Matthew 9:9-13
Is there anyone in your community who is looked down upon by most of the people? Perhaps they have cheated a number of people, or hurt their wife and children, or done any number of things that make them an outcast. Maybe they held a job that people scorned. Would they feel welcomed in your church or neighborhood Bible study? In today’s Scripture reading we will read of a man that many of the “good” people in town would have scorned, and his calling by Jesus.
In the time of Jesus, there was one group of people who were scorned and hated more than any other, and those were the tax collectors. Good and righteous people looked down on prostitutes, but one could ignore them, walking haughtily by. No one liked the Roman soldiers either. They were the foreign oppressors. However the tax collectors were the most despised people in society. They were Jewish people, their own countrymen, who were hired by the occupying Roman government to collect taxes for Rome. For that they were considered to be traitors. The tax collectors often would extort more money than was due for taxes, and would pocket what extra they could get. Thus they were often thieves, in addition to being traitors.
No good, religious Jew would have anything to do with tax collectors. Yet as we read in our passage, Jesus specifically called a man named Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of His chosen disciples (vs. 9). In addition to doing that, He shocked and scandalized the Pharisees by going to their homes and eating with them (vs. 10-11). Jesus often did this, and the Pharisees lost no time in pointing out this breach of approved conduct. They said that if He was truly a religious man and teacher, He would never associate with such sinners.
The Pharisees were more concerned with their own appearance of holiness than with helping people. They would rather criticize than encourage. They wanted to look respectable rather than help a sinner come to God. God loves everyone, including the sinful and hurting, and He wants them all to come to Him. The Pharisees focused on outward rituals, neglecting the inward, eternal, and moral teachings of God’s Word (vs. 13). They were harsh, judgmental, self-righteous, and scornful of others.
When someone is self-righteous, thinking they are morally superior, feeling they never sin, and that they are always right, they are not in a position to get saved. We have to first acknowledge that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves. The Pharisees thought they were well, religiously pure and whole. Sinners know they are not. Salvation can’t come to someone who is self-righteous until they admit that before God they are a sinner.
God’s message can change any life. Jesus found and changed the life of Matthew. In gratitude and thankfulness, he wanted to share Jesus’ message with his other friends, most of whom would have been fellow tax collectors and sinners. Matthew invited Jesus to dinner, for Him to share God’s love with his friends, and for them to come to salvation just as he had.
When Matthew left his tax collector job, there was no turning back. This was a very lucrative career that he was giving up. He would never be able to get that job back. Many of the disciples who were fishermen could always return to that if they so chose to, but no so with Matthew. He gave up all to follow Jesus.
Do we follow God with a similar abandon? Do we similarly obey and leave all behind, or do we cling to our things? We need to let go of those things that would keep us from following Christ. We also need to let go of any self-righteousness we may harbor in our hearts and welcome everyone who has turned to Jesus, no matter what their background may have been, into God’s family as our brothers and sisters.
Friday, June 12, 2020
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Where Is Our Faith Placed?
Romans 4:13-18
What do you trust in to get you through life? If we took a poll, we would find that many people would say their family or their friends. Some might say, especially if they had various health concerns, that they place a lot of trust in their doctors or the medical field. Some people trust in their investments and bank savings. Many trust in their religious faith. In our Scripture passage today, we see how important it is to be trusting in the right thing. Putting trust in the wrong thing can bring bad results.
Where we place our trust, or in whom, is important. Faith in something worthless or unreliable does us no good. If we are trusting in investments, as we all have seen, the financial markets can come crashing down, and the investments become worthless. Most doctors are fine, but often they reach the point where there is nothing more they can do for you. Friends and family can turn their back on you, and faith in a false god or belief will leave you with nothing. Many well-meaning people, seeking to follow God, are putting their faith and trust in various religious rituals, rules, and regulations to get them to heaven. Is that a good place for our trust? Let’s see what the Book of Romans from the Bible has to say.
Paul begins by talking of the great Old Testament Patriarch Abraham. As we read throughout the Book of Genesis, Abraham had great faith and trust in God. Scripture says that he believed in God, trusted in Him, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s righteousness didn’t come because he did anything. It wasn’t because of the ritual of circumcision that the Jewish people held so important, as that came some years later. It wasn’t because Abraham kept the Old Testament Law. That came through Moses, several centuries later. It was because Abraham believed and had faith that God counted him righteous (vs. 13).
Salvation does not come through keeping of the Old Testament Law, or in any set of religious regulations (vs. 13-15). God’s promise to Abraham was given 430 years before the Old Testament Law was given to Moses. Our faith must be placed in Jesus Christ, not in any religious activity or ritual that we follow. God called Abraham righteous, not because he followed the Jewish ritual of circumcision, not because he kept the Law of Moses. God called Abraham righteous because he believed and had faith in Him.
