Let’s Take a Walk (part 3)

Let’s Take a Walk (part 3)

 

We must “walk in wisdom” in our dealings with those who are not in Christ (Colossians 4:5, 6; and confer Ephesians 5:15-17). Carelessness in word or deed may slam a door that could have been opened. We need to give thought to know how to answer each person. Speaking “the truth in love” does NOT look at the message, the message is always to be “the truth”.  Speaking the truth in love looks at the messenger, and his attitude and handling of the word, to speak that word in the most effective way possible.

“WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED” (Ephesians 4:1)

We should walk in “good works”, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Do some have the idea that “Christianity” simply requires abstaining from that which is evil, with no concern about doing good? When Scripture says we are created in Christ Jesus FOR good works?

Jesus called us the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”, and said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Here is instruction looking squarely at our duty for good works; and people are failing in their reason for being if they fall short in this responsibility shared by all, Hebrews 10:24.

 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Understanding “walking in the light” is helped by considering walking in darkness. One does not have to do nothing but sin, to be walking in darkness; he is just indifferent to the light, walking (living) as it suits him; and occasionally, maybe, doing something good.

By the same token, one does not have to be sinless, to be walking in the light – his aim and preference is to be obeying God, and when he stumbles, if he repents and confesses his sin, the blood of Jesus will cleanse him.

People who are “in the light” are already acquainted with the blood of Jesus. There is no forgiveness of sins “without the shedding of blood” (Hebrews 9:22) but “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The writer of Hebrews talks about the impossibility of goats’ and bulls’ blood for purification of the flesh; then asks, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:13,14). The blood of Christ is the price of forgiveness for every person. It is, therefore, the price of forgiveness for a straying Christian.

This is what John is saying, in I John 1:7. We must watch, where we walk. “Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly …”

Pat

Let’s Take A Walk, Ephesians 5:1, 2

Let’s Take A Walk, Ephesians 5:1, 2 

      

         The words sprint, dash, jog, trot, compare with the word “walk” as the speedy hare with the plodding tortoise.  These words speak of greater-than-normal exertion, because “in a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize” (I Corinthians 9:24). As the tortoise came on to beat the hare, so the one who walks ‘” in love” will in fact be victorious ln the pursuit of life eternal.

         “Walk” is used in the Bible to (1) indicate normal

moving around.  This is the sense of the word used when

Jesus was coming to the disciples, Matthew 14:25ff.    When Paul tells the Ephesians to walk in love, and

 as children of light (5:8), “walk” refers (2) to the journey

of life.  On this journey, how are we to walk?   We begin

with the passage just cited: we must walk in love.  If we

truly walk in love we will obey Him; “For this is the love

of God, that we keep His commandments” (I John 5:3.)  If

we walk in love of God, our walk with our fellowman is

natural.  So Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done in

love” (I Corinthians 16:14).

        

         We “walk … according to. the Spirit”, Romans 8:4.

Those who walk according to the Spirit arrange their lives  

as the Spirit directs, because “the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things

there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

         There is a choice we must make, between flesh and

spirit; Romans 8:5-8, “For those who live according to

the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For

to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind

on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on

the flesh is hostile to God for it does not submit to God’s

law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh

cannot please God.”

         “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we

have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus

His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).  Understanding “walking in the light” is helped by considering

walking in darkness.  One does not have to

do only sin, to be walking in darkness; he is just

indifferent to the light, walking (living) as it suits him; and

occasionally, maybe accidentally, doing something good.

         By the same token, one does not have to be sinless,

to be walking in the light – his aim and preference is to

be obeying God, and when he stumbles, if he repents

and confesses his sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses

him.  People who are “in the light” are already

acquainted with the blood of Jesus.  There is no

forgiveness of sins “without the shedding of blood”

(Hebrews 9:22), but “it is impossible for the blood of

bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).  The

writer of Hebrews talks about the impossibility of goats’

and bulls’ blood for purification of the flesh, and then

asks, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who

though the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish

to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve

the living God” (Hebrews 9:13, 14).  The blood of Christ is

the price of forgiveness for every sinner.  It is therefore

the price for forgiveness for a straying Christian.

