.  There is a definite right and wrong, a truth and falsehood, not just “what is truth for me.”  The Name of Jesus Christ is the center of contention (vs. 7, 10, 12), and will always be.  Salvation for everyone, both Jew and Gentile alike, is exclusively through the Name of Jesus.

In closing, let me give this example that a former pastor of mine once said.  About 15 miles north of where I live is Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.  It is a very large and busy airport, with about 74 million passengers traveling through each year.  There are four streets that surround the airport grounds, Irving Park Rd on the south, York Rd on the west, Touhy Ave. on the north, and Mannheim Rd. on the east.  Yet there is only one way for passengers to get into the airport, and it is not through any of those roads.  The only way to get into the airport is by I-190, the westernmost leg of the Kennedy Expressway.  You can see the airport quite clearly from the four other streets.  You can watch all the planes take off and land from them, but you have no access to the airport.  You can drive around and around the airport on those roads, but you won’t get in.  If you try to climb the fence you will quickly find yourself, not in the airport, but sitting in a police station.  The same is with heaven.  All those other ways will just take you around and around, but not into heaven.  There is only one way, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Be sure you are on the right path, the right Way, and that is through Jesus!

The Apostle Thomas

John 20:19-31

Our Gospel reading today, following this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer, brings us to the account of Thomas, one of the twelve apostles.  Thomas is forever nick-named “Doubting Thomas”, and we’ll see why he has that name, and whether it is really a fair one.

Thomas, like the other disciples, had taken part in the Passover and Last Supper celebrations with Jesus, and then went with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane.  While there, Jesus was arrested by the Jewish religious leaders, and all of the disciples took off, including Thomas, leaving Him alone.  It seems that ten of the disciples hid out together from Friday to early Sunday morning, all except for Judas who betrayed Him and later killed himself, and for Thomas.

Why wasn’t Thomas with the others?  The Scriptures do not say.  He may have run off in a totally different direction than the others.  Perhaps he, like some people, preferred to grieve alone, by himself, rather than in a group.  He probably wasn’t with them that Sunday morning when the women came to bring the news of the empty tomb, and as we read today, he was not with the disciples that Sunday evening when the Lord Jesus first appeared to them after the Resurrection (vs. 24).   By not being with his fellow disciples, Thomas missed out on seeing Jesus.

On the evening of the Resurrection, ten of the disciples were gathered together in a room, with the doors locked for fear that those who had arrested and executed Jesus would come after them.  As they grouped together in fear, probably whispering among themselves what the women had told them earlier that morning, Jesus appeared in the middle, blessing them with His peace (vs. 19-21).  He showed them His hands and side to prove that He really was the Lord, the same One who had been crucified, and had indeed risen as the women had testified.  It was also at this time that Jesus gave a variation of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).  Jesus is sending us out to proclaim the Gospel, just as He told them.

Thomas was not with them that evening, and during the week the others told him that they had seen Jesus.  However, Thomas did not believe them.  He went so far as to say that unless he would put his fingers into the wounds of Jesus, he would not believe (vs. 25).  The next Sunday the disciples were all together again, this time with Thomas present, and Jesus again appeared to them.  Jesus then spoke directly to Thomas, calling him over, showing him His hands and feet, and offering to let him put in his fingers if he so chose to (vs. 26-27).  Jesus did not rebuke Thomas.  He compassionately gave him proof of His resurrection, and then Thomas proclaimed his belief, not only in the resurrection of Jesus, but also in His deity, the first of the disciples to do so (vs. 28).

We should not be so hard on Thomas for doubting what the disciples had told him.  Would you or I readily believe it if we were in his shoes?  I would like to think I would, but really, would I?  Thomas wanted to know the truth, and he gladly believed when given reasons to do so.  He didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus at the start, and he had been willing to die with Him when they entered Jerusalem only a couple of weeks earlier (John 11:16).  Thomas didn’t stay in his doubts, but he allowed Jesus to bring him to belief.  Doubting is not the same as unbelief.  Doubting asks if it can be.  Unbelief says that it isn’t.  Honest and open doubts can lead to questions.  Questions will lead to answers.  If we accept God’s answers then the doubting did some good.

Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what He sees.   We need to live, not only by what we see, but also by what God’s Word and the Holy Spirit tells us.  This is the very essence of faith.

In closing, one final thought about the scars of Jesus, in His hands, feet, and side.  Many of us have various scars on our body, some from surgeries, others from accidents.  When we get to heaven all of our scars, both physical, emotional, and psychological will be gone (Revelation 21:2-4).  That is, all except for the scars of Jesus.  They are a reminder of the price He paid for our salvation.  We are engraved as the scars on Jesus’ hands.  They are a reminder of God’s incredible love for us, more than even a mother for her baby (Isaiah 49:14-16).  The nail prints in Jesus’ hands and feet, along with the scar on His side from the spear thrust in there, will remain for all eternity.

Be An Overcomer!