Who are the spiritual descendants of Abraham? Those who believe, or those who practice works and rituals to get them to heaven? Only those who through faith have accepted Jesus as Savior are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, whether they are of Jewish descent or Gentile (vs. 16). Abraham pleased God through his faith alone, not through any religious rituals. We are saved by faith alone, plus nothing. Not faith plus good works, or faith plus a ritual. We are saved only through faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him to forgive all of our sins.
God promised Abraham that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). This promise would be fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Biologically Abraham was the ancestor of the Jewish people. Spiritually, though, he became the father of all who put their trust in Jesus, whether Jewish or Gentile. Before, Gentiles were considered by Jews as outcast, spiritually dead, having no claim to God. But in verse 17 we read that God brings life to those dead, and calls into existence things that weren’t. He made spiritual life available to all, making those who were once thought as nothing into His children.
God calls into being things that were not. He speaks, and things that didn’t exist suddenly do. God, through His Word, speaks into existence His will for our life. What God says changes things, and causes things to happen. He is the one who has power to determine our destiny. We need to line up our will with God’s will. When we do, He empowers us to accomplish what He wills for our lives.
What do you trust in to get you through life? If we took a poll, we would find that many people would say their family or their friends. Some might say, especially if they had various health concerns, that they place a lot of trust in their doctors or the medical field. Some people trust in their investments and bank savings. Many trust in their religious faith. In our Scripture passage today, we see how important it is to be trusting in the right thing. Putting trust in the wrong thing can bring bad results.
Where we place our trust, or in whom, is important. Faith in something worthless or unreliable does us no good. If we are trusting in investments, as we all have seen, the financial markets can come crashing down, and the investments become worthless. Most doctors are fine, but often they reach the point where there is nothing more they can do for you. Friends and family can turn their back on you, and faith in a false god or belief will leave you with nothing. Many well-meaning people, seeking to follow God, are putting their faith and trust in various religious rituals, rules, and regulations to get them to heaven. Is that a good place for our trust? Let’s see what the Book of Romans from the Bible has to say.
Paul begins by talking of the great Old Testament Patriarch Abraham. As we read throughout the Book of Genesis, Abraham had great faith and trust in God. Scripture says that he believed in God, trusted in Him, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s righteousness didn’t come because he did anything. It wasn’t because of the ritual of circumcision that the Jewish people held so important, as that came some years later. It wasn’t because Abraham kept the Old Testament Law. That came through Moses, several centuries later. It was because Abraham believed and had faith that God counted him righteous (vs. 13).
Salvation does not come through keeping of the Old Testament Law, or in any set of religious regulations (vs. 13-15). God’s promise to Abraham was given 430 years before the Old Testament Law was given to Moses. Our faith must be placed in Jesus Christ, not in any religious activity or ritual that we follow. God called Abraham righteous, not because he followed the Jewish ritual of circumcision, not because he kept the Law of Moses. God called Abraham righteous because he believed and had faith in Him.
Who are the spiritual descendants of Abraham? Those who believe, or those who practice works and rituals to get them to heaven? Only those who through faith have accepted Jesus as Savior are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, whether they are of Jewish descent or Gentile (vs. 16). Abraham pleased God through his faith alone, not through any religious rituals. We are saved by faith alone, plus nothing. Not faith plus good works, or faith plus a ritual. We are saved only through faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him to forgive all of our sins.
God promised Abraham that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). This promise would be fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Biologically Abraham was the ancestor of the Jewish people. Spiritually, though, he became the father of all who put their trust in Jesus, whether Jewish or Gentile. Before, Gentiles were considered by Jews as outcast, spiritually dead, having no claim to God. But in verse 17 we read that God brings life to those dead, and calls into existence things that weren’t. He made spiritual life available to all, making those who were once thought as nothing into His children.
God calls into being things that were not. He speaks, and things that didn’t exist suddenly do. God, through His Word, speaks into existence His will for our life. What God says changes things, and causes things to happen. He is the one who has power to determine our destiny. We need to line up our will with God’s will. When we do, He empowers us to accomplish what He wills for our lives.
Monday, June 8, 2020
God's Warning Against Hypocrites
Psalm 50:7-15
Over the years one complaint that many people have against the church, and the reason they give for not wanting to attend, has been that too many of the people who go to church are hypocrites. The people who attend will gather and sing all the songs, put their money in the offering, sit there piously and say the prayers and responses, but none of it really means anything to them. When they leave the church, they are no different in their behavior than anyone else. God’s Word, the Bible, has something to say about hypocrites, as well. In our psalm for this week, a portion of Psalm 50, we can get an idea of what the Lord thinks.
