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Blessed Assurance, pt. 1

Blessed Assurance, pt. 1

 Are you going to heaven?  Are you sure?  How do you know?The question is one of assurance, am I certain of my home?  The subject is muddied with false teaching, with the error of the impossibility of apostasy, and wrong notions about the possession of hope.

The Bible answers the question “what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-34; and confer also Acts 2:37, 38) by demanding belief, repentance and immersion in water for the remission of sins.  Jesus said in Mark 16:16, that “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

“Well”, I think, “I’ve believed and been baptized for the remission of my sins, so I’m alright, hmm?”

Well, that is the start; by your obedience of faith you have “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27) and are partakers of “every spiritual blessing,” Ephesians 1:3 (and read verses 4 – 14 for an itemization of those blessings).

That is just the start.We are at war.  Paul told Timothy to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (I Timothy 6:12).  Our warfare is against the “schemes of the devil” and the armor for this conflict is described in Ephesians 6:11-17.  Christians must use this armor, they cannot win the battle with any other.  “That” here has the sense of, “so” or “in order that”. This is why in Ephesians 6 Paul uses the word twice, to indicate the essentialness of the armor: “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand … that you may be able to withstand” (verses 11, 13). The point of emphasis is, the Christian will not, can not, win the war without the “whole armor of God”; to stand one must use this armor.

We have a tireless enemy.  Peter warned Christians that “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).  Paul sounded a similar note in I Corinthians 10:12,  ”Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  There are those who think a saved person, a Christian, cannot fall – contradicting the Holy Spirit.

God told Eve, do not eat of, nor touch, the forbidden fruit, “lest you die.”  The devil, identified by Jesus as “a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44) told the first lie; that lie was, ”the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die.” Genesis 3:4.    The doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy is thus the doctrine of the devil, calculated to deceive people – like Eve – into believing that it’s OK if you disobey God, “you will not surely die.”

The point is, “once in grace always in grace” is not the truth.  Neither is the assertion that one cannot “fall from grace.”  Paul warned the Galatians (5:4) that “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

There are so many warnings in the Bible against what we used to call “backsliding” that one can only wonder that anyone clings to the notion that apostasy is impossible.  Falling from grace, into eternal torment, is terrible to consider.  Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you,” John 14:1-3; but warns of some being cast into “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” Matthew 25:41.    Consider the irony of this: eternal anguish in the place not prepared for man, but for the devil and his angels!

This is not the desire of God for man; He is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (II Peter 3:9).  Another expression of the will of God on this subject, is in I Timothy 2:3, 4:  God our Savior “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

The saved can be lost.  Such a fate is not necessary, because man as a free moral agent can take advantage of the provisions God has made, for his salvation.  Peter writes of them in his first epistle, chapter one verse 5, that God’s power guards the saved.  It is not unconditional; Peter wrote that it is “through faith”.  Those who think faith is unconditional, bestowed as a gift so that man has no responsibility, are troubled, and should be, by statements indicating that he is responsible, as were Hymenaeus and Alexander, who had made “shipwreck of their faith,” I Timothy 1:19, 20.  So one who wishes to be secure in his salvation will be guarded by God, through faith; but he must continue to walk by faith.

- Pat 

Why Baptism?

Why Baptism?

Do you believe in God?  Do you believe in a Being who has far greater knowledge and power than mankind?  Do you believe in a Being who created the heavens and the earth, and to whom all things and all people are subject?  The Bible teaches that there is a God, One who created the world and everything in it, and that He is far greater in knowledge and power than mankind (Isaiah 55:9).

The Bible also teaches that when we disobey God, it is sin (James 4:17), and that our sins separate us from our Creator (Isaiah 59:2).  Do you believe that your sins in this life separate you from the God of Creation?  If you do believe, what do YOU think God should have us do to have our sins removed?  If you asked a room full of people what they THINK God would have us do to be saved from sin, you would probably get many varying and conflicting opinions.  But, thankfully, the question is not what does man think God may or may not require of us, but what has He commanded?

In Acts chapter 2, a multitude of men are convinced in their hearts that sin separates them from God.  They are convinced that they stand guilty in the eyes of God and ask Peter and the disciples WHAT SHALL WE DO?  They want to know, what must we do to be CLEANSED of our sins?  And Peter replies, “Repent, every one of you, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  Many at that time may have been expecting some grand display of divine power, or may have been expecting the voice of God to come booming from the heavens, or beams of light to burst from the upon them.  But Peter said in order to have your sins washed away you MUST be baptized, that is, literally meaning fully immersed, in water, in the NAME (by the authority of) Jesus Christ, FOR the remission of (deliverance from) sins.