I John 5:1-5

To be an overcomer is a positive thing, and there are several ways that one can achieve that title.  We think of overcomers in the field of sports.  One team, which is way behind in score, overcomes the odds and wins the championship.  When competing in Olympic-style wrestling, one athlete overcomes the other and wins the medal.  In school a student overcomes their struggles in a certain subject and passes the final exam.  And men and women overcome their addictions in rehab, and gain victory over drugs or alcohol.  There is another overcomer that you and I can be, one which we read about in our Scripture for today.

We read as the Apostle John finishes up his first letter to the Church, on how we, as believers, can be overcomers.  First let’s see what he tells us that we are overcoming.  We aren’t overcoming some opposing sports team or strong opponent.  John tells us twice that we overcome the world.  He isn’t referring to the world as meaning nature, such as overcoming wild creatures or acts of nature.  John is referring to the world system that is ruled by Satan.

How can you or I become an overcomer?  The Apostle John tells us this in our Scripture.  First and foremost, an overcomer must be born again and love God (vs. 1).  We cannot overcome Satan and his world system without the Lord Jesus Christ, as the unsaved are a part of Satan’s evil world system.  When we accept Jesus as Savior, we move out Satan’s kingdom of darkness and into God’s kingdom of light, and can become an overcomer.

Another thing that is necessary to become an overcomer is that one loves God and also loves other Christians.  A genuine Christian not only believes in God, but also loves Him and loves his fellow believers.  That isn’t always an easy task, as we all know some other Christians who just really irritate us.  However, the more closely we follow the Lord, allowing His Holy Spirit to live and work through us, we will develop a love for fellow Christians.  We know that we love God if we love those who bear His image.

Another characteristic of a believer, and key to becoming an overcomer, in addition to having saving faith and having love, is obedience to God and His Word (vs. 2-3).  Genuine proof of faith in God is love, and genuine proof of love for the Savior is obedience to Him.  Having a real relationship to God and being obedient to His commandments are inseparably linked.  John tells us that God’s commands are not burdensome.  It is not a weary task to obey the Lord.  Jesus told us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  Only when we try to obey God through our own power do His commandments feel burdensome.  When we rely on His Spirit to enable us to do what we can’t, we find great joy in obedience.  Works and obedience do not save us, but genuine salvation always results in works and obedience.

The world wants us to believe that it is easier and more desirable to fit in, to be tolerant of sin, to be popular, and strive to be rich.  It wants us to feel that God’s commands are burdensome and hateful.  But we can’t love God without obeying His commands.  The world’s yoke leads to sin and slavery.  Jesus’ yoke leads away from sin and into joy.

By believing that God is who He says He is, and we are who He says we are, we overcome the world (vs. 4).  To be an overcomer is to conquer, to have victory, to have superiority, and to have conquering power.  An overcomer overthrows an enemy so that the victory is seen by all.  Those who believe that Jesus is God’s Son are overcomers.  We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

In closing God’s Word states that we can be overcomers of the world, Satan’s worldwide system of deception and wickedness.  Through Jesus we are a victor over this invisible system.  Our victory has already been assured.  It was won on the Cross.  It was provided for with the shed Blood of the Lamb of God.  All who have Jesus as their personal Savior are united with Him, and partake of His victory.  We have continued victory over the world.  If you haven’t already, turn to Jesus today, accept Him as your Savior, and become an overcomer!

How To Know God

Psalm 111

Do  you want to know what a person is like?  One of the best ways is to look at the things the person does.  That can say a lot about the person.  Look at “their walk and their talk”.   It is the same way with the Lord God.  If someone wants to know about Him, the best way is to learn what they can about Him.  We learn about Him best through His Word, the Bible, but we can also learn a lot about Him by observing His works in the world.  It is a sign of wisdom to seek to know the Lord, and that is the topic of today’s psalm.

Our psalmist opens his psalm with his announcement that we should be studying the works of the Lord.  How can we do that?  The best way to find out about God is by reading the Bible.  We can read and study the Bible on our own, and we can get help with Bible study guides, many which can be found online.  Hopefully you are able to attend a church which preaches God’s Word faithfully near your home, and many churches have weekly Bible study groups.  In the Scriptures we read of many of the Lord’s works, from His creation, to the parting of the Red Sea.  From His defeat of Goliath to protecting the three young men in the furnaces of Nebuchadnezzar.  And God’s greatest work, of course, was Jesus’ death upon the Cross for our redemption, and His resurrection on the third day (vs. 9).

We also see God’s work in the world around us every day.  With spring upon us in the northern hemisphere, we see flowers blooming and the leaves budding on the trees.  We hear the birds singing and see nature awakening following its winter sleep.  Right now I am hearing a male cardinal singing his heart out in praise to God!  All of this is through the hands of God.  Today, as I write this, many people across the U.S. will be blessed to see a great work of God in nature, that being a total eclipse of the sun.  I am fortunate that the path of the eclipse cuts right across Illinois.  Living in the Chicago area I am just a little bit north of where the path of totality is, but I will see 95%.  The universe and celestial events don’t fall into place just by some chance.  It is the glorious and awesome work of God.

