When a Christian runs away from the Lord we say he backslides. But when the Lord "runs" away from a Christian we say he is in the "wilderness" experience. A backslider says, "I don't need you Lord". But a Christian in the wilderness cries out to the Lord, "Lord, where are You". Backsliding is undesirable but wilderness is unavoidable.
God's Purpose for the Wilderness
God would not do anything without a purpose, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. It is good for us to study the Scripture to find out the purposes of God. God, being the Lord of all things, is in control of everything that happens to his people and around His people. There are reasons why He allows His people to experience wilderness, darkness, dryness and dullness in their walk with Him.
Israel in the Wilderness
According to Paul, Christians can learn from the things happened Israel in their wilderness experiences recorded in the writing of Moses:
"These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, ...." (1 Cor. 10:11, NKJV).
Israel's ignorance of God's nature and character caused them to act wickedly, and what was to have been a brief wilderness journey became a lifetime experience. Wilderness was a time of testing for Israel.
God spoke to Israel through Moses:
"And you shall remember the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not" (Deu. 8:2).
The purpose of the testing was to humble Israel and to find out whether they were obedient to the Lord or not.
In the time of testing the Lord caused Israel to hunger for the good things of Egypt - meat, fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, garlic and onions (Numbers 11:4 - 6). He did not give them the things their flesh wanted. He only gave them what their flesh needed (Deu. 8:3).
The Lord said further that by this testing Israel would know in their heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord their God chastened them (Deu. 8:5).
Israel remembered what they had left behind in Egypt (speaks of the world sytem). Their condition in Egypt, even with its bondage, appeared to be preferable to the wilderness into which God had led them.
Israel began to murmur and cried out to the Lord for meat. The result was:
"And He (God) gave them their request, so they ate (meat - quail) and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but (He) sent leanness into their soul" (Psalms 106:15; 78:29, 30, NKJV, emphasis added).
Israel paid a high price for what they wanted. With the meat came "leanness of soul". This leanness made them unfit to endure, unable to pass God's test, and ultimately, they never entered His promised land. The sin was not in the crying out for meat, but what that request represented - the desire for the former things, things the world system provided.
The Church in the Wilderness
All true Christians go through a period of wilderness experience in at least one stage of their Spiritual Journey. Christians are now living in the last of the last days. God wants His people to understand the times and seasons so that we are prepared to depend on Him for His harvest.
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: ..."(Eccl. 3:1).
Jesus rebuked the multitudes for failing to discern the time, "Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time" (Luke 12:56)?
Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament foretold the advent (first coming) of Jesus the Lord who is like a Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2).
"He (the Lord) will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness" (Malachi 3:3, emphasis added).
Notice that the "sons of Levi" foreshadows the "the royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), which is the Church. God desires to purify Christians and to prepare them as "an offering in righteousness" - a generation of believers that walk right with Him.
Jesus is coming back for a Church that is pure, without spot, or any such impurity (Eph. 5:27), a Church whose heart is unpolluted with the world's system - fit to be His Bride.
The Refiner's Fire
What is the fire He uses to refine Christians? The answer is found in the following passage:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6, 7, emphasis added).
The reason God wants to refine His people is that, He considers the genuineness of our faith, while waiting for the second coming of Jesus, is much more precious that gold that perishes. The fire God uses for refining our faith is various trials and tribulations. Once we are refined the world will see the character of Christ in us!
In Isaiah the need of refining is amplified to a greater degree:
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another" (Isaiah 48:10, 11).
The fire in God's furnace is not a literal physical fire that refines silver, but the intense heat of our trials which separates the precious from the vile. it is for His Name sake (mentioned twice) that our character conforms to the Character of Christ after the refining process.
That is the reason why Christians must be joyful when they fall into various trials:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2, 3, emphasis added).
It is not easy be joyfull in the time of trials. But the Scripture says, "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is a spiritual force that gives us strength to endure afflictions and trials. The various trials could be persecution, temptations, calamities and crises of any kind. Notice that "patience" is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Notice also that James' writing is in agreement with Paul's:
"We also glory in tributlations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3, 4).
Once again Christ-like character is the goal of the Refiner's Fire!
Crises bring Christians closer to Christ
I believe God is going to let crises come. Crises do not tell us what we have but what we don't have. Crises reveal our weaknesses, our emptiness and how much we need Him. He is going to test our Christianity and He is going to test our faith in Him. He lets crises mount in our life until we feel like we are in utter despair. He sometimes begins to deal with us by withdrawing Himself from us. He is still there, but He is just not letting our emotions feel He is not there. That is why we must learn to live by our spirit instead of by our emotion (part of our soul). He wants us to live by faith of the son of God that is within us - it is His faith and not our wavering faith. He wants us to live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) for the "just shall live by faith" (Heb. 10:38).
Crises come into our life to move us into Christ. He, being the Head of the Church, is not happy with our religious Church activities, our self-willed routine. He wants our carnal nature brought to surrender by the cross. He wants us to walk in the Spirit so that we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).
In a crisis we are broken enough to be totally dependent upon Him and He begins to teach us His way. Sometimes He will let us come to the end of ourselves to cry out to Him, "Why God, why me God?". Not all of us take the same route to Calvary. Some of us take a longer way than others because of our fleshly nature, our stubbornness and our rebellions.
Remember the prodigal son (Luke 15:11 - 24). The Lord knew, the father knew, what he wanted with his inheritance. He knew he would spend it riotously, but his father gave it to him anyway even though he knew it would only be to his harm. He had to let him come to the end of himself, to have his carnal nature crucified, before the Father could trust him with the rich provisions of His grace.
Wilderness and Unanswered Prayer
Unanswered prayer does not mean we do not get what we asked God for in our prayer. This is not the real problem. The real problem is sometimes we don't get a reply from God!
There are many ways by which God might answer my prayer. I could be in a situation that I am quite convinced that I want something and I ask for it. The answer God gives me could be, "No you can't have it, it's not good for you", or His answer could be, "Wait, the time is not ready". But that is not the real problem because there have been an answer and I know for certain that God heard my prayer. The real problem is, when the heaven seems like brass and I feel God is not listening and I am not getting through to Him! God deliberately chooses not to reply me. This is what I mean wilderness in my prayer life.
The Lord allows me to experience this wilderness in my prayer life because he wants me to learn not to be complacent and take for granted the answered prayers. He wants me to increase my prayer effort and to move up in the "School" of prayer. He seems to say:
"Try a bit harder, I want you to grow, I want you to mature, plead a bit more. I'm going to hold back because I want you to grow in the School of Prayer and I want you to be a strong pray-er. Do not take my presence and blessing of answered prayers for granted. Put more effort in your prayer life and never give up. I want you to love Me for My own sake and I want you to seek me whether I'm there or not. I want you to learn!"
Our response to God should be:
"Yes Lord, whether I hear from You or not I have decided to go on through this wilderness experience, this season of darkness and dryness, this season of waiting and hoping. Thank you Lord for teaching me something very precious".
At the far end of the dark tunnel of wilderness, seasons of trials and tribulations is the dawn of God. The God who gave Israel, in the days of their wilderness experience, the Promised Land is the same God who gives His Church a Land of Promises!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Understanding Backsliding
A backslider is someone who knows God and seeks after God but subsequently turns away from Him. To backslide is to revert back to a life of sin, immorality and wrong doings. The word "backsliding" is used in the Old Testament Scripture to describe Israel's turning away from the Lord. There is no mention of backsliding in the New Testament Scripture, but that does not mean that there are no backsliding Christians. The Scripture uses other terms like "falling away" or "walking in darkness" to describe backsliding.
It is intersting to study the nature and consequences of Israel's backsliding and God's remedy so that we can learn from it and apply the same remedy to the Church and to individual Christians.
Old Testament Backsliding
Backsliding Israel - According to Jeremiah and Ezekiel
The first mention of backsliding in the Old Testament is in the Book of Jeremiah:
The Lord spoke through Jeremiah when Israel has forsaken the Lord, "Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you" (Jer. 2:19, NIV).
Later on the Lord said he would heal Israel's unfaithfulness and backsliding. And Israel promised to return to the Lord:
"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God" (Jer. 3:22, NIV).
Backsliding is sin
"Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you" (Jer. 14:7, NIV, emphasis added).
Notice that Israel knowingly and willfully sinned against God. It seems they could not help their backsliding and wanted the Lord to "do something" to heal their backsliding.
Backsliding is rejecting God
"You have rejected me," declares the Lord. "You keep on backsliding" (Jer. 15:6, NIV, emphasis added).
Backsliding is defiling oneself with idols
"They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel 37:23, NIV, emphasis added).
Backsliding Israel - According to Isaiah
Isaiah Chapter 59 contains a terrible list of the sins of God's backsliding people. I believe this Chapter is written to backsliders, to people who know God but subsequently turn from Him, to people who are religious but in rebellion against God. What amazes me is that these backsliders acknowledged and confessed their own sinful condition and yet repentance was not found! They would not turn from their wicked ways!
"For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them" (Isaiah 59:12, NKJV).
Read Isaiah 59:13 - 15 you'll find it contains a list of Israel's sins and transgressions:
1. Lack of justice and righteousness.
2. They rejected the truth and inequity was found in their hearts.
3. Those who were righteous, who departed from their evil ways became the prey of the backsliders. They wanted everyone to join in their backsliding. Those who refused to follow them were persecuted.