         This is what John is saying, in I John 1:7.   We must

watch, where we walk.  “Blessed is the man, who walks

not in the counsel of the ungodly …”.

        

         We should walk in “good works”, Ephesians 2:10,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for

good works, which God prepared beforehand that we

should walk in them.”  Do some have the idea that being

a Christian simply requires abstaining from that which

is evil, with no concern about doing good?  When

Scripture says we are created in Christ Jesus FOR good

works?  Jesus called us the “salt of the earth” and “the

light of the world”, and said “let your light shine before

others, so that they may see your good works and give

glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-

16).

         We read about the urgency of doing “good works”

in Hebrews 10:24, 25, “And let us consider how to stir up

one another to love and good works, not neglecting to

meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging

one another …”.   Here is instruction looking squarely at

our duty for good works, and for assembling with

brethren to encourage them to good works.  Good works

include everything we may do, for our neighbor or our

brother; Jesus said “And whoever gives one of these

little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a

disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his

reward” (Matthew10:42).

                  Saints fail in their reason for being if they neglect this responsibility for which they were created in Christ Jesus.
        

                  We must “walk in wisdom” in our dealings with

those who are not in Christ (Colossians 4:5, 6; and confer

Ephesians 5:15-17).  Carelessness in word or deed may

slam a door that could have been opened.   We need to

give thought to know how to answer each person. Speaking “the truth in love” does NOT look at

the message, the message is always to be “the truth”. 

Speaking the truth in love looks at the messenger, and

his attitude and handling of the word, to speak that word

in the most effective way possible.

“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called”

Let’s Take a Walk (part 1)

Let’s Take a Walk (part 1)

The words sprint, dash, jog, trot, compare with the word 

“walk” as the speedy hare with the plodding tortoise.  These words speak of greater-than-normal exertion, because “in a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize” (I Corinthians 9:24). As the tortoise came on to beat the hare, so the one who walks ‘” in love” will, in fact, be victorious ln the pursuit of life eternal.

“Walk” is used in the Bible to (1) indicate normal

moving around.  This is the sense of the word used when

Jesus was coming to the disciples, Matthew 14:25ff.

When Paul tells the Ephesians to walk in love, and

as children of light (5:8), “walk” refers (2) to the journey

of life.  On this journey, how are we to walk?   We begin

with the passage just cited: we must walk in love.  If we

truly walk in love we will obey Him; “For this is the love

of God, that we keep His commandments” (I John 5:3.) 

If we walk in love of God, our walk with our fellow man is

natural.  So Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done in love” 

(I Corinthians 16:14).

We “walk … according to. the Spirit”, Romans 8:4.

Those who walk according to the Spirit arrange their

lives as the Spirit directs, because “the fruit of the Spirit

is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things

there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

           

There is a choice we must make, between flesh and

spirit; Romans 8:5-8, “For those who live according to

the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For

to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind

on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on

the flesh is hostile to God for it does not submit to God’s

law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh

cannot please God.”

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we

have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus

His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

Understanding “walking in the light” is helped by

considering walking in darkness.  One does not have to

do only sin, to be walking in darkness; he is just

indifferent to the light, walking (living) as it suits him;

and occasionally, maybe accidentally, doing something

good.

By the same token, one does not have to be sinless,

to be walking in the light – his aim and preference is to

be obeying God, and when he stumbles, if he repents

and confesses his sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses

him.  People who are “in the light” are already

acquainted with the blood of Jesus.  There is no

forgiveness of sins “without the shedding of blood”

(Hebrews 9:22), but “it is impossible for the blood of

bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).  The

writer of Hebrews talks about the impossibility of goats’

and bulls’ blood for purification of the flesh, and then

asks, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who

though the eternal Spirit offered himself without

blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works

to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:13, 14).  The blood

of Christ is the price of forgiveness for every sinner.  It is,

therefore, the price for forgiveness for a straying Christian…

Pat

“My” Church

“My” Church

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.”  Ephesians 5:24 says the church is subject to Christ, and in the following verse that Christ gave Himself for the church.  Colossians 1:24 refers to the body of Christ as the church.  Such verses refer to what we sometimes call the “universal” church, the body of believers who have been “called out” from the world to God, by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