Our passage opens with God speaking, testifying against His people (vs. 7). He wants them to listen up to what He has to say against them. First, He does not fault them for being negligent in offering their appropriate sacrifices on the days and at the times they are supposed to (vs. 8). They are very good at being sure to follow that religious ordinance. The people were very good at adhering to the letter of the law. They brought their offerings and sacrifices, they kept their holy days, they tithed everything they had. The people ate the correct foods, even using the correct plates, and wore the correct clothes made out of the correct materials. The people were careful to avoid being around the “wrong people”. Outwardly they seemed fine, but where was their heart in relation to God?
Jesus spoke directly about this when He pointed out that the Pharisees were meticulous in keeping every tiny item of the law, yet their hearts were far from God, and true worship of Him (Mark 7:1-13; Matthew 23:23-26). How about us today? Do we participate in religious activities, give our tithes and offerings, and attend church services out of habit or conformity, rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience? God wants righteousness from His people, not just empty rituals.
As a matter of fact, God doesn’t even want our mere rituals, if that’s all it is to us, something we go through without any real thought or devotion (vs. 9-13). Unlike the pagan deities, God does not need anything from us. He created everything, and all of creation belongs to Him. God doesn’t get hungry and need to eat, or else He will get faint or light-headed. He doesn’t need us to feed Him or to clothe Him. God doesn’t get tired and need to rest. He also doesn’t need to listen to us recite a bunch of empty words to Him. How often do we recite the same prayers every day or every week at church, sing the same songs, yet our mind is a million miles away, thinking about a dozen other thoughts?
God judges people who treat Him lightly. He finds no pleasure in superficially religious people who bring their sacrifices, but are only going through the motions. They do not honor Him with true praise or thanksgiving. That is what God really wants - genuine thanksgiving and trust.
This portion of Psalm 50 is a warning to avoid hypocrisy and legalism before God. True worship does not consist in mere sacrifices of animals. Nor does it consist in merely keeping church attendance and following the rituals of your particular denomination. True worship is the sacrifice of thanksgiving and faithfulness (vs. 14-15). That is the sacrifice that always pleases God. When we bring that to the Lord, He promises to help and to strengthen us.
Over the years one complaint that many people have against the church, and the reason they give for not wanting to attend, has been that too many of the people who go to church are hypocrites. The people who attend will gather and sing all the songs, put their money in the offering, sit there piously and say the prayers and responses, but none of it really means anything to them. When they leave the church, they are no different in their behavior than anyone else. God’s Word, the Bible, has something to say about hypocrites, as well. In our psalm for this week, a portion of Psalm 50, we can get an idea of what the Lord thinks.
Our passage opens with God speaking, testifying against His people (vs. 7). He wants them to listen up to what He has to say against them. First, He does not fault them for being negligent in offering their appropriate sacrifices on the days and at the times they are supposed to (vs. 8). They are very good at being sure to follow that religious ordinance. The people were very good at adhering to the letter of the law. They brought their offerings and sacrifices, they kept their holy days, they tithed everything they had. The people ate the correct foods, even using the correct plates, and wore the correct clothes made out of the correct materials. The people were careful to avoid being around the “wrong people”. Outwardly they seemed fine, but where was their heart in relation to God?
Jesus spoke directly about this when He pointed out that the Pharisees were meticulous in keeping every tiny item of the law, yet their hearts were far from God, and true worship of Him (Mark 7:1-13; Matthew 23:23-26). How about us today? Do we participate in religious activities, give our tithes and offerings, and attend church services out of habit or conformity, rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience? God wants righteousness from His people, not just empty rituals.
As a matter of fact, God doesn’t even want our mere rituals, if that’s all it is to us, something we go through without any real thought or devotion (vs. 9-13). Unlike the pagan deities, God does not need anything from us. He created everything, and all of creation belongs to Him. God doesn’t get hungry and need to eat, or else He will get faint or light-headed. He doesn’t need us to feed Him or to clothe Him. God doesn’t get tired and need to rest. He also doesn’t need to listen to us recite a bunch of empty words to Him. How often do we recite the same prayers every day or every week at church, sing the same songs, yet our mind is a million miles away, thinking about a dozen other thoughts?
God judges people who treat Him lightly. He finds no pleasure in superficially religious people who bring their sacrifices, but are only going through the motions. They do not honor Him with true praise or thanksgiving. That is what God really wants - genuine thanksgiving and trust.
This portion of Psalm 50 is a warning to avoid hypocrisy and legalism before God. True worship does not consist in mere sacrifices of animals. Nor does it consist in merely keeping church attendance and following the rituals of your particular denomination. True worship is the sacrifice of thanksgiving and faithfulness (vs. 14-15). That is the sacrifice that always pleases God. When we bring that to the Lord, He promises to help and to strengthen us.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Faithful Or Unfaithful
Hosea 5:15-6:6
This week’s Old Testament reading from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer, comes from the prophet Hosea. Hosea lived during the 8th century BC, and his ministry was primarily to the Northern Kingdom. His home life was not a happy one, as his wife Gomer was repeatedly unfaithful to him. The Lord spoke through Hosea’s messages, using his wife’s adulteries as a picture to show the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel to God, with their repeated worship of the false gods of the neighboring countries. Let’s take a look at this portion of Scripture from the prophet Hosea, and see what we can learn for our lives today.
