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 Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:51 am
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a
hope.
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:18 am
According to the Word
February 10, 2011
"Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word." (Psalm 119:169)
The closing 22nd stanza of Psalm 119 repeats many of the themes of the previous 21 and summarizes this epic to the majesty of the Word of God.
Seven passages contain prayer for "understanding," which depends on the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds (John 14:26). Our finite minds cannot understand God's eternal truths apart from revelation and the "mind of Christ" granted at salvation (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Thirteen passages use "according to thy word." Nothing that we can do pleases God more than our efforts to "magnify" His Word in our lives and ministries (Psalm 138:2). Every sentient creature will be judged by what is "written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12).
Eight stanzas include the prayer to have God "teach." Again, apart from the Holy Spirit in our "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17), we would be empty of both understanding and wisdom. Through reading and meditating on God's Word, after salvation, we grow effective and gain maturity.
The writer also promised in eight stanzas to "not forget." Our minds need to become stabilized with memorized Scripture and our hearts ready and sanctified with the stored Word of God so that we can "give an answer" both to those who ask us (1 Peter 3:15) and when we need guidance for our own life decisions (Colossians 1:10).
The psalm ends with a prayer for all: "Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments" (Psalm 119:173-176). HMM III
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:44 pm
The Living and the Written Word
February 11, 2011
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
The Holy Scriptures and the person of our Lord Jesus Christ are so inseparably bound together that whatever calls into question the integrity and authority of one correspondingly casts aspersions on the other. Let us not be guilty of saying that the written Word and the incarnate Word are in all aspects the same, but the Bible does clearly reveal Christ as "the Word . . . made flesh, |who| dwelt among us" (John 1:14). "And his name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13).
In carefully worded arguments, Christ time and again called attention to the fact that the teachings of the Old Testament Scriptures were actually teaching about Him. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. . . . For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:39, 46-47). "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
Therefore, those who diligently search the Scriptures find in them sufficient testimony to Christ, and where there is faith in the witness of Scripture, there will be faith in Christ and His words. But if men reject the testimony of Scripture, they will not even be convinced by His miraculous resurrection from the dead.
Christ claimed that all of Scripture pointed to Him. On the road to Emmaus, He taught that all three popular divisions of the Old Testament traced one progressive Messianic revelation. To understand the New Testament, we must know the Old, for both tell the same story, each amplifying the other. They are forever inseparable. JDM
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Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:37 pm
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and
blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to
suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will
see to it that every temptation has its way out, so that it
will be possible for you to bear it.
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Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:44 pm
Confirmation of the Gospel
February 13, 2011
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1:7)
The gospel, of course, embraces all the truths concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ, from creation to consummation. Since these truths have been under Satanic attack throughout all the ages, it is vital that the gospel both be defended against its enemies and confirmed in the hearts and minds of its friends.
The word for "defense" (Greek, apologia) is the same as "answer" in 1 Peter 3:15 where we are commanded to "be ready always to give an answer . . . a reason of the hope that is in you." The word for "confirmation," on the other hand, is essentially the same as "established," or "stabilized," as in Colossians 2:7: "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith." Thus the saving gospel of Christ--from its foundation in genuine creationism to its consummation in His coming kingdom with its central focus on the crucifixion and resurrection--is both to be defended against false teaching and established as truth. These two aspects correspond in general to apologetics in defending the faith and Christian evidences in establishing the faith.
This is not merely a job for certain theological or scientific specialists, however. All believers need to be "partakers" of this grace (literally "convinced co-participants"). Real "partakers" do not just go along for the ride, but are firmly committed and fully comprehending supporters. However, both those who lead out in such a work, as well as those who are "partakers," are exhorted to do so in grace! "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6). HMM
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:28 pm
Jesus the Bible Teacher
February 15, 2011
"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." (Luke 24:44-45)
On the day of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus had given a wonderful session of Bible teaching to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus. "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Later that same evening, Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles and the other disciples, probably in the upper room, and gave a similar study to all of them together, as summarized in our text above.
We can learn much from our Master Teacher concerning how we also should teach the Bible, for it was He, through "the Spirit of Christ" (1 Peter 1:11), who in effect wrote the Bible in the first place. Note in both cases, for example, that the whole Bible speaks of Christ in prophecy, or type, or in other ways. Note also that He began with the writings of Moses, which means first of all the account of creation and primeval history which is the foundation of all the rest.