God's remedy for backsliding Israel
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him" (Isaiah 59:16, emphasis added).
Notice that the fearful list of transgression and the failure of God's people came to its climax with the statement, "There was no intercessor" - just one intercessor, Just someone to "come between" as a mediator.
The sin of His people was so great that He needs someone who is qualified to save the nation from the calamities which their sins deserved. Since He could not find a qualified human mediator (intercessor) for Israel "His own arm brought salvation for Him" - He became the Mediator Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ!
New Testament Backsliding
It is interesting to note that believers are already provided with the Intercessor, Jesus Christ, "the High Priest of our confession" (Hebrews 3:1) who always live to make intercession for them. So, what is God's remedy for Christians who backslide?
We must study the nature of Christian's backsliding after they have received "the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4) before we can answer the above question.
There are two stages of backsliding - backsliding as a "state" and apostasy:
Backsliding - as a "state" in the Christian walk
Backsliding involves the change of the believer's state but not his standing before God. The former is variable and depends upon his daily walk with God and many other factors of his spiritual life. Standing, by contrast, refers to the believer's position "in Christ", which is grounded in the unchangeable and perfect work of Christ for the believer. Faith in Christ secures his standing:
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
The "state" describes the changing and imperfect condition of the believer's soul from moment to moment as affected by backsliding on one hand or spiritual progress on the other. For example, if in a period of time, a believer fails to walk in the light he is in danger of backsliding:
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
This means the believer sins against God by walking in darkness instead of walking in the light. This causes him to break off fellowship with other believers. The remedy for this backsliding condition is confession:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Backsliding as a state of the Christian walk rarely leads to death and we who are in the light must pray for those who had committed sin that does not lead to death:
"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death" (1 John 5:16).
Other symptoms of backsliding and signs of falling away from the Christian faith are those described by Paul in his epistles to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:1 - 5 and 2 Tim. 3:1 - 5).
James said, "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19, 20).
The implication is that the intercessor has the ability to deliver a backsliding believer from the error of his way through prayer. This is consistent to God's remedy for backsliding Israel - the need of an intercessor.
Apostasy
Apostasy is more than falling away from the Christian faith. Apostasy is the determined, willful rejection of Christ, His teachings and commands. Not every act of apostasy is beyond restoration and not every sin of apostasy is "leading to death" (1 John 5:16).
Apostasy not leading to death
Here are some examples of apostasy not leading to death:
1. Hymenaeus and Alexander who rejected their faith and good conscience. They are said to have "suffered shipwreck" of their faith (1 Tim. 1:19, 20).
2. Those who are "the enemies of the cross of Christ":
"Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things" (Phil. 3:19).
3. Those who are "in opposition":
"In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having heen taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:25, 26).
Apostasy leading to death
The writer of Hebrews said, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26, 27).
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4 - 6, emphasis added).
The above describes the type of sin that John said:
"There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about it" (1 John 5:16).
Before a Christian could be guilty of committing the sin unto death, all five conditions mentioned in this Scripture would have to apply to him:
1. He is enlightened about the truth of God's Word which means he is not in darkness.
2. He has tasted the heavenly gift. Jesus is the Heavenly Gift. That means he is not a new believer and he knows Christ in a certain extent.
3. He is a partaker of the Holy Spirit. He has received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit at one time.
4. He has tasted the good Word of God. He is not a "baby" Christian. He is mature enough to take the solid meat of God's Word.
5. He has tasted the power of the age (or world) to come. He has the gifts of the Spirit operating in his life and ministry.
I believe very few Christians could qualify to be guilty of committing the unpardonable sin - sin leading to death (1 John 5:16).
The only example I can think of is "the antichrist", "the man of sin" or "the son of perdition" that Paul described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The antichrist is not only someone who is "against Christ" but also someone who claims to be Christ and takes the place of Christ. He is a "false Christ" or a "counterfeit Christ". He must have been a genuine Christian believer before he turns away from Him, for otherwise he does not know how to imitate Christ convincingly!
Why the unpardonable sin leads to death?
The truth is he who rejects Christ rejects the Intercessor.
Paul said, "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34, emphasis added).
When Christ the Intercessor is rejected all other intercessors are likewise rejected. Note that Christians are able to intercede for others according to the will of God because Christ is our Intercessor.
This is the reason why John said, "There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about this" (1 John 5:16).
In other words, it is futile to intercede for someone who has committed sin that leads to death because this sinner has already rejected all intercessors!
When there is no Intercessor or when the Intercessor is rejected there is no healing and restoration for the backsliders and apostates! - An important spiritual law.
It is intersting to study the nature and consequences of Israel's backsliding and God's remedy so that we can learn from it and apply the same remedy to the Church and to individual Christians.
Old Testament Backsliding
Backsliding Israel - According to Jeremiah and Ezekiel
The first mention of backsliding in the Old Testament is in the Book of Jeremiah:
The Lord spoke through Jeremiah when Israel has forsaken the Lord, "Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you" (Jer. 2:19, NIV).
Later on the Lord said he would heal Israel's unfaithfulness and backsliding. And Israel promised to return to the Lord:
"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God" (Jer. 3:22, NIV).
Backsliding is sin
"Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you" (Jer. 14:7, NIV, emphasis added).
Notice that Israel knowingly and willfully sinned against God. It seems they could not help their backsliding and wanted the Lord to "do something" to heal their backsliding.
Backsliding is rejecting God
"You have rejected me," declares the Lord. "You keep on backsliding" (Jer. 15:6, NIV, emphasis added).
Backsliding is defiling oneself with idols
"They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel 37:23, NIV, emphasis added).
Backsliding Israel - According to Isaiah
Isaiah Chapter 59 contains a terrible list of the sins of God's backsliding people. I believe this Chapter is written to backsliders, to people who know God but subsequently turn from Him, to people who are religious but in rebellion against God. What amazes me is that these backsliders acknowledged and confessed their own sinful condition and yet repentance was not found! They would not turn from their wicked ways!
"For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them" (Isaiah 59:12, NKJV).
Read Isaiah 59:13 - 15 you'll find it contains a list of Israel's sins and transgressions:
1. Lack of justice and righteousness.
2. They rejected the truth and inequity was found in their hearts.
3. Those who were righteous, who departed from their evil ways became the prey of the backsliders. They wanted everyone to join in their backsliding. Those who refused to follow them were persecuted.
God's remedy for backsliding Israel
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him" (Isaiah 59:16, emphasis added).
Notice that the fearful list of transgression and the failure of God's people came to its climax with the statement, "There was no intercessor" - just one intercessor, Just someone to "come between" as a mediator.
The sin of His people was so great that He needs someone who is qualified to save the nation from the calamities which their sins deserved. Since He could not find a qualified human mediator (intercessor) for Israel "His own arm brought salvation for Him" - He became the Mediator Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ!
New Testament Backsliding
It is interesting to note that believers are already provided with the Intercessor, Jesus Christ, "the High Priest of our confession" (Hebrews 3:1) who always live to make intercession for them. So, what is God's remedy for Christians who backslide?
We must study the nature of Christian's backsliding after they have received "the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4) before we can answer the above question.
There are two stages of backsliding - backsliding as a "state" and apostasy:
Backsliding - as a "state" in the Christian walk
Backsliding involves the change of the believer's state but not his standing before God. The former is variable and depends upon his daily walk with God and many other factors of his spiritual life. Standing, by contrast, refers to the believer's position "in Christ", which is grounded in the unchangeable and perfect work of Christ for the believer. Faith in Christ secures his standing:
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
The "state" describes the changing and imperfect condition of the believer's soul from moment to moment as affected by backsliding on one hand or spiritual progress on the other. For example, if in a period of time, a believer fails to walk in the light he is in danger of backsliding:
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
This means the believer sins against God by walking in darkness instead of walking in the light. This causes him to break off fellowship with other believers. The remedy for this backsliding condition is confession:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Backsliding as a state of the Christian walk rarely leads to death and we who are in the light must pray for those who had committed sin that does not lead to death:
"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death" (1 John 5:16).
Other symptoms of backsliding and signs of falling away from the Christian faith are those described by Paul in his epistles to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:1 - 5 and 2 Tim. 3:1 - 5).
James said, "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19, 20).
The implication is that the intercessor has the ability to deliver a backsliding believer from the error of his way through prayer. This is consistent to God's remedy for backsliding Israel - the need of an intercessor.
Apostasy
Apostasy is more than falling away from the Christian faith. Apostasy is the determined, willful rejection of Christ, His teachings and commands. Not every act of apostasy is beyond restoration and not every sin of apostasy is "leading to death" (1 John 5:16).
Apostasy not leading to death
Here are some examples of apostasy not leading to death:
1. Hymenaeus and Alexander who rejected their faith and good conscience. They are said to have "suffered shipwreck" of their faith (1 Tim. 1:19, 20).
2. Those who are "the enemies of the cross of Christ":
"Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things" (Phil. 3:19).
3. Those who are "in opposition":
"In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having heen taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:25, 26).
Apostasy leading to death
The writer of Hebrews said, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26, 27).
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4 - 6, emphasis added).
The above describes the type of sin that John said:
"There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about it" (1 John 5:16).
Before a Christian could be guilty of committing the sin unto death, all five conditions mentioned in this Scripture would have to apply to him:
1. He is enlightened about the truth of God's Word which means he is not in darkness.
2. He has tasted the heavenly gift. Jesus is the Heavenly Gift. That means he is not a new believer and he knows Christ in a certain extent.