Throughout Scripture the Lord compares a believer’s relationship to Him as like a marriage, and He wants His people to be faithful to Him. Worshipping other gods instead of Yahweh, or even in addition to Him is spiritual adultery, and is strongly condemned. God wants us to be faithful to Him. It hurts Him to see us wander away. However, when we do, God will discipline us. He doesn’t enjoy afflicting us (vs. 15). When we don’t pay attention to His Word, God allows afflictions in order to get our attention, and try to direct us back to Him. Afflictions may be the only warning we will pay attention to.
As chapter 6 of the Book of Hosea opens, the prophet is speaking the words of the people of Israel (vs. 1-3). They talk of returning to the Lord. However, for most of the people, this does not represent genuine repentance. They did not truly turn from their idols, nor repent of their sin and honestly change. They were only interested in Yahweh for the material blessings. How many people could this be said of today? How many people make a profession of faith in God, only with the hopes that He will then send them riches. This is the basis of many of the preachers of the “prosperity gospel”.
In verses 4-6 the prophet Hosea now speaks as the voice of God. God knew that for most of the people, their worship of Him was just lip service and meaningless sacrifices. Their worship was not true and heartfelt, or with genuine repentance. The people’s profession of faith and loyalty to God, like the mist and dew, evaporated easily, and had no substance (vs. 4). They had the outward appearance of faith, but they were not truly committed. These people would soon turn back to their wicked ways. Their faithfulness and loyalty to Yahweh was fleeting and superficial. God does not like half-hearted commitment (Revelation 3:15-16). He wants our whole heart.
Just as in the days of the prophets, God continues to send His messengers, but it is often to no avail. As the Lord states in verse 6, He does not want our half-hearted religious rituals. We aren’t impressing God with any special religious activities that we go through, if our hearts aren’t right with Him. Our religious activity is only helpful if the people performing them carry them out with an attitude of love and obedience to God. Otherwise, these rituals are an empty mockery to Him. God wants our hearts to be filled with love and be on fire for Him.
Reading through the whole book of Hosea, we see how heartbroken he was over his unfaithful wife, Gomer. We see how many times he sought her out in love, to bring her back to himself and their children. Even when Gomer had gotten herself into a real mess, and was going to be sold as a slave, Hosea went and paid the price to redeem her back, despite the laughter of those who saw all this. In a similar way God is heartbroken over His faithless people. Let us return to the Lord in true love and faithfulness. As another of the prophets of old tell us, let us seek the Lord while He may be found, and forsake our wicked ways (Isaiah 55:6-7).
This week’s Old Testament reading from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer, comes from the prophet Hosea. Hosea lived during the 8th century BC, and his ministry was primarily to the Northern Kingdom. His home life was not a happy one, as his wife Gomer was repeatedly unfaithful to him. The Lord spoke through Hosea’s messages, using his wife’s adulteries as a picture to show the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel to God, with their repeated worship of the false gods of the neighboring countries. Let’s take a look at this portion of Scripture from the prophet Hosea, and see what we can learn for our lives today.
Throughout Scripture the Lord compares a believer’s relationship to Him as like a marriage, and He wants His people to be faithful to Him. Worshipping other gods instead of Yahweh, or even in addition to Him is spiritual adultery, and is strongly condemned. God wants us to be faithful to Him. It hurts Him to see us wander away. However, when we do, God will discipline us. He doesn’t enjoy afflicting us (vs. 15). When we don’t pay attention to His Word, God allows afflictions in order to get our attention, and try to direct us back to Him. Afflictions may be the only warning we will pay attention to.
As chapter 6 of the Book of Hosea opens, the prophet is speaking the words of the people of Israel (vs. 1-3). They talk of returning to the Lord. However, for most of the people, this does not represent genuine repentance. They did not truly turn from their idols, nor repent of their sin and honestly change. They were only interested in Yahweh for the material blessings. How many people could this be said of today? How many people make a profession of faith in God, only with the hopes that He will then send them riches. This is the basis of many of the preachers of the “prosperity gospel”.
In verses 4-6 the prophet Hosea now speaks as the voice of God. God knew that for most of the people, their worship of Him was just lip service and meaningless sacrifices. Their worship was not true and heartfelt, or with genuine repentance. The people’s profession of faith and loyalty to God, like the mist and dew, evaporated easily, and had no substance (vs. 4). They had the outward appearance of faith, but they were not truly committed. These people would soon turn back to their wicked ways. Their faithfulness and loyalty to Yahweh was fleeting and superficial. God does not like half-hearted commitment (Revelation 3:15-16). He wants our whole heart.