The psalmist continues, finishing in verse 10, by stating that if we want wisdom, we need to have a fear of the Lord.  Who doesn’t want wisdom?  We all want that!  However, as believers we need to be particular about what type of wisdom we seek after.  We do not want worldly wisdom.   The Book of James in the New Testament speaks about worldly wisdom versus Godly wisdom (James 3:13-18).  Worldly wisdom is bitter, envious, self-seeking, sensual, and demonic, and leads to confusion and evil.  That leads to no good.  God’s wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, gentle, sincere, and full of mercy.  We get that when we fear the Lord and are in a strong, trusting relationship with Him.

Having a fear of God is not about being afraid, such as being afraid of the dark, or of the bully down the street, or having a worry or anxiety.  Having a fear of the Lord is having a healthy respect for God’s power and authority.  Genuine believers should have a healthy fear of the Lord, which leads to respect for His commands, precepts, and principles, which we learn of in His Word.  When we fear the Lord, we find it a joy to obey Him.

The more we know God’s Word, the more we will learn about Him, and the more wisdom we will have.  When we lose the fear of the Lord, we start to treat Him casually and nonchalantly, and then we start to ignore His Word more.  And that leads to losing Godly wisdom.  It also can lead to trying to obtain worldly wisdom, which leads to a bad end.

As we close our psalm for the week, fear the Lord, and seek to know Him by studying His Word and through His creation.  Only in that way will you find Godly wisdom for your life.

Kept In Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:1-4

We hear a lot of talk about wanting world peace, and that is naturally a good thing.  Another type of peace that doesn’t get quite as much attention is peace within oneself.  And yet this type of peace, one where our worries, anxieties, and depression are gone, is so vitally important to our personal well-being.  How can we find such peace?  God gives us an answer in our Scripture for today.

As our Scripture opens, the Lord speaks of a special place that only certain people are able to enter (vs. 1-2).  This city He describes is a strong city, one that will not fall or be defeated, and its walls and ramparts are God’s salvation, salvation found through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Only the righteous, those who have put their faith and trust in Him, may enter.  Once we enter this spiritual city we are eligible to obtain God’s peace.  Without salvation through Jesus, one will never find real peace in their life.

In verses 3 and 4 we find the Lord’s precious promise of peace, that inner peace where we are free from all worry, fear, and anxiety.  First, as we just saw, one must be saved to find that peace.  However, we all know some genuine Christians who are full of fear and worry, ones who have anxieties plague them at every turn.  Why don’t they have this perfect peace?  The Prophet Isaiah tells us that this peace is given to those whose mind is stayed on God, and to those who trust in the Lord.

To be “stayed” is to be steadfast, leaning on, and being supported by God.  When we do so, we have unending security, a sense of uninterrupted, perpetual rest and calmness that comes from God when we trust in Him.  God’s Word tells us to abandon all of our other crutches, and lean on the only One who can support us.  Peace comes when we are leaning on God in total confidence and security.

When our mind is stayed on the Lord, we are totally focused on Him, not on what is going on around us, nor on our troubles and circumstances.  In order for an acrobat or gymnast to keep from getting dizzy when spinning rapidly, they will pick one thing to focus on that they look for when they make their fast rotations.  Our focal point should always be on the Lord Jesus, keeping our minds centered on Him and what He has done for us on the Cross.  Resting in God’s promises gives us the hope we need to stay focused on Him and His faithfulness, instead of on our circumstances. A disposition of trust in the Lord brings a peace that the wicked, unsaved can never know.

We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace, even in turmoil.  When we are devoted to Him, our whole attitude is steady and stable.  We are supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power.  We are not shaken by the surrounding chaos.   The phrase “perfect peace” in Hebrew is “shalom shalom”, literally “peace peace”, a peace that goes beyond human comprehension (Philippians 4:7).  One way we can be certain that we’ve placed our trust in God is when we experience an indescribable peace that only comes from Him.  Jesus gives believers peace because He is the Prince of Peace (John 14:27).  That peace is our shield and shelter.

The word translated as “strength” in verse 4 comes from the Hebrew word “sur”, which means rock.  Jesus is our everlasting strength.  He is our Rock of Ages, a rocky cliff where the trusting one may find shelter from everything that comes against us.  When we have Jesus as our Savior, we have a safe and secure place to run to when the storms of life threaten.  We can cast our burdens on Him, and He will give us His peace.  Unshakeable peace is not instantaneous, though.  It is cultivated through a consistent relationship with Jesus.  When our life is dependent on God, He will help us weather the storms with His peace.

People, even good people, will often prove unfaithful.  However, the Lord can be trusted forever.  He is the Rock of Ages, the Undefeatable One, the Eternal Strong One!