3. He is a partaker of the Holy Spirit. He has received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit at one time.
4. He has tasted the good Word of God. He is not a "baby" Christian. He is mature enough to take the solid meat of God's Word.
5. He has tasted the power of the age (or world) to come. He has the gifts of the Spirit operating in his life and ministry.
I believe very few Christians could qualify to be guilty of committing the unpardonable sin - sin leading to death (1 John 5:16).
The only example I can think of is "the antichrist", "the man of sin" or "the son of perdition" that Paul described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The antichrist is not only someone who is "against Christ" but also someone who claims to be Christ and takes the place of Christ. He is a "false Christ" or a "counterfeit Christ". He must have been a genuine Christian believer before he turns away from Him, for otherwise he does not know how to imitate Christ convincingly!
Why the unpardonable sin leads to death?
The truth is he who rejects Christ rejects the Intercessor.
Paul said, "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34, emphasis added).
When Christ the Intercessor is rejected all other intercessors are likewise rejected. Note that Christians are able to intercede for others according to the will of God because Christ is our Intercessor.
This is the reason why John said, "There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about this" (1 John 5:16).
In other words, it is futile to intercede for someone who has committed sin that leads to death because this sinner has already rejected all intercessors!
When there is no Intercessor or when the Intercessor is rejected there is no healing and restoration for the backsliders and apostates! - An important spiritual law.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
The Evil Work of Witchcraft
I am talking about witchcraft of a different kind. The kind that works in the individual life and in the Church. The kind that Paul talks about in his epistle to the Churches of Galatia:
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus was clearly portrayed among you as crucified" (Galatians 3:1, NKJV, emphasis added)?
The Galatians have been bewitched by an evil force working in the Church to obscure what Jesus Christ has done on the Cross. The work of witchcraft caused the Galatians to turn away from the true Gospel to a different gospel (Gal. 1:7).
One of Satan's tactics is to obscure what happened on the Cross. Satan does not want the Church to know he has been completely defeated by what Christ has done on the Cross. The evil force that obscured the work of the Cross is called in the Bible, witchcraft.
I believe the contemporary Church, in a certain extent, is in the condition stated by Paul in Galatians 3:1. Christians might not pursue an obvious form of "different" gospel, but once the Church loses sight of what was accomplished on the cross, the Church no longer able to administer Jesus' victory over Satan! The Church then becomes weak, blinded, religious, complacent, worldly and an easy target for wrong doctrines.
The Work of witchcraft in the Church and in the Lives of Believers
Witchcraft is an illegitimate power that supports and illegitimate authority. The power behind witchcraft is a supplanter or a usurper. So, God's ordained authority is set aside by man's rebellion and another authority is set in its place. This authority is maintained by the supernatural power of witchcraft.
Witchcraft does its work in the soul realm of Christian (Please refer to my earlier messages concerning Spirit, Soul and Body). As a result the following things can happen:
1. The Spiritual is supplanted by the Carnal
Isaac (speaks of the spiritual) was supplanted by Ishmael (speaks of the carnal). When carnality takes the place of spirituality in the Church, every decision made by the carnal mind is by voting and consensus independent from the leading of the Holy Spirit. Instead of excercising discernment the Chruch does what seems good or right to men.
Paul said, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
In other words, those who are not led by the Spirit of God mignt not be the sons of God. All sons of God must depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2. Revelation is supplanted by Theology
Revelation is spiritual but theology is soulish. Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit, but theology comes from human intellect through reasoning.
3. Discipleship is supplanted by Education
Education teaches people's mind, but discipleship trains people's character. Just to educate the mind of a person without training his character is to promote disasters - lawlessness.
Paul said, "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).
If you just get people into a religious atmosphere and educate their carnal mind independent of God, what you are educating are enemies of God. The finished products are educated enemies of God. Major seminaries and Bible schools are educating the carnal mind of Christians by carnal minded professors and lecturers.
4. Discernment is supplanted by Psychology
Much of the teachings in the Church is based on books written by Christian psychologies or psychologists with Christian background. Some of these materials are good but spiritual discernment is needed to ensure such materials are food for the spiritual mind and not the carnal mind which must be starved to death. We must let the spiritual overcomes the carnal.
Paul said, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
Psychology is the study of the human mind (part of the human soul). It does not understand the human spirit. The Bible is the only book that feeds the human spirit.
5. Supernatural Power is supplanted by Eloquence
Paul said, "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:4, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the power of God must not be supplanted by wisdom of men.
6. Headship of Man is supplanted by Women in the Home and in the Church
Paul gave the principle of Headship in the Church and in the Christian home in 1 Corinthians:
"The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3).
The Divine Order is : "God, Christ, man and woman" and NOT "God, Christ, woman and man"!
(Please read my earlier posting: "Divine Authority and Headship" - 1st March 2005)
Paul reminded Timothy of the above principle, "And I do not permit a woman to teach (in the Church) or to have authority over a man, ..." (1 Tim. 2:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
It is impossible to appoint a woman to pastor a Local Church without disobeying the divine principle of Headship!
Many Christian homes have also violated this divine principle. Here is a classic example:
I know a Christian home where the wife is the head of all things. She makes all decisions in all areas concerning the needs of the family - in managing family budget, spending in eating out, paying of bills, children's education needs, holiday plan and plan for buying a new car or shifting to a new house etc. Her hasband receives pocket money from her. She checks his wallet regularly and she'll take back any unspent money! He enjoys no privacy at all.
This family is living in total disobedience to what Paul said to the Christians in Ephesus:
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is head of wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything (Eph. 5:22 - 24, emphasis added).
The above is not a complete list, but the examples are sufficient to show the power of witchcraft at work in the Church of Jesus Christ and in the Christian homes!
Manipulation is a form of Witchcraft
Manipulation is a form of witchcraft in disguise. The root of manipulation and all other forms of witchcraft is rebellion.
Samuel told Saul why the Lord has rejected him as king:
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king" (1 Samuel 15:22, 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
Not only is rebellion as sinful as witchcraft but both are related forms of apostasy. Rebellion being denial of God's authority, and witchcraft is the recognition of another supernatural power distinct from God.
When you manipulate someone you cause that person to do the things you want that person to do. In other words, you influent that person to do your will. Manipulation is a form of witchcraft because it uses human wisdom and authority (independent from God) to change a person or a situation.
Manipulation is not the will of God. God Himself never manipulates us, and He never authorizes us to manipulate other people either. Whenever we resort to manipulation, we have passed from the realm of the spiritual to that of the soulish. We are operating in a form of wisdom that is not from above (James 3:15).
Manipulations in the Christian Family
1. Parents manipulate children
You might have heard a mother said to her child, "If you want mommy to love you, go and water the plants".
The mother was exploiting affection - letting her child to believe that her mother's love for her depends on her good behavior. The fact is children need not earn the love of parents.
2. Children manipulate parents
Every child is born with a rebellious nature. No one needs to learn how to be a rebel. As an example, a child knows when no visitors are around her mother would not allow her to do certain things. So, the child waits until her grandmother comes for a visit. Then she would do the things she likes to do knowing that her mother would not refuse her in front of a visitor.
Another form of manipulation is by crying and throwing of tantrum to seek attention. By not checking the children's manipulative behavior is to starting them on a bad course through life. When they become adults they become a terror to their families.
3. A wife manipulates her husband and vice versa
Withholding sexual relation or offering sexual relation in exhange for a favor. This is forbidden by Scripture:
Paul said, "Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (1 Cor. 7:3, 4).
Manipulations in the Church
1. Appealing for money
One common technique used by the preacher of the "prosperity gospel" is motivated by guilt and fear - make people offer money out of the sense of fear and guilt.
(Please read my earlier posting - "Can a Christian commit the unpardonable sin?" - 14th March 2005)
A preacher came to a local Church said, "The Lord told me, some of you businessmen failed in your business last year because you did not tithe properly to this Church. Now, make sure you do not make the same mistake again this year or worse things might come upon you!"
2. Manipulation through fear and threat
A pastor was heard saying to a Church member, "Now hear this, if you leave this Church you'll never prosper".
This pastor has unknowingly invoked a curse on the Church member who was thinking of leaving the Church.
3. Manipulation through the demand of unquestioned loyalty
The same pastor said, "I'm your pastor, you have to obey me. If you don't obey me you're disobeying God"!
This is a lie - The pastor makes himself equal to God.
4. Manipulation through prayer
It is foolish to assume that prayer is always acceptable and its effects are always good. The Bible says otherwise - we can sin against God with our careless praryer.
Solomon warned us, "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination" (Proverbs 28:9, emphasis added).
The phrase "hearing the law" does not merely mean "hearing and obeying Moses Law".
This also means "the law and the will of God". The will of God is revealed by the Holy Spirit, our divine Helper. What Proverbs 28:9 says is:
"Unless our prayer is led by the Holy Spirit it would not be acceptable to God". Apart from the Holy Spirit we are incapable of praying in a way that will please God and accomplish His purpose.
Paul explained this divine principle clearly in Romans 8:26, 27.
Here is a classic example. Irene (not her real name), the only Christian girl in her family, wants to marry her Christian boyfriend Michael (not his real name). But her non-Christian father would not allow her. So, Michael went to see his pastor and requests the Church to pray that Irene's father would change his mind. If prayer is made according to the wishes of Michael, this is a perfect example of manipulation. First of all the Church does not know Michael's integrity. Secondly, no one knows, except Michael and Irene, the reasons why Irene's father objected the marriage. Irene's father is in a far better position to know more than the Church concerning his own daughter's plan for the future.