The church consists of all the souls who believe in Jesus Christ, on earth and in heaven (Ephesians 3:14,15).  Acts 11:2 refers to the church which was at Jerusalem, and Acts 13:1 refers to the church at Antioch; such verses specify members of the universal body of Christ who assemble in a specified location.  The church that Christ established, His body, was in Antioch, Jerusalem, and anywhere else where there are believers.

This brings us to another sense in which the word church can be used.  Acts 14:23 says elders were ordained in “every church.”  In I Corinthians 4:17, Paul speaks of teaching the same doctrine everywhere, in every church.  These kinds of verses refer to those “local” churches, believers who assemble in some specified geographic location.  Church can refer to the universal body of Christ, as well as to a localized body of believers. 

In I Corinthians chapter 14, Paul instructs the Corinthian church on how to have an orderly and edifying assembly.  Notice that when he says in verse 19, “speaking in the church”, he’s not talking about speaking inside some building: he means speaking among that local body of believers, speaking among the people.  The local church is the local body of believers, not the building or place where they meet, not the activities they engage in when they come together.  The church consists of the people.  

Likewise, in the same chapter, when Paul talks about edifying the church (vv.4,5,12) he is referring to edifying the members, the people, not the place or the activities.  In verse 23, he talks about “the whole church [coming] together in one place.”  This is what we would refer to as an assembly.  The church exists even when it is not assembled.  The church was still in Corinth even when the individual members were in their respective homes, at work, or somewhere in the city involved in their day-to-day affairs.  When he says the church came together, the members assembled for worship and mutual edification.  In verse 28, he talks about keeping silent in the church, that is, keeping silent in the presence of the members during the assembly, not keeping silent in the building.

So, what do we mean when we say, “I am going to church”?  Is it like, when we say we are going to fish, we are going fishing?  Are we going church-ing?  Perhaps statements such as, “I am going to worship” or “we are assembling” would be less ambiguous.  Or what do I mean if I extend an invitation and say, “you should come to my church”?  Surely, I don’t mean that the church belongs to me, personally.  Sometimes, when we invite someone, they say something like, “I already have a church.”  

Without presuming we know what everyone means when they use any kind of expression involving church, let us keep in mind to what church ought to refer.  There is a universal body of believers in Christ that is His church.  But we can also talk about the local church, the body of believers in our area with whom we personally work and assemble.  When talking about “your” church, whatever you have in mind, remember that you are talking about the people with whom you associate.  When you invite someone “to church” or to “your” church, make sure it is with the understanding that the church (local and universal) belongs to the Lord.  When we talk about “our” church doing this or that, we are referring to what we, the people, do and believe in.

When you invite people to “your” church, you are not inviting them to the building or to the service.  You are inviting them to meet, assemble, study, worship, to engage with the people.  When people visit us at “our” local church, our objective is not to impress them with the building, or anything superficial, but with the people who are the body of Christ.  When visitors are among us, we must make every effort to demonstrate the love of Christ, the sincerity of our belief, our desire for the truth of God, and our compassion for the souls of men.

How do you feel about “your” church?  Do you associate with a group of people you want others to meet and have a spiritual relationship with?  Are you the kind of person who attracts or repulses visitors?  We ought to be proud of our local family, and desire to be the kind of people who are sincerely characterized by the love of Christ (John 13:35).  We should be able to invite others in saying, “let me show where to contact the love of God and true disciples of Christ.  Let me introduce you to these people…”

“These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, that you may know how to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” - I Timothy 3:14,15

Jeremy Koontz

Your Personal Invitation

PLEASANT RUN CHURCH OF CHRIST

831 W. PLEASANT RUN ROAD

Lancaster, TX  75149

church@plruncoc.com

972-227-2598

This Is Your Invitation!