Just as in the days of the prophets, God continues to send His messengers, but it is often to no avail. As the Lord states in verse 6, He does not want our half-hearted religious rituals. We aren’t impressing God with any special religious activities that we go through, if our hearts aren’t right with Him. Our religious activity is only helpful if the people performing them carry them out with an attitude of love and obedience to God. Otherwise, these rituals are an empty mockery to Him. God wants our hearts to be filled with love and be on fire for Him.
Reading through the whole book of Hosea, we see how heartbroken he was over his unfaithful wife, Gomer. We see how many times he sought her out in love, to bring her back to himself and their children. Even when Gomer had gotten herself into a real mess, and was going to be sold as a slave, Hosea went and paid the price to redeem her back, despite the laughter of those who saw all this. In a similar way God is heartbroken over His faithless people. Let us return to the Lord in true love and faithfulness. As another of the prophets of old tell us, let us seek the Lord while He may be found, and forsake our wicked ways (Isaiah 55:6-7).
Friday, June 5, 2020
Where Have We Built Our Foundation?
Matthew 7:21-27
Among the more heart-wrenching sights to see is when you watch a nice house come crashing down, often off of the side of a hill, or near the edge of a cliff. I’ve seen news footage of this happening to beautiful homes in California, usually after heavy rains. These homes were built on the sides of large hills, usually so the owner can have breathtaking views every day from his windows and patio deck. Sometimes the houses were built along a coastal cliff, again so the owner can have a beautiful view of the ocean. Alas, though, the house came crashing down, usually because it was built on unstable ground. The developer had lured the unsuspecting homeowner into building his luxury home in this spot with the beautiful view, not paying attention to the fact that the ground was not stable. After storms, the house came crashing down and all was lost. As we shall read in our Scripture today from the Gospel of Matthew, a sure foundation is important.
In our passage for today, Jesus has two messages He wants us to learn. The first is that just because someone calls themselves something, doesn’t necessarily mean they are. Someone can say they have a real talent or ability in this or that, but really know very little about it. Here in verses 21-23 Jesus tells us that not everyone who says they are a Christian is genuinely saved. Jesus tells us that there will be some who will stand before Him one day, proudly professing all the good things they did, supposedly in His Name, but who had failed to genuinely accept Him as their Savior. This group will even include some pastors and various church workers who were never truly saved.
Not everyone who talks about God and spiritual things belongs to God’s kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. What we do cannot be separated from what we believe. The faith that says, but does not do is really unbelief. Works do not save us, but true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works (James 1:22-25, James 2:26). One who is truly saved is one that does the will of God, living in obedience to the will of God as the normal course of his life. Only our relationship with Christ, accepting Him as Savior, and our obedience to Him will matter. Faith in Christ is what counts on Judgment Day.
Jesus then proceeds to give the account of two houses that were built, one built upon rock, the other built upon sand (vs. 24-27). Storms came, and only one house remained standing, because of it’s firm foundation. The foundation that Jesus is talking about requires paying attention to, and listening to His words, and then doing what He says. If we only listen, but do not take action, we’ve accomplished nothing. Jesus’ words are to be the foundation for our lives.
Hearing the Word of God alone will not change a life, and is not enough. One must hear and do what Jesus said. Putting His words into practice will help us to withstand the storms. Those who ignore and neglect His words have their foundation on sand. The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching in I Corinthians 3:11. It is important to lay a proper foundation, one in Christ, the Rock, not in the shifting sands of false religions and philosophies. Only a spiritual life built on the foundation of obedience to God’s Word stands. One of repentance, salvation by faith, and trusting in Jesus’ grace alone.
It is not a watered-down, “everyone is in” Gospel that Jesus proclaimed here. If we give that message, not a soul will be saved. Those who do proclaim that type of message will one day stand before Jesus and hear Him say “Depart from me. I never knew you.” His way is straight and narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). There are many who appear to be walking the narrow way, but have never accepted Jesus as Savior. Build on the Rock - be a hearing, responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Obedience and faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation that will weather the storm. The storm will come! Be sure your foundation is sure!
Among the more heart-wrenching sights to see is when you watch a nice house come crashing down, often off of the side of a hill, or near the edge of a cliff. I’ve seen news footage of this happening to beautiful homes in California, usually after heavy rains. These homes were built on the sides of large hills, usually so the owner can have breathtaking views every day from his windows and patio deck. Sometimes the houses were built along a coastal cliff, again so the owner can have a beautiful view of the ocean. Alas, though, the house came crashing down, usually because it was built on unstable ground. The developer had lured the unsuspecting homeowner into building his luxury home in this spot with the beautiful view, not paying attention to the fact that the ground was not stable. After storms, the house came crashing down and all was lost. As we shall read in our Scripture today from the Gospel of Matthew, a sure foundation is important.