The right thing to do is to get someone from the Church to share the Gospel to Irene's father and pray for his salvation. And then the pastor can start to counsel the whole family including Irene and Michael. Whatever the outcome, let God's will be done.
Paul's Remedy
Just to understand what Jesus has done on the cross for us is not good enough. We must learn how to appropriate the work of the cross in us - This is Paul's remedy for those who are deceived by witchcraft:
"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, it is God's will and purpose to deliver his people from the "present evil age". The Amplified Bible says, "present world order" and the King James says, "evil world".
The present world order is an order that is in rebellion against God. But, the Church is a group of people called out from the world (1 Peter 2:9,10). The Church is in the world but not of the world.
Jesus said, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19, emphasis added).
Notice the word "world" occurs five times in the above verse. Jesus has taken us, the Church out of the world, we have no reason to get back into the world again. Or even worse, let the world gets into the Church. Therefore, we must not be complacent if the world does not hate us. If the world is more than half inside the Church there is no reason for the world to hate its own!
I strongly believe God is going to take His true Church (the Bride of Christ) Home just like He took His Son, Jesus Christ Home - by way of the Cross with persecutions, trials, sufferings and tribulations!
Are we ready for it?
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus was clearly portrayed among you as crucified" (Galatians 3:1, NKJV, emphasis added)?
The Galatians have been bewitched by an evil force working in the Church to obscure what Jesus Christ has done on the Cross. The work of witchcraft caused the Galatians to turn away from the true Gospel to a different gospel (Gal. 1:7).
One of Satan's tactics is to obscure what happened on the Cross. Satan does not want the Church to know he has been completely defeated by what Christ has done on the Cross. The evil force that obscured the work of the Cross is called in the Bible, witchcraft.
I believe the contemporary Church, in a certain extent, is in the condition stated by Paul in Galatians 3:1. Christians might not pursue an obvious form of "different" gospel, but once the Church loses sight of what was accomplished on the cross, the Church no longer able to administer Jesus' victory over Satan! The Church then becomes weak, blinded, religious, complacent, worldly and an easy target for wrong doctrines.
The Work of witchcraft in the Church and in the Lives of Believers
Witchcraft is an illegitimate power that supports and illegitimate authority. The power behind witchcraft is a supplanter or a usurper. So, God's ordained authority is set aside by man's rebellion and another authority is set in its place. This authority is maintained by the supernatural power of witchcraft.
Witchcraft does its work in the soul realm of Christian (Please refer to my earlier messages concerning Spirit, Soul and Body). As a result the following things can happen:
1. The Spiritual is supplanted by the Carnal
Isaac (speaks of the spiritual) was supplanted by Ishmael (speaks of the carnal). When carnality takes the place of spirituality in the Church, every decision made by the carnal mind is by voting and consensus independent from the leading of the Holy Spirit. Instead of excercising discernment the Chruch does what seems good or right to men.
Paul said, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
In other words, those who are not led by the Spirit of God mignt not be the sons of God. All sons of God must depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2. Revelation is supplanted by Theology
Revelation is spiritual but theology is soulish. Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit, but theology comes from human intellect through reasoning.
3. Discipleship is supplanted by Education
Education teaches people's mind, but discipleship trains people's character. Just to educate the mind of a person without training his character is to promote disasters - lawlessness.
Paul said, "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).
If you just get people into a religious atmosphere and educate their carnal mind independent of God, what you are educating are enemies of God. The finished products are educated enemies of God. Major seminaries and Bible schools are educating the carnal mind of Christians by carnal minded professors and lecturers.
4. Discernment is supplanted by Psychology
Much of the teachings in the Church is based on books written by Christian psychologies or psychologists with Christian background. Some of these materials are good but spiritual discernment is needed to ensure such materials are food for the spiritual mind and not the carnal mind which must be starved to death. We must let the spiritual overcomes the carnal.
Paul said, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
Psychology is the study of the human mind (part of the human soul). It does not understand the human spirit. The Bible is the only book that feeds the human spirit.
5. Supernatural Power is supplanted by Eloquence
Paul said, "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:4, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the power of God must not be supplanted by wisdom of men.
6. Headship of Man is supplanted by Women in the Home and in the Church
Paul gave the principle of Headship in the Church and in the Christian home in 1 Corinthians:
"The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3).
The Divine Order is : "God, Christ, man and woman" and NOT "God, Christ, woman and man"!
(Please read my earlier posting: "Divine Authority and Headship" - 1st March 2005)
Paul reminded Timothy of the above principle, "And I do not permit a woman to teach (in the Church) or to have authority over a man, ..." (1 Tim. 2:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
It is impossible to appoint a woman to pastor a Local Church without disobeying the divine principle of Headship!
Many Christian homes have also violated this divine principle. Here is a classic example:
I know a Christian home where the wife is the head of all things. She makes all decisions in all areas concerning the needs of the family - in managing family budget, spending in eating out, paying of bills, children's education needs, holiday plan and plan for buying a new car or shifting to a new house etc. Her hasband receives pocket money from her. She checks his wallet regularly and she'll take back any unspent money! He enjoys no privacy at all.
This family is living in total disobedience to what Paul said to the Christians in Ephesus:
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is head of wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything (Eph. 5:22 - 24, emphasis added).
The above is not a complete list, but the examples are sufficient to show the power of witchcraft at work in the Church of Jesus Christ and in the Christian homes!
Manipulation is a form of Witchcraft
Manipulation is a form of witchcraft in disguise. The root of manipulation and all other forms of witchcraft is rebellion.
Samuel told Saul why the Lord has rejected him as king:
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king" (1 Samuel 15:22, 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
Not only is rebellion as sinful as witchcraft but both are related forms of apostasy. Rebellion being denial of God's authority, and witchcraft is the recognition of another supernatural power distinct from God.
When you manipulate someone you cause that person to do the things you want that person to do. In other words, you influent that person to do your will. Manipulation is a form of witchcraft because it uses human wisdom and authority (independent from God) to change a person or a situation.
Manipulation is not the will of God. God Himself never manipulates us, and He never authorizes us to manipulate other people either. Whenever we resort to manipulation, we have passed from the realm of the spiritual to that of the soulish. We are operating in a form of wisdom that is not from above (James 3:15).
Manipulations in the Christian Family
1. Parents manipulate children
You might have heard a mother said to her child, "If you want mommy to love you, go and water the plants".
The mother was exploiting affection - letting her child to believe that her mother's love for her depends on her good behavior. The fact is children need not earn the love of parents.
2. Children manipulate parents
Every child is born with a rebellious nature. No one needs to learn how to be a rebel. As an example, a child knows when no visitors are around her mother would not allow her to do certain things. So, the child waits until her grandmother comes for a visit. Then she would do the things she likes to do knowing that her mother would not refuse her in front of a visitor.
Another form of manipulation is by crying and throwing of tantrum to seek attention. By not checking the children's manipulative behavior is to starting them on a bad course through life. When they become adults they become a terror to their families.
3. A wife manipulates her husband and vice versa
Withholding sexual relation or offering sexual relation in exhange for a favor. This is forbidden by Scripture:
Paul said, "Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (1 Cor. 7:3, 4).
Manipulations in the Church
1. Appealing for money
One common technique used by the preacher of the "prosperity gospel" is motivated by guilt and fear - make people offer money out of the sense of fear and guilt.
(Please read my earlier posting - "Can a Christian commit the unpardonable sin?" - 14th March 2005)
A preacher came to a local Church said, "The Lord told me, some of you businessmen failed in your business last year because you did not tithe properly to this Church. Now, make sure you do not make the same mistake again this year or worse things might come upon you!"
2. Manipulation through fear and threat
A pastor was heard saying to a Church member, "Now hear this, if you leave this Church you'll never prosper".
This pastor has unknowingly invoked a curse on the Church member who was thinking of leaving the Church.
3. Manipulation through the demand of unquestioned loyalty
The same pastor said, "I'm your pastor, you have to obey me. If you don't obey me you're disobeying God"!
This is a lie - The pastor makes himself equal to God.
4. Manipulation through prayer
It is foolish to assume that prayer is always acceptable and its effects are always good. The Bible says otherwise - we can sin against God with our careless praryer.
Solomon warned us, "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination" (Proverbs 28:9, emphasis added).
The phrase "hearing the law" does not merely mean "hearing and obeying Moses Law".
This also means "the law and the will of God". The will of God is revealed by the Holy Spirit, our divine Helper. What Proverbs 28:9 says is:
"Unless our prayer is led by the Holy Spirit it would not be acceptable to God". Apart from the Holy Spirit we are incapable of praying in a way that will please God and accomplish His purpose.
Paul explained this divine principle clearly in Romans 8:26, 27.
Here is a classic example. Irene (not her real name), the only Christian girl in her family, wants to marry her Christian boyfriend Michael (not his real name). But her non-Christian father would not allow her. So, Michael went to see his pastor and requests the Church to pray that Irene's father would change his mind. If prayer is made according to the wishes of Michael, this is a perfect example of manipulation. First of all the Church does not know Michael's integrity. Secondly, no one knows, except Michael and Irene, the reasons why Irene's father objected the marriage. Irene's father is in a far better position to know more than the Church concerning his own daughter's plan for the future.