WATER!?  Immersion in water?  Why?  Why is this part of the God’s prescription for salvation?  Now, there are many theories about water, its molecular content, what it represents, its metaphorical nature, but, the bottom line is that God commanded baptism; whether or not we fully understand it is IMMATERIAL!  Remember that God’s knowledge and ways are far beyond our own, and there are many things He does and commands that we, with our limited human understanding, will never fully comprehend.  The fundamental fact is that it is evident from His revelation that water baptism is what the Lord prescribed!  Who is man to challenge a clear instruction from God?

As you consider some of the following verses, notice that the Bible plainly teaches that water baptism is essential to salvation from sin.  If one believes the Bible is the inspired word of God, then that person will simply do whatever the Lord asks of them through faith.  If God asked us to just stick our feet in water to be saved, we should do it.  If He asked us to jump through a ring of fire, we should do it.  If he asked us to get a certain kind of tattoo, we should do it.  Why?  Not because we trust in something about the act itself, but because we believe in the God who commanded it!

Read Matthew 28:18,19.  Yes, Jesus Christ commanded His followers to go into all the world and teach others His doctrine, and TO BAPTIZE them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  How can someone claim to be a disciple of Christ but dismiss this simple command?

Read Mark 16:16. Jesus says “he that believes AND is baptized will be saved”.  For most people who claim the Bible is the word of God, they recognize the Bible plainly teaches belief is essential to salvation, which it does! (John 3:16, I John 5:5) But, how could we read and understand a verse that says belief is necessary for salvation, and disregard a verse that says belief and baptism are necessary?  You take away the power and necessity of water baptism from God’s plan of salvation you take away the power and necessity of belief.  You can’t have one without the other because of that three letter word, AND.

Read Mark 1:9. People in the world say they want to be like Jesus.  Do you want to be like Jesus?  Do you want to follow His example?  Jesus was baptized in water!  Jesus went down into the river Jordan, and was baptized by John as an EXAMPLE of obedience for all of us!

Read Acts 2:40,41. – When Peter preached the Gospel to these men, it says that those who gladly receive the word, those who BELIEVED, were baptized, and in verse 47, after they were baptized the Lord added them to the church, the BODY of believers.  Being added to the Lord’s church (not the local church) requires water baptism.

Read Acts 8:12. What did those individuals DO who believed in the Gospel of Jesus that Philip preached?  They responded to the teaching by being baptized in water, just as those in Acts 2:38, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins.

Read Acts 16:15. What did Lydia and her household do in response to her understanding of the Gospel?  They were baptized.

Read Acts 19:3-5.  These people realized they had not been properly baptized into Christ, and saw the urgency of making sure they were baptized for the right reasons.  Baptism is such a vital consideration that those who are not sure why they were baptized should give strong consideration to whether or not they should do so again.  If you have been baptized, and did not have the understanding of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), if you did not confess His name with your mouth before men (Romans 10:10), or were not at the time truly committed to repenting of your sins (Matthew 9:13), you need to consider whether or not your baptism was according to scripture. 

Read I Peter 3:21. Why should you be baptized?  This verse teaches that baptism saves us.  Not baptism alone.  Just like verses which teach that our faith saves us don’t mean faith alone, or verses that teach the love of God saves us don’t mean we don’t have to love Him back!  But if we recognize from scripture that faith does save us, and that we are saved by the grace and love of God, etc., then we must recognize that there are some things we must do to be saved, and baptism is clearly taught as one of those acts of obedience.

Recalling his conversion in Acts 22:16, Paul recalls these instructions: “And now, why are you waiting, arise, and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  Over and over again, the word of God demonstrates and teaches that men and women must be baptized for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ in order to step into God’s eternal purpose!  It is not a matter of whether or not the word of God teaches water baptism is essential to salvation; anybody with common sense who can read at an elementary school level can see that.  It is a matter of whether or not one trusts in the teachings of God’s word!

Truly, there isn’t anything really special about the water itself, but when you of your own free will CHOOSE to go down into the water by faith, it’s YOU that becomes special in the eyes of our God.

Jeremy Koontz

  

Heaven, part 1

Heaven, part 1

Everything a Christian does, in worship and in daily life,must have heaven as its motivation.  Why strive, suffer, abstain, work, if he does not have a clear goal – heaven – pulling him on?  This being true, we should have heaven, and what Scripture tells us about heaven, in constant sharp focus in our minds.

Won’t it be wonderful there? Yes indeed; God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”, and, again, the One seated on the throne said, “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment” (Revelation 21:4, 6).