It is evident, too, that He regarded "all the scriptures" to be of divine authority, which "must be fulfilled," either at His first coming or His second coming. He believed implicitly in plenary inspiration of the Bible, as well as the miracle of fulfilled prophecy.
Finally, even in the case of these closest followers, it was essential that the Holy Spirit "open . . . their understanding" if they were really to "understand the scriptures." All who would hope to be teachers of the Word today should teach as He taught, for He is our teacher. HMM
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:08 pm
Created and Made
February 17, 2011
"These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens." (Genesis 2:4)
There are two accounts of creation in Genesis, with the above text marking the dividing point. In the first (Genesis 1-2:4), the name used for the Creator is "God" (Hebrew Elohim), and its termination is the summarizing "signature," as it were: "These are the generations (Hebrew toledoth) of the heavens and of the earth when they were created."
The second account (Genesis 2:4-5:1) normally uses the name "LORD God" (Jehovah Elohim) in chapters 2 and 3 (except where the serpent and Eve used Elohim when she was being tempted) and then simply "LORD" (Hebrew Jehovah) in chapter 4. This second creation account ends with Adam’s signature: "This is the book of the generations |i.e., toledoth| of Adam."
Critics claim that the two accounts are contradictory. Actually they are complementary, the second merely giving more details of the events of the fifth and sixth days of creation week. The Lord Jesus (who was there as the Creator!) used them both, quoting from each (Matthew 19:4-6) at the same time in the same context.
Note also that "create" (Hebrew bara) is used seven times in Genesis 1, never in Genesis 2-4. In that second account, "made" and "formed" (Hebrew asah, yatsar) are the words used. Genesis 2:3 stresses the fact that "create" and "make" are different, when it tells us that God rested "from all his work which God created and made." Evidently the verb "create," which always has the Creator as its subject, refers to His work in calling entities into existence; "make" refers to systems constructed (by either God or men) out of previously created entities. The heavens and the earth were both "created" and "made" (see our text). HMM
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:38 pm
All Things Well
February 16, 2011
"And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." (Mark 7:37)
Jesus indeed "hath done all things well." One strong evidence of His deity is this very fact. No matter how carefully we study His deeds, we can find no flaw in any of them--no deficiency, nothing He should have done differently, or left undone. He never had to apologize or express regrets, as we often at least ought to do. He was always master of every situation. Peter said that He just "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38].
The same truth would apply--perhaps even more emphatically--to His words. He never had to speculate or equivocate: "And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes" (Mark 1:22). Jesus never guessed about anything or merely expressed an opinion, as we frequently do. He never suggested a "possible" interpretation. Everything He taught was with absolute authority, for He was (and is) the very Word of God (John 1:1, 14).
His words occasionally were harsh and judgmental when dealing with hypocrisy and false teaching (e.g., Matthew 23:29-33), but more often were kind and forgiving. In fact, "all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth" (Luke 4:22). Even the soldiers sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed, for as they said: "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46).
Indeed, "his word was with power" (Luke 4:32). He was "Jesus of Nazareth . . . a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people" (Luke 24:19). In fact, He was more than a man; He was the perfect man, and the only-begotten Son of God! HMM
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:57 pm
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but
that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:21 pm
The Higher Ways
February 18, 2011
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
God's thoughts and ways are by no means equivalent to man's. How, then, can we hope to understand those things which He has communicated to us in His Word? To be sure, God has not told us all He knows, but what He has provided is sufficient for our faith, and He has also given clues as to the nature of many things we can only fully know in eternity. We know enough now to trust Him for the things we can't verify. But the aspect of Scripture that sets it apart from all other "religious" writings is that its truths are surrounded by and based on historical and scientific facts that are verifiable. The fact that we find Scripture to be accurate wherever it can be checked, gives us reason to believe that those teachings which we can't check are accurate as well.