The right thing to do is to get someone from the Church to share the Gospel to Irene's father and pray for his salvation. And then the pastor can start to counsel the whole family including Irene and Michael. Whatever the outcome, let God's will be done.
Paul's Remedy
Just to understand what Jesus has done on the cross for us is not good enough. We must learn how to appropriate the work of the cross in us - This is Paul's remedy for those who are deceived by witchcraft:
"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, it is God's will and purpose to deliver his people from the "present evil age". The Amplified Bible says, "present world order" and the King James says, "evil world".
The present world order is an order that is in rebellion against God. But, the Church is a group of people called out from the world (1 Peter 2:9,10). The Church is in the world but not of the world.
Jesus said, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19, emphasis added).
Notice the word "world" occurs five times in the above verse. Jesus has taken us, the Church out of the world, we have no reason to get back into the world again. Or even worse, let the world gets into the Church. Therefore, we must not be complacent if the world does not hate us. If the world is more than half inside the Church there is no reason for the world to hate its own!
I strongly believe God is going to take His true Church (the Bride of Christ) Home just like He took His Son, Jesus Christ Home - by way of the Cross with persecutions, trials, sufferings and tribulations!
Are we ready for it?
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Seek First the Kingdom of God
While delivering the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their needs of material things - food, drink and clothing. These are the things the Gentiles seek after. Jesus' disciples are to place God's Kingdom first and to live with faith that God will provide all their needs.
Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, God will supply all your needs including those things that Gentiles seek after. But, you must, above all else, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Notice that there is a condition attached here - any Christian who fails to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteouness, God might not supply all his needs!
The first thing Jesus commanded us to do is to seek. To seek something requires effort. It involves diligent search and persistent work. We do not sit back and wait for God to drop it in our laps.
Every Christian knows that we are all saved by grace through faith and not by work (Eph. 2:8). But we start to work toward a goal in our Christian living after we are saved. This goal is two-fold - To seek the Kingdom of God and God's righteousness. These are the priorities of the Christian life.
Seeking the Kingdom of God
Christians need to understand that only believers have the desire and ability to seek the Kingdom of God. An unbeliever will never seek the true God, (please refer to my ealier posting "Who seeks God?" - 25th Feb. 2005) let alone His Kingdom. Being a descendant of Adam he is a fugitive from God since the Fall. The natural inclination of the un-regenerated man is to run from God and to hide from Him. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The natural man seeks after the benefits (happiness, peace, freedom from guilt etc.) of God and not God Himself. The natural man's sin is just this - He wants the benefits of God without God Himself. He does not know that when he has God, he also has all the benefits of God.
Jonathan Edwards was right when he said, "Seeking after God is the main business of the Christian life". The seeking of God begins at conversion and it is a lifelong pursuit. If you are not in the enterprise of seeking God and His Kingdom then you are barren and not doing the right business for God!
Do you know the last question the disciples asked Jesus before His Ascension? Well, it was, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus' last words with a command was, ".... you shall be witnesses to Me ...." (Acts 1:8). Common sense tells us that the last words of any dying person are the most important. More so in the case of our Lord!
We seek the Kingdom of God by bearing witness to the Kingdom. All Christians are commanded to seek to show the world what the Kingdom of God looks like. This means every Christian is called at least to do personal evangelism work if he is not called to the Mission field. If he does this he helps God to build His Kingdom on earth.
To seek God's Kingdom is to fulfill the last command (the most important) of Christ as well as the petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". In other words, the Kingdom comes on earth where God's will is done on earth. Jesus links the coming of the Kingdom with doing the will of God.
Seeking the Righteousness of God
Why do Christians have to seek the righteousness of God? The Scripture clearly says that all believers have already received the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus:
"God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21, NIV, emphasis added).
The righteousness of God is imputed to the believer when he accepts Christ as his Lord and savior by faith. Christ becomes our righteousness when we are born again (1 Cor. 1:30). In other words, God sees our righteousness through our faith in Jesus Christ. That means, no faith no righteousness! Our righteousness entirely depends on our faith in Jesus.
The righteousness of God that Christians are expected to seek is actually the fruit of righteousness. A fruit, like the fruit of the Spirit, takes time to grow. We take time to seek and to grow in righteousness in our Christian walk - a walk that is commonly called the process of sanctification (Please refer to my earlier posting, "Christians Do Sin" - 10th Oct 2005).
Seen in this light, righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. To be righteous is to do everything that God calls us to do. The demands of true righteousness are so great that no Christian is able to claim that he achieves it perfectly. It involves following the whole counsel of God.
Examples of Righteousness that we seek after
Here are just some examples that come to my mind. You'll probably know more.
1. Righteousness according to Jesus:
"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise" (Luke 6:31).
This is what many Christians call the Golden Rule. Many Sunday school children have no problem in reciting it. But, rules are rules and to make it work in our daily living needs some self control or self discipline.
For example, no body likes petty criticism. No body enjoys the company of judgmental people. Our response to petty criticism is often to retaliate in kind, instead of in kindness. This is where the Golden Rule touches life. Here is where Jesus spoke of not returning evil for evil, but to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
2. Righteousness according to Micah
Micah the prophet said, "He (God) has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, emphasis added).
There are three things that God demands from His children - Justice, mercy (or kindness) and humility.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 or 1 Peter 5:5). The "kindness" Micah spoke of comes from the Hebrew word for "loyal love". It is the kind of love (agape) God has for His children. It is the kind of love that last and endures in all circumstances. God loves us even when we fail. We need to show the same kind of love for our own children. My children need not earn my love. They can fail me, frustrate me, disappoint me or even anger me, but their failures do not disqualify them from my love.
Our attitude towards kindness and mercy is what makes it possible for us to keep moving on in spite of our sin. Notice that "kindness" is part of the fruit of the Spirit and it takes time to grow.
3. Righteousness according to James
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
In James' days the orphan and the widow were almost helpless in society. But now we have government programs to aid orphans and widows financially. Nevertheless, they are lonely and helpless people and they need the outreach of Christian love. We also need to obey the Golden Rule and have compassion and reach out to the forgotten and downtrodden.
The Importance of Righteous Acts
1. Samuel said to all Israel, "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: ...." (1 Samuel 12:7, emphasis added).
God's people should love the Lord because He loved them first. Similarly God's people should do righteous acts because He did righteous acts to them first.
2. An angel spoke to John concerning the Bride of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean an bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:7, 8, emphasis added).
In other words, not all saints (Christians) are qualified to be the Bride of Christ. Only Christians who are clothed with "fine linen" which represents "righteous acts" are called to be the Bride of Christ!
The Righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees
Jesus said, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
One of the conditions for entering the Kingdom of heaven is to have our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
At first glance it would appear that the weakest Christians should have no problem in surpassing Pharisees in righteousness because all Christians have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Surely the righteousness of Christ exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees!
But, we are talking about the fruit of righteousness. What Jesus meant was that the fruit of our righteousness must exeed the pretense of righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees. On the surface the Pharisees achieved a high level of righteousness. But, their reighteousness was external; just an outward show. Their righteousness fools a lot of people, but tragically, it fooled the Pharisees themselves!
It is interesting to see how we Christians measure up with the righteousness of the Pharisees:
1. The Pharisees were Evangelistic
They would cross land and sea just to win one soul (matt. 23:15). They were evengelists. But Jesus marked them as evangelists of hell because they would make the convert just like themselves.
In general Christians are not like them. But we must heed Jesus' warning that even though we are in the evangelistic and missionary business, the mere fact that we are involved in such work is no guarantee that we have exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees. We must have the right motive, and our burden for souls must be genuine.
2. The Pharisees were Tithers
We are told that the Pharisees would not fail to pay their tithes (Matt. 23:23). But Jesus rebuked them for their outward show of hypocrisy. They fell into the trap of majoring in minors. Their priorities were reversed. They exalted minor matters to a high level in order to obscure their failure to be faithful in more important matters.
Christians are not called to tithe in the New Testament Church (Please refer to my earlier posting, "Biblical Giving" - 2nd. March 2005). God's people in the Old Testament were under the Law of tithing; but Christians are under the grace of giving. We are expected to practice free-will offering and other forms of free-will giving - even exceeding tithing. Some Christians use tithing as a guide in their giving. This is OK provided they don't practice the Law of Tithing.
If we fail to give cheerfully but grudgingly (2 Cor. 9:7) and our giving must not just an outward show. If we are found hypocritical in our giving we fail to heed Jesus' advice, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1). Then we are no more righteous than the Pharisees!
3. The Pharisees were Men of Prayer and Fasting
Jesus gave an account of the Pharisees' pattern of prayer in Luke 18:10 - 14. They enjoyed making a public display of their piety. They assumed a reverent posture and offered eloquent self-righteous prayer like:
"God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give thithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:11, 12, emphasis added).
yes, the Pharisees were self-righteous. They heaped up vain repetitions, but they at least went through the motion of prayer and also fasted. Some of us have prayer lives that are so barren that we neglect even the motions of prayer. Some of us do pray and even attend the Church prayer meetings. But, some of our prayers are meerly to "arm-twist" or to manipulate God to grant us His favor. Haven't we forgotten to let God's will be done in any situation or circumstances? Is our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees in the area of prayer and fastings?
4. The Pharisees read the Bible
Jesus rebuked the Jews (Pharisees among them) by saying, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life" (John 5:39).