Who can we expect to find in heaven?  As it is His dwelling place we will find God the Father – and indeed, when Jesus was baptized by John, the Father from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son … ”  Matthew 3:17.   Then when Stephen was murdered (Acts 7:55, 56) Jesus – crucified, resurrected, and ascended -- appeared in heaven, at the right hand of the Father. Who else will we find in heaven?  Hear the apostle Paul telling the Romans that they will receive eternal life, “who by patience in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” (Romans 2:7).    No one will get there by accident; but by “patience in well doing”.  In heaven there is kept “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading” I Peter 1:4

These considerations hint of the marvel that will be heaven.  They are the more marvelous as we make comparison with them against our circumstances.  We are surrounded by indifference, even hostility, to spiritual things:  entertainers, athletes, politicians, so-called “beautiful people”, are held up for adulation as “worthy of praise”; while the honest laborer is contemptuously labeled “deplorable”.  This laborer will probably never have a million dollar mansion in this life.  The difference is that he desires a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  And God “is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).

How will we get to heaven?   Not as something we have earned -- we have sinned, the wages of sin is death  (Romans 3:23; 6:23); so we are helpless and hopeless.  (Hebrews 10:4).   Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:29).   HOW do we come to Him?  Scripture gives the answer.  For instance, Jesus said, John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”.  How does the Father draw one?    By a direct operation of the Holy Spirit?  No.   By determining beforehand who will be saved, and all others lost? No.   Let the Bible speak for itself.  Jesus continues in verse 45; saying, ‘It is written in the prophets, And they will all be taught by God.  Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me ….”  Verse 45. Who comes to Jesus?  Those who have learned from the Father.   No big puzzle, always consult the context.

What may one learn, “from the Father?”

He may learn, that the wages of sin is death.  He may learn, that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” and he may learn that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:22; 10:4). He may learn that Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes     

   away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  He learns, then, 

   that Christ by death paid for all sins and sinners from

   Adam, and He “has appeared once for all at the end of

   the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself’”

   (Hebrews 9:26).

   Pat

THE CONVERSION OF AN UPRIGHT MAN

THE CONVERSION OF AN UPRIGHT MAN

Cornelius, whose conversion is recorded in Acts 10, 11 was a devout, God-fearing man (10:2) who nonetheless needed to be saved (11:14). 

Cornelius was a Gentile; the implication of this Peter acknowledged, saying “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean“ (10:28).

The formidable task of convincing men that the gospel is for all was assigned to the apostle Paul.  Jesus told Ananias that “he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).    Later, Paul says that Jesus “said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles’.“

The record of this conversion provided documentary proof that “to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18).

Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

         This gospel is communicated to man by words – James writing that the implanted word “is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).  Many people today think that salvation depends on a direct operation of the Holy Spirit – a “DOHS”.  Some appeal to the conversion of Cornelius, as proof of their contention.   What about that  …  was Cornelius converted by a DOHS, or by the preaching of the word? 

Consider the cases of conversion in the book of Acts, and look

0particularly at the references to the teacher speaking, or the student listening and hearing: a reference of one sort or another – in every case -- to the word being preached. 

          An angel appeared first of all, in verses 3-8, 22.  The purpose of this appearing was to tell the sinner where he could find the preacher, as Cornelius told Peter (11:13 – 15).  The work of the angel was successful, he got the sinner with the preacher.

Cornelius still needs the message of salvation – he is lost.

          Next is the appearance of the Holy Spirit.  In 10:17, Peter was  

wondering about the vision he had seen, when the men sent by Cornelius arrived.  The Holy Spirit told Peter to go with them, “for I have sent them.”  So the work of the Holy Spirit was successful – He got the preacher with the sinner.

          Cornelius still needs the message of salvation – he is lost.

          Then, finally, we come to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This is recorded in Acts 10:44-46, the sugar stick of those who call for a direct operation of the Holy Spirit for salvation for anyone.  The Holy Spirit fell on “all who heard the word.”  That it had really happened was evident, “they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.”

Cornelius still needs the message of salvation – he is still LOST.

Well then, what is, “baptism in the name of Christ”?

Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ – IS IMMERSION IN WATER,  Acts 10:47, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ – IS THE COMMANDED BAPTISM, Acts 10:48,  “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ – IS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of  your sins ...’ .”

Cornelius and his household were saved when they heard the word of the message, and obeyed.   The Holy Spirit falling on these Gentiles was to drive home the message to Jewish Christians, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18).