In our passage for today, Jesus has two messages He wants us to learn. The first is that just because someone calls themselves something, doesn’t necessarily mean they are. Someone can say they have a real talent or ability in this or that, but really know very little about it. Here in verses 21-23 Jesus tells us that not everyone who says they are a Christian is genuinely saved. Jesus tells us that there will be some who will stand before Him one day, proudly professing all the good things they did, supposedly in His Name, but who had failed to genuinely accept Him as their Savior. This group will even include some pastors and various church workers who were never truly saved.
Not everyone who talks about God and spiritual things belongs to God’s kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. What we do cannot be separated from what we believe. The faith that says, but does not do is really unbelief. Works do not save us, but true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works (James 1:22-25, James 2:26). One who is truly saved is one that does the will of God, living in obedience to the will of God as the normal course of his life. Only our relationship with Christ, accepting Him as Savior, and our obedience to Him will matter. Faith in Christ is what counts on Judgment Day.
Jesus then proceeds to give the account of two houses that were built, one built upon rock, the other built upon sand (vs. 24-27). Storms came, and only one house remained standing, because of it’s firm foundation. The foundation that Jesus is talking about requires paying attention to, and listening to His words, and then doing what He says. If we only listen, but do not take action, we’ve accomplished nothing. Jesus’ words are to be the foundation for our lives.
Hearing the Word of God alone will not change a life, and is not enough. One must hear and do what Jesus said. Putting His words into practice will help us to withstand the storms. Those who ignore and neglect His words have their foundation on sand. The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching in I Corinthians 3:11. It is important to lay a proper foundation, one in Christ, the Rock, not in the shifting sands of false religions and philosophies. Only a spiritual life built on the foundation of obedience to God’s Word stands. One of repentance, salvation by faith, and trusting in Jesus’ grace alone.
It is not a watered-down, “everyone is in” Gospel that Jesus proclaimed here. If we give that message, not a soul will be saved. Those who do proclaim that type of message will one day stand before Jesus and hear Him say “Depart from me. I never knew you.” His way is straight and narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). There are many who appear to be walking the narrow way, but have never accepted Jesus as Savior. Build on the Rock - be a hearing, responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Obedience and faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation that will weather the storm. The storm will come! Be sure your foundation is sure!
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
A Sinner Saved By Grace
Romans 3:21-28
Do you feel that there are some people who have done such terrible things that they could never go to heaven when they die? Perhaps some terrible serial killer, child abuser, or a brutal dictator. We look at their life and the crimes they committed, and feel that no, God can never accept them. Or maybe you feel that, even though you might not fall into any of those categories, you still feel that you’ll never make it to heaven after some of the things you’ve done. Perhaps you are on the other side of that coin, and feel that you’ve been a pretty good character throughout life. Your checklist is marked off in all the right categories - church activities, all the right community organizations, school boards, check, check, check. You’re a good upstanding citizen and church member, certainly there’s a nice spot in heaven for you. Let’s take a look at what God has to say in our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans.
As we read through this passage, we can see right away that God will accept all who believe (vs. 22). God will accept anybody, literally anybody, who comes to faith in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior. This righteousness that God is giving out has nothing to do with whether a person has done all sorts of good deeds, or even kept the Old Testament Law. It all depends on Jesus. God will give His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, and it is available to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. This is God’s mercy for us.
We all need our sins taken care of because they separate us from God, who is perfect and right. God made His Son, who never sinned, the offering for our sins, so that we would be made right with Him (II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus makes us righteous, and puts us in a right relationship with God. It is His Blood that is the only true and permanent offering for sin that is acceptable with God, not any good deeds that we do, nor any Old Testament sacrifices that could be offered. It is with Jesus’ Blood that we can have assurance of our salvation. It doesn’t come by human logic. It is a matter of faith. Do we believe God, or do we not? Believe God’s Word, and not our own thinking (I John 5:13). The gift of a personal relationship with God is imparted to those who trust Christ.
No one can claim they have never done wrong, that they are pure and innocent (vs. 23). We may look good to others, but we can never attain God’s standard of righteousness. Everyone has sinned. All sin makes us sinners. All sin cuts us off from a holy God. It leads to death because it disqualifies us from living with God. However, the good news is that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, God has redeemed us. He will forgive us if we come to Him in faith.
Christ’s death satisfies the Father’s righteous demands (vs. 25-26). It becomes appropriated (becomes ours) only when we put our faith and trust in Him. Jesus died in our place, for our sins. God declared Jesus’ death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin. He completely satisfied God’s demands, bringing pardon, deliverance, and freedom to all who believe.
In verse 24 we read the word “justified”, a form of the word “justification”. Justified means being declared righteous. It signifies the believer’s spiritual legal standing before God. For those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, they are justified, which is accomplished by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. We are declared “not guilty”. All charges have been removed from the record. When God forgives our sin, our record is wiped clean. From God’s perspective, it is as though we had never sinned. It was Jesus’ death which paid for this. The sinner is released on the basis that Jesus paid the price.