The Pharisees were learned in theology. They could recite verses of the Old Testament Scriptures. But, they missed the life-changing power of the Word of God (John 5:38).
At least the Pharisees read the Bible and were diligent in searching the Scriptures. Many Christians seldom read the Bible let alone study the Bible. Even if we do read, some of us read it with a purpose - to prepare to preach a sermon or to share a thought or two in a cell-group meeting. How to be doers of His Word if we fail to hear the Word? Is our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees in the area of Bible study?
I think Christians need to beware not only of the leaven of the Pharisees, but also to beware of judging the Pharisees too harshly - if they fail to judge themselves first!
Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, God will supply all your needs including those things that Gentiles seek after. But, you must, above all else, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Notice that there is a condition attached here - any Christian who fails to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteouness, God might not supply all his needs!
The first thing Jesus commanded us to do is to seek. To seek something requires effort. It involves diligent search and persistent work. We do not sit back and wait for God to drop it in our laps.
Every Christian knows that we are all saved by grace through faith and not by work (Eph. 2:8). But we start to work toward a goal in our Christian living after we are saved. This goal is two-fold - To seek the Kingdom of God and God's righteousness. These are the priorities of the Christian life.
Seeking the Kingdom of God
Christians need to understand that only believers have the desire and ability to seek the Kingdom of God. An unbeliever will never seek the true God, (please refer to my ealier posting "Who seeks God?" - 25th Feb. 2005) let alone His Kingdom. Being a descendant of Adam he is a fugitive from God since the Fall. The natural inclination of the un-regenerated man is to run from God and to hide from Him. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The natural man seeks after the benefits (happiness, peace, freedom from guilt etc.) of God and not God Himself. The natural man's sin is just this - He wants the benefits of God without God Himself. He does not know that when he has God, he also has all the benefits of God.
Jonathan Edwards was right when he said, "Seeking after God is the main business of the Christian life". The seeking of God begins at conversion and it is a lifelong pursuit. If you are not in the enterprise of seeking God and His Kingdom then you are barren and not doing the right business for God!
Do you know the last question the disciples asked Jesus before His Ascension? Well, it was, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus' last words with a command was, ".... you shall be witnesses to Me ...." (Acts 1:8). Common sense tells us that the last words of any dying person are the most important. More so in the case of our Lord!
We seek the Kingdom of God by bearing witness to the Kingdom. All Christians are commanded to seek to show the world what the Kingdom of God looks like. This means every Christian is called at least to do personal evangelism work if he is not called to the Mission field. If he does this he helps God to build His Kingdom on earth.
To seek God's Kingdom is to fulfill the last command (the most important) of Christ as well as the petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". In other words, the Kingdom comes on earth where God's will is done on earth. Jesus links the coming of the Kingdom with doing the will of God.
Seeking the Righteousness of God
Why do Christians have to seek the righteousness of God? The Scripture clearly says that all believers have already received the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus:
"God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21, NIV, emphasis added).
The righteousness of God is imputed to the believer when he accepts Christ as his Lord and savior by faith. Christ becomes our righteousness when we are born again (1 Cor. 1:30). In other words, God sees our righteousness through our faith in Jesus Christ. That means, no faith no righteousness! Our righteousness entirely depends on our faith in Jesus.
The righteousness of God that Christians are expected to seek is actually the fruit of righteousness. A fruit, like the fruit of the Spirit, takes time to grow. We take time to seek and to grow in righteousness in our Christian walk - a walk that is commonly called the process of sanctification (Please refer to my earlier posting, "Christians Do Sin" - 10th Oct 2005).
Seen in this light, righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. To be righteous is to do everything that God calls us to do. The demands of true righteousness are so great that no Christian is able to claim that he achieves it perfectly. It involves following the whole counsel of God.
Examples of Righteousness that we seek after
Here are just some examples that come to my mind. You'll probably know more.
1. Righteousness according to Jesus:
"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise" (Luke 6:31).
This is what many Christians call the Golden Rule. Many Sunday school children have no problem in reciting it. But, rules are rules and to make it work in our daily living needs some self control or self discipline.
For example, no body likes petty criticism. No body enjoys the company of judgmental people. Our response to petty criticism is often to retaliate in kind, instead of in kindness. This is where the Golden Rule touches life. Here is where Jesus spoke of not returning evil for evil, but to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
2. Righteousness according to Micah
Micah the prophet said, "He (God) has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, emphasis added).
There are three things that God demands from His children - Justice, mercy (or kindness) and humility.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 or 1 Peter 5:5). The "kindness" Micah spoke of comes from the Hebrew word for "loyal love". It is the kind of love (agape) God has for His children. It is the kind of love that last and endures in all circumstances. God loves us even when we fail. We need to show the same kind of love for our own children. My children need not earn my love. They can fail me, frustrate me, disappoint me or even anger me, but their failures do not disqualify them from my love.
Our attitude towards kindness and mercy is what makes it possible for us to keep moving on in spite of our sin. Notice that "kindness" is part of the fruit of the Spirit and it takes time to grow.
3. Righteousness according to James
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
In James' days the orphan and the widow were almost helpless in society. But now we have government programs to aid orphans and widows financially. Nevertheless, they are lonely and helpless people and they need the outreach of Christian love. We also need to obey the Golden Rule and have compassion and reach out to the forgotten and downtrodden.
The Importance of Righteous Acts
1. Samuel said to all Israel, "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: ...." (1 Samuel 12:7, emphasis added).
God's people should love the Lord because He loved them first. Similarly God's people should do righteous acts because He did righteous acts to them first.
2. An angel spoke to John concerning the Bride of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean an bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:7, 8, emphasis added).
In other words, not all saints (Christians) are qualified to be the Bride of Christ. Only Christians who are clothed with "fine linen" which represents "righteous acts" are called to be the Bride of Christ!
The Righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees
Jesus said, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
One of the conditions for entering the Kingdom of heaven is to have our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
At first glance it would appear that the weakest Christians should have no problem in surpassing Pharisees in righteousness because all Christians have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Surely the righteousness of Christ exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees!
But, we are talking about the fruit of righteousness. What Jesus meant was that the fruit of our righteousness must exeed the pretense of righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees. On the surface the Pharisees achieved a high level of righteousness. But, their reighteousness was external; just an outward show. Their righteousness fools a lot of people, but tragically, it fooled the Pharisees themselves!
It is interesting to see how we Christians measure up with the righteousness of the Pharisees:
1. The Pharisees were Evangelistic
They would cross land and sea just to win one soul (matt. 23:15). They were evengelists. But Jesus marked them as evangelists of hell because they would make the convert just like themselves.
In general Christians are not like them. But we must heed Jesus' warning that even though we are in the evangelistic and missionary business, the mere fact that we are involved in such work is no guarantee that we have exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees. We must have the right motive, and our burden for souls must be genuine.
2. The Pharisees were Tithers
We are told that the Pharisees would not fail to pay their tithes (Matt. 23:23). But Jesus rebuked them for their outward show of hypocrisy. They fell into the trap of majoring in minors. Their priorities were reversed. They exalted minor matters to a high level in order to obscure their failure to be faithful in more important matters.
Christians are not called to tithe in the New Testament Church (Please refer to my earlier posting, "Biblical Giving" - 2nd. March 2005). God's people in the Old Testament were under the Law of tithing; but Christians are under the grace of giving. We are expected to practice free-will offering and other forms of free-will giving - even exceeding tithing. Some Christians use tithing as a guide in their giving. This is OK provided they don't practice the Law of Tithing.
If we fail to give cheerfully but grudgingly (2 Cor. 9:7) and our giving must not just an outward show. If we are found hypocritical in our giving we fail to heed Jesus' advice, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1). Then we are no more righteous than the Pharisees!
3. The Pharisees were Men of Prayer and Fasting
Jesus gave an account of the Pharisees' pattern of prayer in Luke 18:10 - 14. They enjoyed making a public display of their piety. They assumed a reverent posture and offered eloquent self-righteous prayer like:
"God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give thithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:11, 12, emphasis added).
yes, the Pharisees were self-righteous. They heaped up vain repetitions, but they at least went through the motion of prayer and also fasted. Some of us have prayer lives that are so barren that we neglect even the motions of prayer. Some of us do pray and even attend the Church prayer meetings. But, some of our prayers are meerly to "arm-twist" or to manipulate God to grant us His favor. Haven't we forgotten to let God's will be done in any situation or circumstances? Is our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees in the area of prayer and fastings?
4. The Pharisees read the Bible
Jesus rebuked the Jews (Pharisees among them) by saying, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life" (John 5:39).
The Pharisees were learned in theology. They could recite verses of the Old Testament Scriptures. But, they missed the life-changing power of the Word of God (John 5:38).
At least the Pharisees read the Bible and were diligent in searching the Scriptures. Many Christians seldom read the Bible let alone study the Bible. Even if we do read, some of us read it with a purpose - to prepare to preach a sermon or to share a thought or two in a cell-group meeting. How to be doers of His Word if we fail to hear the Word? Is our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees in the area of Bible study?
I think Christians need to beware not only of the leaven of the Pharisees, but also to beware of judging the Pharisees too harshly - if they fail to judge themselves first!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Jesus and Barabbas
Everything concerning Barabbas was in direct contrast to everything concerning Jesus. It was like darkness to light, evil to good and wickedness to righteousness. "Barabbas" comes from an Aramaic name "Bar'abba" which literally means "son of the father(abba)" - a contrast to Jesus Christ, the true Son of the Father. Jesus is perfectly righteous and sinless; but Barabbas was a rebel and a murderer (Mark 15:7, NKJV), a robber (John 18:40) and a notorious prisoner (Matt. 27:16).