In extending an invitation for you to visit the services of the Pleasant Run Church of Christ, we would like to give you an idea of who we are and what to expect during the services…

SIMPLY CHRISTIANS

We are simply Christians without denominational names and practices.

 We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and we try to follow it as our only authority in religion. Since we find no denominational names in the Bible, we wear no such names. We have no human creeds to set forth doctrine because the Bible contains all the Christian is to believe (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

We accept Jesus Christ as Lord and respect His authority. Jesus said “And why do you call me Lord, Lord. And do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Adding to, or taking from, the simple instruction of Jesus is to fail to honor Him as Lord. We have no conferences, synods, councils. nor earthly headquarters because Christ has not authorized these. Also, such man-made systems only serve to compete with Christ’s authority and often bind human traditions upon others, which Jesus condemned (Matthew 15:3-9).

man-made systems only serve to compete with Christ’s authority and often bind human traditions upon others, which Jesus condemned

 (Matthew 15:3-9).

THE GOSPEL FOR ALL

We proclaim the message of the crucified and risen Lord. We urge all to accept God’s gift of eternal life in His Son (Romans 6:23)

God’s plan for salvation involves:

.  Repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts20:21)

.  Confessing Jesus as Lord and that God raised him from the dead

(Romans 10:10)

. Baptism into Christ for the remissions of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16)

. Followed by a life of faithful service to Christ (Rev. 2:10)

We understand that in order for our faith to be pleasing to God we must trust Him to the extent of obeying him (Hebrews 5:9).  It is through such faith that we become God’s children. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”

(Galatians 3:26-27).

Baptism as an expression of obedient faith is the culminating act by which God places one in a proper relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have questions or concerns about your salvation, we would be happy to study the Bible with you concerning the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and how one should respond to it.

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH

All who are in fellowship with Christ are members of His spiritual body, the church universal (1 Corinthians 12:12; Colossians 1:18).  The universal church is a spiritual entity, with Jesus as its head and saved people throughout the world as members of His body (Ephesians 1: 22-23; Acts 2:47). As such, the universal church has no earthly or physical organization.

Wherever Christians extend fellowship to each other in worship and work, we find a congregation or local church, In the Bible we read about churches in Jerusalem, Rome, and other places. These were not different kinds of churches (as prevalent today), but congregations of Christians in various places.

These congregations were independent and self-governing, each having a plurality of elders (also known as bishops and pastors) watching out for their souls (Acts 20:17,28; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

Assisting the elders were deacons who ministered to the needs of the congregation (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13)

The members were dedicated to following the example of the Lord in their daily lives (Ephesians 5:1-2)

The church at Pleasant Run Rd seeks to be such a congregation – a church of Christ- in our community.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR SERVICES?

You can expect to be treated as our honored and respected guest. You will not be embarrassed in any way.

In keeping with our effort to carefully follow the Bible, our worship consists only of those Activities authorized by command or example in the New Testament

First, we offer Bible Classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening for all ages, from age one and up, we offer an opportunity for your systematic study of God’s word. We are blessed to have a group of dedicated men and women who take their teaching of God’s Word seriously and prepare their classes accordingly. However, if your children feel more comfortable sitting with you in the adult class, we certainly understand.

If you visit on Sunday, the first day of the week:

.  We will praise God and edify one another through singing (Colossians 3:16), and offer prayers of supplication and thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

.  There will be a sermon to exhort one another to “continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42).

.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper each Sunday as a memorial of our Savior’s death (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

.  Only on Sunday do we take up a collection and this is so members of the church can give as they have purposed in their hearts (1Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:24-26).

During our services two principles govern all that we do: “Let all things be done for edification”  (1 Corinthians 14:25)

.  “Let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40)

We trust that you will feel welcome at any and all opportunities that you have to visit. If you have comments of questions, feel free to discuss them with us during your visit, or call 972-227-2598 or email us at church@plruncoc.com.

Why not accept this invitation to visit and investigate the church at

Pleasant Run Rd?