In closing, I would say to all who read this - Trust Christ to take away your sins. Put your confidence in Him to forgive your sins, and to make you right with God. He will then empower you to live the way He taught us. Jesus Christ is the only valid One in which all mankind must place their faith in order to live with God for eternity. Jesus purchased our salvation and a place in heaven for us, and the price was His Blood.
Do you feel that there are some people who have done such terrible things that they could never go to heaven when they die? Perhaps some terrible serial killer, child abuser, or a brutal dictator. We look at their life and the crimes they committed, and feel that no, God can never accept them. Or maybe you feel that, even though you might not fall into any of those categories, you still feel that you’ll never make it to heaven after some of the things you’ve done. Perhaps you are on the other side of that coin, and feel that you’ve been a pretty good character throughout life. Your checklist is marked off in all the right categories - church activities, all the right community organizations, school boards, check, check, check. You’re a good upstanding citizen and church member, certainly there’s a nice spot in heaven for you. Let’s take a look at what God has to say in our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans.
As we read through this passage, we can see right away that God will accept all who believe (vs. 22). God will accept anybody, literally anybody, who comes to faith in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior. This righteousness that God is giving out has nothing to do with whether a person has done all sorts of good deeds, or even kept the Old Testament Law. It all depends on Jesus. God will give His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, and it is available to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. This is God’s mercy for us.
We all need our sins taken care of because they separate us from God, who is perfect and right. God made His Son, who never sinned, the offering for our sins, so that we would be made right with Him (II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus makes us righteous, and puts us in a right relationship with God. It is His Blood that is the only true and permanent offering for sin that is acceptable with God, not any good deeds that we do, nor any Old Testament sacrifices that could be offered. It is with Jesus’ Blood that we can have assurance of our salvation. It doesn’t come by human logic. It is a matter of faith. Do we believe God, or do we not? Believe God’s Word, and not our own thinking (I John 5:13). The gift of a personal relationship with God is imparted to those who trust Christ.
No one can claim they have never done wrong, that they are pure and innocent (vs. 23). We may look good to others, but we can never attain God’s standard of righteousness. Everyone has sinned. All sin makes us sinners. All sin cuts us off from a holy God. It leads to death because it disqualifies us from living with God. However, the good news is that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, God has redeemed us. He will forgive us if we come to Him in faith.
Christ’s death satisfies the Father’s righteous demands (vs. 25-26). It becomes appropriated (becomes ours) only when we put our faith and trust in Him. Jesus died in our place, for our sins. God declared Jesus’ death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin. He completely satisfied God’s demands, bringing pardon, deliverance, and freedom to all who believe.
In verse 24 we read the word “justified”, a form of the word “justification”. Justified means being declared righteous. It signifies the believer’s spiritual legal standing before God. For those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, they are justified, which is accomplished by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. We are declared “not guilty”. All charges have been removed from the record. When God forgives our sin, our record is wiped clean. From God’s perspective, it is as though we had never sinned. It was Jesus’ death which paid for this. The sinner is released on the basis that Jesus paid the price.
In closing, I would say to all who read this - Trust Christ to take away your sins. Put your confidence in Him to forgive your sins, and to make you right with God. He will then empower you to live the way He taught us. Jesus Christ is the only valid One in which all mankind must place their faith in order to live with God for eternity. Jesus purchased our salvation and a place in heaven for us, and the price was His Blood.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Our Rock And Fortress In Times Of Trouble
Psalm 31
When there is trouble in our life and in the world around us, where do we go? Right now, and for the past several days, there has been a lot of unrest across my country, descending into rioting and vandalism. It has come right into my own neighborhood. Other places across the world have known similar unrest, danger, and even war. There are also serious personal struggles that people go through, and problems that we face with other people. Where can we go to find peace and rest from all of this? King David, the author of our psalm today, faced many days of turmoil and danger throughout his life. Where did he turn? Where did he find a refuge? Let’s look into the Scripture.
David’s life was one filled with struggles and turmoil, and with very few days of peace or rest. He had to flee the frequent murderous attacks for many years from King Saul. Then after the Lord made him king, there were battles with the descendants of the former King Saul, an attempt by his son Absalom to take the throne, and numerous wars with surrounding nations. King David had many enemies, and knew what it was like to face dangerous attacks. When we face times of trouble, and fear for our safety, we have the choice of descending into panic or putting our trust in the Lord. We can flee to Him for help and safety (vs. 1-3).
In the wilderness areas of the Middle East, there are many large rocks, often many times bigger than a man. David was quite familiar with that landscape, and he knew that one could find safety hiding behind or in the crevices of such huge rocks. Yet even more so, he knew that the Lord God is an even safer Rock to flee to. He knew God to be an even safer Fortress than the fortresses he had built as king. David prayed to God to deliver him from his troubles. He made his request based on what he knew of God’s Name and righteous, loving character. Jesus is our safe Rock and Fortress. We need to turn to Him during the dangerous and scary times we face, too.