At a place called Golgotha (Hebrew) or Calvary (Latin) three wooden crosses were prepared, one taller than the other two for the crucifixion of three robbers. The tall one was made for Barabbas who was the most notorious rebel. It was waiting for him. But God in His sovereign will allowed Jesus, His only begotten Son, through unbelievable circumstances, to take the place of Barabbas. He was crucified together with two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left (Mark 15:27).
In God's eyes, Jesus took your place and my place because we were all Barabbases! I was born a Barabbas and I was a rebel and a notorious criminal. Everything we know about Barabbas is an absolute correct description of me! I was a "prisoner" of sin by birth. I was the person for whom the cross was made! But, in the last moment an unexpected switch took place - I was set free when Jesus took my place on the tall cross!
Jesus Himself said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 6:36).
Crucifixion of the Old Man
Everyone of us has inherited from Adam, the old Adamic nature called the old man, the fleshly nature or the body of sin. Therefore every one of us, has inside us, by nature a rebel, a Barabbas. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, only our spirit is born again (please refer to my earlier postings concerning Spirit, Soul and Body and "Christians do Sin"). In many cases little is done to the old man. The rebel in us is hidden in the realm of our soul and body. It takes time for our born again spirit to take full control of our soul and body. Therefore, in the meantime, this old man is left hidden under religion, under a form of godliness (2 Tim. 3:4) or a form of "Christian" label. In a way many of us are still "Barabases" at large! Before we were born again we were rebels; but now we are Christian rebels - rebels just the same!
According to Roman Chapter Six the remedy for a rebel is execution. The good news is that the execution has taken place more than 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross and our old man was crucified with Him. This is a historical fact that becuase of what Jesus had done, every born again Christian should no longer need to live like a rebel. Satan would remind us that we were still rebel. His purpose is to deceive us and to make us feel guilty. But we must, in God, pull down the strongholds of Satan and "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).
How God sees Rebellion
The entire Chapter One of Isaiah describes God's indictment of the sins of Israel.
God said, "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me" (Isaiah 1:2, NIV).
God spoke through Isaiah and gave a vivid picture of Jesus hung on the cross because of our rebellion:
"Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness - only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil (Isaiah 1:5, 6, NIV).
In other words, the entire suffering of Jesus as a substitute for the suffering that we deserved, was the result of our rebellion!
The Root Problem of Rebellion
In the days of Moses God spoke to Moses regarding Israel's rebellion (Deu. 31:14 - 29).
Moses said, "For I know your rebellion and your stiff nect. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death" (Deu. 31:27)?
The root problem of Israel, in the midst of all its religion and the observation of the Law, was rebellion. Similarly, the root problem of the contemporary Church in the midst of all its religion, ritual, tradition, politics and management structure is also rebellion.
In my opinion, all human problems can be depicted by tree parts of a tree - branches, trunk and roots. People in general are preoccupied with the branches. The truth is, if you are hoping to remove a problematic tree by just cutting off a few branches, you have not really changed things very much. It is the trunk that carries the brances and the roots that feed the trunk.
The Church, in general, is grappling most of the time with branches. It does not normally get below the level and deal with the trunk, much less the roots. We must dig down to the root problem, and the root problem is rebellion.
John the Baptist, who prepared the message of Jesus (the Gospel) said, "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matt. 3:10, NKJV, emphasis added).
A rebellous "tree" cannot bear good fruit.
The message of the Gospel which is the "power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16) is radical - it deals with the root. But, most contemporary presentations of the Gospel do not go deep enough. They do not deal with the sin of rebellion against God. They do not confront the sin of rebellion without compromise because of the fear of losing Church members. It would not be a surprise to discover how many Church elders, leaders and members all around us have never made a true submission to God.
In my opinion, any Christian who fails to make a true submission to God disqualifies himself to pray the Lord's Prayer:
Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9, 10, emphasis added).
No one is able to say "Your will be done on earth" unless he is prepared without reservation to submit to God's will in all areas of his life. Otherwise, he would be a hypocrite! No one is able to claim submission to God's will and rebellious against God at the same time.
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's Prophecy
The fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah of how Jesus hung on the cross and bore the punishment of the rebel is found in Isaiah 53:6:
"We all, like sheep, have gone estray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (emphasis added).
The rebel in us causes each of us to turn to his own way - to be independent from God.
Isaiah painted a vivid picture of the Suffering Servant in Chapter 53 which many Bible scholars called the Atonement Chapter:
It is interesting to list out the divine exchanges that took place at the Cross of Calvary:
1. All the evil due to our rebellion came upon Jesus so that all the good due to His perfect obedience might be offered to us.
2. He was punished that we might be forgiven.
3. He was wounded that we might be healed.
4. He took our sin that we might have His righteousness.
5. He died our death that we might share His Life.
6. He was made a curse that we might receive the blessings of God.
7. He endured our poverty that we might share His abundance.
8. He bore our shame that we might have His glory.
9. He endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance.
Notice that in whatever way you look at it the divine exchange is total. That's why Jesus cried out "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Not only He bore our rebellion but He also bore all the evil consequences of our rebellion so that we might enter into all the blessings of His perfect obedience.
One word is all we need to describe what Jesus has offered us - GRACE. We can't earn; we can't claim it and we do not deserve it. There is only one way to receive it and that is by FAITH. We might not understand it but we just have to believe it.
When Isaiah presented the picture of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, he began with a warning of unbelief - "Who has believed our report?" (Isaiah 53:1)
The great barrier to receive the benefits of Christ's atonement is unbelief:
The writer of Hebrews said an unbelieving heart is an evil heart:
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ...." (Hebrews 3:12, emphasis added).
In other words, unbelief is evil and it causes God's people to rebel against Him; it causes them to walk independent from Him.
Rest and Peace
God spoke through Isaiah, "I created the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, and I will heal him. But the wicked (the rebellious) are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 57:19 -21, NKJV, emphasis added).
In Old Testament language, "Him who is near" speaks of Israel. "Him who is far off" speakes of the Gentiles. In other words God is offering peace and healings to all people - Israel and the Gentiles. But, some can never receive peace and healing because they will never lay down their arms of rebellion!
Here is the divine Key to recieve God's offering of peace and healing - OBEDIENCE.
Hebrew 3:7 - 11 and Psalms 95:7 -11 give God's condition for God's people to enter God's rest. The condition is two-fold - To seek God and be obedient to Him.
In my opinion, the most important thing in human life is rest and peace - not money, wealth and abundant of material possession! But as long as we retain an attitude of rebellion, we cannot rest. We are then, like the "Troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt" (Isaiah 57:20).
May the New Year 2006 be a year of rest and peace for all God's people! Amen!
At a place called Golgotha (Hebrew) or Calvary (Latin) three wooden crosses were prepared, one taller than the other two for the crucifixion of three robbers. The tall one was made for Barabbas who was the most notorious rebel. It was waiting for him. But God in His sovereign will allowed Jesus, His only begotten Son, through unbelievable circumstances, to take the place of Barabbas. He was crucified together with two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left (Mark 15:27).
In God's eyes, Jesus took your place and my place because we were all Barabbases! I was born a Barabbas and I was a rebel and a notorious criminal. Everything we know about Barabbas is an absolute correct description of me! I was a "prisoner" of sin by birth. I was the person for whom the cross was made! But, in the last moment an unexpected switch took place - I was set free when Jesus took my place on the tall cross!
Jesus Himself said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 6:36).
Crucifixion of the Old Man
Everyone of us has inherited from Adam, the old Adamic nature called the old man, the fleshly nature or the body of sin. Therefore every one of us, has inside us, by nature a rebel, a Barabbas. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, only our spirit is born again (please refer to my earlier postings concerning Spirit, Soul and Body and "Christians do Sin"). In many cases little is done to the old man. The rebel in us is hidden in the realm of our soul and body. It takes time for our born again spirit to take full control of our soul and body. Therefore, in the meantime, this old man is left hidden under religion, under a form of godliness (2 Tim. 3:4) or a form of "Christian" label. In a way many of us are still "Barabases" at large! Before we were born again we were rebels; but now we are Christian rebels - rebels just the same!
According to Roman Chapter Six the remedy for a rebel is execution. The good news is that the execution has taken place more than 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross and our old man was crucified with Him. This is a historical fact that becuase of what Jesus had done, every born again Christian should no longer need to live like a rebel. Satan would remind us that we were still rebel. His purpose is to deceive us and to make us feel guilty. But we must, in God, pull down the strongholds of Satan and "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).
How God sees Rebellion
The entire Chapter One of Isaiah describes God's indictment of the sins of Israel.
God said, "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me" (Isaiah 1:2, NIV).
God spoke through Isaiah and gave a vivid picture of Jesus hung on the cross because of our rebellion:
"Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness - only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil (Isaiah 1:5, 6, NIV).
In other words, the entire suffering of Jesus as a substitute for the suffering that we deserved, was the result of our rebellion!
The Root Problem of Rebellion
In the days of Moses God spoke to Moses regarding Israel's rebellion (Deu. 31:14 - 29).
Moses said, "For I know your rebellion and your stiff nect. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death" (Deu. 31:27)?