 Pleasant Run

Church of Christ

831 Pleasant Run Rd.

Lancaster, TX 75146

972-227-2598

plruncoc.com – web

church@plruncoc.com email

Sunday

Bible Classes 9:30am

Morning Worship 10:20am

Evening Worship 5pm 

Wednesday

Bible Classes 7:30pm

Growing Without Knowing

Growing Without Knowing

“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

– I Timothy 3:15

There is a church in America that is located in almost every city of any appreciable size. Most of its buildings are relatively modest and it ranks among the more prominent churches as far as popularity is concerned. Its growth over the past thirty years has been rather outstanding. Yet strange as it may seem, this church is not aware of its phenomenal growth, neither does its records show that such growth has taken place.

The growth of this church is not due to any great "evangelistic thrust" that it has been waging, nor is it due to outstanding influence in the various communities where it exists. It simply started a trend over a century ago that caused it to blossom and bloom in the years that followed. As time passed, its bloom faded, but the plant remained with no notable blooming during the early years of the twentieth century. However, its seed was still much alive, though apparently dormant for a while.

But alas, a new and vigorous plant began to emerge from the seed of the old plant. This time its growth was even more rapid and more elaborate than the first. Not just a few individuals here and there were attracted to it, but in many cases entire congregations fell before this new blooming plant. Just what is this plant that has such an attractive flower? Well, unbelievable as it may seem, its root is disrespect for Divine authority. Its trunk is a forked thing consisting of centralization and institutionalism. Its branches consist of fellowship halls, recreational annexes, church camps, joy buses, retreats, puppet shows, youth ministers and junior churches for the rowdy little children the joy buses bring in. Its attractive bloom is the Devil's own creation, the social gospel.

There is another strange feature about this new flourishing plant. It does not want to be associated with the one that blossomed and bloomed back in the nineteenth century. It doesn't even want to be called by the same name. Even though it has all the identifying marks of the old plant, it chooses to call itself by a name it has no scriptural right to wear. Surely by now the discerning reader is aware of this great mystery, but in case you have not figured it out, we are going to make it known.

The church that has grown so rapidly over the past thirty years is the First Christian Church. No, its buildings are not overflowing, nor does its records show any phenomenal growth. But the seed it brought forth back in the nineteenth century is now flourishing again. The new plant that now flourishes from the old seed identifies itself as the Church of Christ. Not the one you read about in the New Testament, but one that undeservingly calls itself by that name. Those who now compose this new plant were at one time deserving of this name, but they forsook Divine authority and turned to the same old error of the nineteenth-century apostasy that brought into existence the First Christian Church.

So, in reality, the First Christian Church can lay claim on the various Churches of Christ that now practice centralization, institutionalism, with their fellowship halls, their recreational annexes, their church camps, their joy bus ministries, their retreats, their puppet shows, their youth ministers and their little folk churches. To those of the First Christian Church, we must say that your new offspring doesn't avow its relationship to you, neither will there be many of that number which will frequent your places of worship. But you can be sure that they would feel perfectly at home with you were it not for the instrument of music you use. Perhaps ten more years and even that will cease to be a problem with them. Already we are hearing rumors that some of their preachers are going to start pushing for the instrument.

One last word and we will close this little treatise. Back in the nineteenth century, there were many faithful brethren who had to leave the places of worship they had helped to build and start anew in order to retain respect for Divine authority and continue in the old paths of true New Testament Christianity. The same thing has now been repeated in the twentieth century. So there is yet a remnant in spiritual Israel that have not bowed their knee to Baal, nor will they do so. Their hearts are set on teaching and practicing only that which is clearly authorized in the teaching of Christ. Call them what you will, but they are the ones who remain loyal to the Christ who died for them and continue to rightfully identify themselves as churches of Christ.

Gene Lyles, 1982 

With His Stripes We Are Healed

With His Stripes We Are Healed

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5).  

Of what kind of “healing” did Isaiah speak? Physical? Spiritual?  This is a favorite “proof text” of those who teach that Jesus, through special servants, performs miraculous, physical healing today. But the statements within the verses, the context, the use made of it in the New Testament and New Testament instructions about miracles all show that the thrust of the passage has to do with spiritual healing – forgiveness of sin.