David committed his life and spirit to the Lord God, as we see in verse 5. Jesus quoted this verse while He hung upon the Cross (Luke 23:46). David had complete trust in God. When Jesus said these words on the Cross, He showed absolute dependence in the Father. Stephen also repeated these words when he was stoned (Acts 7:59). Both knew they were passing from God’s earthly care to God’s eternal care. We, too, need to commit ourselves, our family, and all we have completely to Him.
The enemies we face may seem to have the upper hand (vs. 9-13). However, ultimately they are helpless and hopeless. God’s children will be victorious in the end. We can have courage, knowing God will preserve us (vs. 23). All of life’s circumstances are under God’s control. Knowing He loves and cares for us should strengthen our faith, regardless of what we are going through. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and become His children, we are never victims of our circumstances. Our lives are in the Lord’s hands, not in anyone else’s (vs. 15). That includes those we fear, those who attack us and put us in danger.
We are at this specific point in life, with all of its trials, by God’s appointment. We can rest in that knowledge. He will keep us in His love. God can turn the trial we are going through into a blessing if we learn the lessons He wishes to teach us. In God’s good time, He will bring us out of that trial again. God has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), plans for our good, and not for evil. This truth can be our lifeline for the future. We can have hope from God. He gave His Son to die on the Cross for us.
Just as David did, when we are faced with trouble or danger, we need to remember God’s faithfulness and power. David knew God’s strength was sufficient, and His promises of protection, peace and help is true. Like David, we need to trust God, rather than give in to despair. Turn each fear and worry over to God, and discover that He is more than sufficient to carry us safely through.
When there is trouble in our life and in the world around us, where do we go? Right now, and for the past several days, there has been a lot of unrest across my country, descending into rioting and vandalism. It has come right into my own neighborhood. Other places across the world have known similar unrest, danger, and even war. There are also serious personal struggles that people go through, and problems that we face with other people. Where can we go to find peace and rest from all of this? King David, the author of our psalm today, faced many days of turmoil and danger throughout his life. Where did he turn? Where did he find a refuge? Let’s look into the Scripture.
David’s life was one filled with struggles and turmoil, and with very few days of peace or rest. He had to flee the frequent murderous attacks for many years from King Saul. Then after the Lord made him king, there were battles with the descendants of the former King Saul, an attempt by his son Absalom to take the throne, and numerous wars with surrounding nations. King David had many enemies, and knew what it was like to face dangerous attacks. When we face times of trouble, and fear for our safety, we have the choice of descending into panic or putting our trust in the Lord. We can flee to Him for help and safety (vs. 1-3).
In the wilderness areas of the Middle East, there are many large rocks, often many times bigger than a man. David was quite familiar with that landscape, and he knew that one could find safety hiding behind or in the crevices of such huge rocks. Yet even more so, he knew that the Lord God is an even safer Rock to flee to. He knew God to be an even safer Fortress than the fortresses he had built as king. David prayed to God to deliver him from his troubles. He made his request based on what he knew of God’s Name and righteous, loving character. Jesus is our safe Rock and Fortress. We need to turn to Him during the dangerous and scary times we face, too.
David committed his life and spirit to the Lord God, as we see in verse 5. Jesus quoted this verse while He hung upon the Cross (Luke 23:46). David had complete trust in God. When Jesus said these words on the Cross, He showed absolute dependence in the Father. Stephen also repeated these words when he was stoned (Acts 7:59). Both knew they were passing from God’s earthly care to God’s eternal care. We, too, need to commit ourselves, our family, and all we have completely to Him.
The enemies we face may seem to have the upper hand (vs. 9-13). However, ultimately they are helpless and hopeless. God’s children will be victorious in the end. We can have courage, knowing God will preserve us (vs. 23). All of life’s circumstances are under God’s control. Knowing He loves and cares for us should strengthen our faith, regardless of what we are going through. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and become His children, we are never victims of our circumstances. Our lives are in the Lord’s hands, not in anyone else’s (vs. 15). That includes those we fear, those who attack us and put us in danger.
We are at this specific point in life, with all of its trials, by God’s appointment. We can rest in that knowledge. He will keep us in His love. God can turn the trial we are going through into a blessing if we learn the lessons He wishes to teach us. In God’s good time, He will bring us out of that trial again. God has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), plans for our good, and not for evil. This truth can be our lifeline for the future. We can have hope from God. He gave His Son to die on the Cross for us.
Just as David did, when we are faced with trouble or danger, we need to remember God’s faithfulness and power. David knew God’s strength was sufficient, and His promises of protection, peace and help is true. Like David, we need to trust God, rather than give in to despair. Turn each fear and worry over to God, and discover that He is more than sufficient to carry us safely through.
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