         

         

Walking by Faith, part 2

Walking by Faith, part 2

We must walk by faith.  What does that mean?“We walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).  To become a Christian one must go by faith to Him who is “the source of eternal salvation” and obey Him, Hebrews 5:9.  imJHH   This is what 3000 did on the day of Pentecost.  Convicted of sin, they implored Peter for instruction.     Peter “said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of. your sins” Acts 2:38.   This is what the Ephesians did.  According to Paul, John the Baptist “told the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.  On hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4, 5).  They heard they were to believe; so, they were baptized .

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father, “your will be done”, Matthew 6:10.  Scripture (Ephesians 3:20, 21) teaches us of the unequaled power of God, and that we must submit ourselves to the will of God, Who is able.    If the will of God is not revealed, as in some problem in our lives, we go to Him with faith like that of Shadrack and Abraham, because our God is able, and He will deliver us. One of the terrible realities of this life are lies being proclaimed about the way of salvation.  Eloquent speakers insist that salvation is apart from human effort, or obedience – “only believe”, is their theme.  They give assurance – deceitful assurance – of the salvation of people whose ardent professions of love for the Lord are not manifested by obedience to the Lord – and why should they be? – these folk are being destroyed, “for lack of knowledge”. 

Another error involves the source of faith --    where does faith come from?  To the Bible-believer this question poses no problem at all; Romans 10:17 reads “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”  But no, to some that answer is not satisfactory; faith is the gift of God, we are told, and they cite Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”.  So, according to this reasoning, if one does not have faith (confer Hebrews 11:6) he cannot be refused at judgment – because God did not give him the gift of faith!  And thus, they say, faith comes not by hearing the word of Christ, but as a gift from God.  Wait – wait -- in the passage in Ephesians, is it faith, or salvation, which is the gift of God? Romans 6:23, “… the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.  The two passages combine to establish the gift as salvation; and the source of faith as the word of Christ.

It is heartbreaking, to encounter men and women whose belief that they have been saved and cannot be lost is so strong that they cannot hear any dissenting voice; but the voice of Jesus will one day say, “And then will I declare unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:203.).

The glorious grace of God has also been distorted.

Walking by faith into the grace of God today is on the same principle as in the day of Naaman (II Kings 5) and Joshua (Joshua 6).  The principle is expressed in Romans 5:2, through Jesus “we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  Access by faith into grace in the days of Joshua and Naaman occurred when they obeyed to receive the favor of God.  Access into the favor of God is also by faith today, as when people convinced of sin believe Jesus to be Christ, Acts 2:36, 37.  These believers were told to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38) – and about 3000 of them received the word (Acts 2:41) and were baptized.  They had their access by faith into grace.

Have you received the word of his grace?

Pat

Walking by Faith, part 1

Walking by Faith, part 1

We must walk by faith.  What does that mean?It means that faith (which is trust in God), leads us to obey Him.   The faith of several thousand people whose obedience to the gospel is recorded in the book of Acts is a good starting place ; “… whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father, “your will be done”, Matthew 6:10.  Scripture (Ephesians 3:20, 21) teaches us of the overwhelming power of God, and that we must submit ourselves to the will of God, Who is able.    If the will of God is not revealed, as in some problem in our lives, we go to Him with faith like that of Shadrack and Abraham: our God is able, and He will deliver us.When Jesus said we should pray “your will be done”, He was speaking of the will of God which is revealed, what He “has spoken” (Hebrews 1:1, 2).  He was also speaking of things about which the outcome is unknown; so we go to God in prayer, beseeching Him with reference to matters of concern  -- “I am  injured, …” or, “help, my spouse and I are having trouble”; “I am having problems with my children” etc..  The one thing all these appeals have in common, if they are made as they should be, is that with each of them we submit to His unknowable will.:  “I want to walk again, but not my will, but your will be done”.

So: our attitude toward the will of God which is not revealed is, here is what I want; but your will be done!   I will trust and obey (Abraham exemplifies this attitude, in Genesis 12:1-4, and 22:1-2 – confer Hebrews 11:8, 17-20).

It means faith, trust in God, which leads us to submit to Him in all things.  Abraham and his faith come to mind.  Hebrews 11:8 says that Abraham obeyed when he was told to go out, as “he went out, not knowing where he was going” -- he trusted God.    Abraham again, Genesis 22:2, God said to him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering.  Abraham rose early in the morning … and went to the place of which God had told him”.  Hebrews 11:19 says “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead”; but that knowledge did not dilute his faith in God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked by faith.  

King Nebuchadnezzar had said, worship me or into the furnace you go.  The faithful reply of the young men was, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods …” (Daniel 3:17, 18).   As they spoke, they did not know what God’s will in the matter would be, life or death; they only knew that whatever God’s will was, they would serve Him, and no other: ”your will be done”.

Pat