What are some of God's favorite object lessons? Certainly His creation is one. A God who can call something into existence which didn't exist before can do anything. "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things" (Isaiah 40:26). Another standard is God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. "According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things" (Micah 7:15). Yet another is the second regathering of Israel in the last days. "The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from . . . all the lands whither he had driven them" (Jeremiah 16:15, cf., v. 14). The final great guarantee that He will work on our behalf is the fact of the resurrection. "His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20).
Make no mistake! God is capable of solving any problem we have. And what's more, He wants us to know it! JDM
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:21 pm
2 Corinthians 5:15
And he died for all, so that those who live might live no
longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for
them.
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:23 am
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is
the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:00 am
With Christ
February 19, 2011
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)
The apostle Paul, looking forward to the time when we shall "ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17), wrote: "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:23-24).
The fact is, however, that we can be "with Christ" even while still abiding in the flesh, as Paul himself emphasized. This is the great principle called positional truth. "Positionally," we are already "with Christ," for that is where God sees us and how He relates to us. He has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).
Before we could be raised up with Christ, however, we first had to die with Him. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). God even saw us as buried with Christ when He was buried, and this is the great truth symbolized in our baptism. "We are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4).
"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more" (Romans 6:8-9). He died for us, so our deserved death became His substitutionary death, and His victorious resurrection becomes our own unmerited deliverance from death in eternal resurrection life. This is our position now, and our assured everlasting possession then, for we are with Christ, who "dieth no more."
This truth is not only a wonderful doctrine, but as we see in our text, a focus for our thoughts, and real incentive for godly living. HMM
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:02 am
Question: "Do faith in God and science contradict?"
Answer: Science is defined as “the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.” Science is a method that mankind can use to gain a greater understanding of the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian’s belief in science should never be like our belief in God. A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not.
Our belief in God is a belief of faith. We have faith in His Son for salvation, faith in His Word for instruction, and faith in His Holy Spirit for guidance. Our faith in God should be absolute, since when we put our faith in God, we depend on a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient Creator. Our belief in science should be intellectual and nothing more. We can count on science to do many great things, but we can also count on science to make mistakes. If we put faith in science, we depend on imperfect, sinful, limited, mortal men. Science throughout history has been wrong about many things, such as the shape of the earth, powered flight, vaccines, blood transfusions, and even reproduction. God is never wrong.
Truth is nothing to fear, so there is no reason for a Christian to fear good science. Learning more about the way God constructed our universe helps all of mankind appreciate the wonder of creation. Expanding our knowledge helps us to combat disease, ignorance, and misunderstanding. However, there is danger when scientists hold their faith in human logic above faith in our Creator. These persons are no different from anyone devoted to a religion; they have chosen faith in man and will find facts to defend that faith.
Still, the most rational scientists, even those who refuse to believe in God, admit to a lack of completeness in our understanding of the universe. They will admit that neither God nor the Bible can be proved or disproved by science, just as many of their favorite theories ultimately cannot be proved or disproved. Science is meant to be a truly neutral discipline, seeking only the truth, not furtherance of an agenda.
Much of science supports the existence and work of God. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” As modern science discovers more about the universe, we find more evidence of creation. The amazing complexity and replication of DNA, the intricate and interlocking laws of physics, and the absolute harmony of conditions and chemistry here on earth all serve to support the message of the Bible. A Christian should embrace science that seeks the truth, but reject the “priests of science” who put human knowledge above God.
GotQuestions.org
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:41 am
Fear of Witnessing
February 20, 2011
"And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:18]
Every Christian knows that he or she should witness for Christ, but most are very reluctant to speak in His name very often. The most obvious reason for this hesitancy is fear. Sometimes we may be actually forbidden, as were the apostles, to teach of Him, but their courageous answer was: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), and so they prayed: "Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word" (Acts 4:29).
More common than fear of physical persecution or personal harm, however, is fear of ridicule, or loss of prestige or position. Such fear is out of character for real Christians, "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). If we love the Lord and those for whom He died, we must learn to conquer our fear of men.
One of the saddest rebukes that could come to a Christian is the indictment lodged against those believers who, because of their high position, refused to take an open stand for Christ: "Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43). How often do modern professional and business men--even theologians--compromise their stand for Christ and His inerrant Word because of fear of peer pressure in what should be their spheres of influence and testimony?
May God give us the courage of Paul. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," he wrote, "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16). HMM
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