Statements Within the Verses

“He was wounded for our transgressions.” “He was bruised for our iniquities.”

“The chastisement of our peace was upon him.” “With his stripes are we healed.”

It should be evident that “transgressions,” “iniquities,” and “peace” are not referring to physical healing, but to forgiveness of sins, with a resultant right standing with God.

Context

“The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.” (vs. 6).

Verses seven and eight speak of his death and conclude with: “for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”

“It pleased the Lord to bruise him,” and in his death, he was made “an offering for sin.” (vs. 10).

“By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (vs. 11).

“And he bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (vs. 12).

The context is plainly talking of his being “an offering for sin,” so that we can be forgiven of our “iniquities” and “transgressions” and thus stand before our God and Savoir “justified” and at “peace” with him.

The Use Made Of It In The New Testament

First Peter 2:24 applies “by his stripes ye were healed” to Jesus bearing our sins on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live unto righteousness.

Hebrews 9:28 relates his being a sin offering to our salvation.

Second Corinthians 5:21 shows that he was our sin offering “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Acts 8:32-35 has Philip using Isaiah 53 as his text to preach Jesus and baptism in his name.

Luke 22:37 quotes Isaiah 53:12 and in the context of Jesus' betrayal, suffering and death, which death was for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Matthew 27:38, 57-60 fulfills Isaiah 53:9, 12. “He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

All of the above references apply Isaiah 53 to the suffering and death of Jesus, which was for our forgiveness of sins.  But one says: Matthew 8:16-17 applies Isaiah 53:4-5 to Jesus' “healing the sick.” That might be so. But I am not sure that it is. The Septuagint, from which the New Testament quotes freely, gives these verses as follows: “He bears our sins, and is pained for us: yet we accounted him to be in trouble, and in suffering, and in affliction. But he was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and by his bruises we are healed.” Now that does not sound much like Matthew 8:16-17 to me. It is definite that the healing of verse 5 does not refer to the physical, for the healing is accomplished “with his stripes.” And his suffering and death were for our spiritual healing, not physical.  But if Matthew 8:16-17 should refer to Isaiah 53:4-5, it would not prove that Jesus, through his special servants, performs miracles today.

New Testament Instruction About Miracles

That Jesus did, through his special servants, perform miracles, is plainly taught in the New Testament. But that the purpose of these miracles was to confirm the word is also plainly taught. (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:1-4). Thus, when the word was fully confirmed -- revelation completed -- the purpose of miracles was fulfilled and miracles ceased.

With the exception of the apostles being clothed with power to be Jesus' “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth”(Acts 1:8), and those at the house of Cornelius receiving the gift of tongues to convince the Jews that God accepted Gentiles (Acts 10:46-49; 11:14-19), the only way one received the power to work a miracle was by the laying on of an apostles' hands. (Acts 8:18). And it follows as clearly as can be that there is none on earth today on whom an apostle has laid hands. Thus, there is none on earth today through whom Jesus performs miracles. And to try to make Isaiah 53:4-5 teach that Jesus performs miracles today is a manifest misapplication of the passage.

Conclusion

Isaiah 53 shows that God, through Jesus Christ, has provided salvation for man. And providing salvation is one hundred per cent the work of God, through Jesus Christ. Neither you, I, nor all of us combined can add one thing in this category! But whether one accepts the provided salvation is one hundred per cent up to the individual. Neither Deity nor man can do this for one. The individual must make Christ his Lord, that is, the ruler of his life. And this requires response; this means that one is committed to obeying Jesus.

Thanks be to God that he was willing to pay such a price for our salvation. Thanks be to Jesus that he was willing to die for us. Thanks be to the Holy Spirit for his revelation that we may have a directive in life. Oh, how ungrateful is the one who does not lovingly respond. Oh, how glorious are the blessings for the one who does make Christ his Lord, and is justified by him.

Jesse G. Jenkins, 1982