The root problem of Israel, in the midst of all its religion and the observation of the Law, was rebellion. Similarly, the root problem of the contemporary Church in the midst of all its religion, ritual, tradition, politics and management structure is also rebellion.
In my opinion, all human problems can be depicted by tree parts of a tree - branches, trunk and roots. People in general are preoccupied with the branches. The truth is, if you are hoping to remove a problematic tree by just cutting off a few branches, you have not really changed things very much. It is the trunk that carries the brances and the roots that feed the trunk.
The Church, in general, is grappling most of the time with branches. It does not normally get below the level and deal with the trunk, much less the roots. We must dig down to the root problem, and the root problem is rebellion.
John the Baptist, who prepared the message of Jesus (the Gospel) said, "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matt. 3:10, NKJV, emphasis added).
A rebellous "tree" cannot bear good fruit.
The message of the Gospel which is the "power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16) is radical - it deals with the root. But, most contemporary presentations of the Gospel do not go deep enough. They do not deal with the sin of rebellion against God. They do not confront the sin of rebellion without compromise because of the fear of losing Church members. It would not be a surprise to discover how many Church elders, leaders and members all around us have never made a true submission to God.
In my opinion, any Christian who fails to make a true submission to God disqualifies himself to pray the Lord's Prayer:
Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9, 10, emphasis added).
No one is able to say "Your will be done on earth" unless he is prepared without reservation to submit to God's will in all areas of his life. Otherwise, he would be a hypocrite! No one is able to claim submission to God's will and rebellious against God at the same time.
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's Prophecy
The fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah of how Jesus hung on the cross and bore the punishment of the rebel is found in Isaiah 53:6:
"We all, like sheep, have gone estray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (emphasis added).
The rebel in us causes each of us to turn to his own way - to be independent from God.
Isaiah painted a vivid picture of the Suffering Servant in Chapter 53 which many Bible scholars called the Atonement Chapter:
It is interesting to list out the divine exchanges that took place at the Cross of Calvary:
1. All the evil due to our rebellion came upon Jesus so that all the good due to His perfect obedience might be offered to us.
2. He was punished that we might be forgiven.
3. He was wounded that we might be healed.
4. He took our sin that we might have His righteousness.
5. He died our death that we might share His Life.
6. He was made a curse that we might receive the blessings of God.
7. He endured our poverty that we might share His abundance.
8. He bore our shame that we might have His glory.
9. He endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance.
Notice that in whatever way you look at it the divine exchange is total. That's why Jesus cried out "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Not only He bore our rebellion but He also bore all the evil consequences of our rebellion so that we might enter into all the blessings of His perfect obedience.
One word is all we need to describe what Jesus has offered us - GRACE. We can't earn; we can't claim it and we do not deserve it. There is only one way to receive it and that is by FAITH. We might not understand it but we just have to believe it.
When Isaiah presented the picture of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, he began with a warning of unbelief - "Who has believed our report?" (Isaiah 53:1)
The great barrier to receive the benefits of Christ's atonement is unbelief:
The writer of Hebrews said an unbelieving heart is an evil heart:
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ...." (Hebrews 3:12, emphasis added).
In other words, unbelief is evil and it causes God's people to rebel against Him; it causes them to walk independent from Him.
Rest and Peace
God spoke through Isaiah, "I created the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, and I will heal him. But the wicked (the rebellious) are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 57:19 -21, NKJV, emphasis added).
In Old Testament language, "Him who is near" speaks of Israel. "Him who is far off" speakes of the Gentiles. In other words God is offering peace and healings to all people - Israel and the Gentiles. But, some can never receive peace and healing because they will never lay down their arms of rebellion!
Here is the divine Key to recieve God's offering of peace and healing - OBEDIENCE.
Hebrew 3:7 - 11 and Psalms 95:7 -11 give God's condition for God's people to enter God's rest. The condition is two-fold - To seek God and be obedient to Him.
In my opinion, the most important thing in human life is rest and peace - not money, wealth and abundant of material possession! But as long as we retain an attitude of rebellion, we cannot rest. We are then, like the "Troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt" (Isaiah 57:20).
May the New Year 2006 be a year of rest and peace for all God's people! Amen!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
True Biblical Fellowship
There are four important ministries and activities in the early Church (Acts 2:42) - The apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. My last posting was "The Goal of our instruction" which essentially concerns the importance of the Apostles's Doctrine. I have also posted two messages concerning the Holy Communion - "Biblical Background of the Bread and the Wine" (April, 21st 2005) and "Biblical Significance of the Holy Communion" (April, 27th 2005).
This message concerns "Fellowship". Notice that the "Breaking of bread" does not mean only the part-taking of the Holy Communion but also concerns the sharing of meals together among believers (Acts 2:46). The needs of sharing among believers, being part of fellowship, will be discussed in this message.
The Basis of Fellowship
The word "fellowship" comes from the Greek word "koinonia" which means "sharing together" or "having things in common".
Paul said, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the main purpose of our salvation is to have fellowship with the Godhead. Notice the phrase "called into" indicates that fellowship is a goal (or an end) and not a means of achieving a goal. The "means" of achieving the goal of fellowship with the Godhead are witnessing and preaching the Gospel to unbelievers.
On this basis, we can define the Gospel as God's invitation to the human race to share the eternal fellowship of the Godhead.
Eternal Fellowship of the Godhead
The Godhead is eternal in nature; God is eternally the Father; He is eternally the Head of Jesus Christ and both of Them have eternal fellowhip in the Holy Spirit. All God's purposes including creation are born out of fellowship of the Godhead.
Here are some examples:
1. Creation of man is a collective decision of the Godhead in counsel:
God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; .... " (Gen. 1:26).
2. Collective decision to drive man out of the Garden of Eden:
The Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also the tree of life, and eat and live forever .... " (Gen. 3:22).
3. Collective decision to confuse men's language:
The Lord said, "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Gen. 11:7).
4. Collective decision to send Isaiah:
Isaiah heard the Lord said, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us" (Isaiah 6:8).
The Fellowship of Believers with one another and with the Godhead
John said, "..... that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. And these thing we write to you that your joy may be full" (1 John 1:3, 4, emphasis added).
In other words, believers' fellowship with the Godhead makes it possible for believers' fellowship with one another. The fullness of joy comes when believers enter into fellowship with the Godhead and with one another.
God's Condition of Fellowship
John said, ".... God is light and in Him is not darkness at all. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5, 7).
The condition of fellowshipping with God and with one another is we must walk continuously in the light. The reason being God is light. This is also the reason why believers cannot have fellowship with unbelievers because they walk in darkness before the regeneration of their spirit (2 Cor. 6:14 - 18). This does not mean, however, believers should have nothing to do with unbelievers. Believers can have friendship with them and share the Gospel with them.
The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus is also conditional. If we fail to walk in the light our sins will no be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Walking in the light is the test of our relationship with other believers. Here is a spiritual law - Out of fellowship causes the believer to be out of the light. Because the blood of Jesus does not cleanse in the dark, the believer who is out of fellowhip will continue to walk in darkness. The only way to come back into the light is by confession according to 1 John 1:9.
The protection of the blood is continuous if we continue to walk in the light and continue to have fellowship with other believers. This means that if this condition is fulfilled, it is not necessary to plead the blood of Jesus or to apply the blood in every object or situation. The important thing is not to plead the blood of Jesus but to walk in the light. If we fail to walk in the light pleading the blood of Jesus will not help us.
Fellowship is in the Realm of the Spirit
My readers should refer to my earlier postings concerning things of the spirit, soul and body.
Every man is a spirit being; he has a soul and he lives in a body. True fellowship is made possible when the man is born again by the Spirit of God. He is now able to have true fellowship with other born again believers led by the Spirit of God. His fellowship with other believers and with the Godhead is in the realm of the spirit led by the Spirit of God.
Paul said, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19, emphasis added).
All believers belong to God's family. This implies that as Christians we have horizontal and vertical relationships (fellowships). We have God as our Father and we are brothers and sisters one to another. Someone has said, you may choose your friends but you cannot choose your own family members. Therefore, whether we like one another or not we have to get along. Our soul life can be a hindrance to fellowship because we all have different temperaments. We can and will get along if we "see" one another in the spirit realm and when our soul life is under the control of our regenerated spirit led by the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit that binds us together in true fellowship.
The Importance of True Spiritual Fellowship
By careful study of the New Testament Church we discover an important spiritual principle - no fellowship no spiritual birth. In other words, all spiritual births are born out of spiritual fellowship between believers one to another and with the Godhead.
Here are two examples:
1. The Birth of the First Church
I believe the Church was brought forth in a prayer meeting and not on the Day of Pentecost.
There were about 120 people gathered in a prayer meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem.
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication , with the women and Mary the mather of Jesus and with His brothers" (Acts 1:14, emphasis added).
The above verse describes a true fellowship between believers. Notice that ture spiritual fellowship always includes prayer. This is obvious because without prayer and supplication God has no part in the fellowship.
2. The First Missionary Assignment
Read Acts 13:1, 2, 3.
A group of believers including prophets and teachers were fellowshipping in the Church at Antioch. They were having fellowship with the Lord, ministering to Him, fellowshipping with one another, fasted and out of that came forth a divine purpose.
The Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2).
Notice that this divine assignment was born out of spiritual fellowship among God's people and not out of a Church Committee meeting. The end result was that they accomplished the purposes of God as recorded at the end of Acts 14.
They've got the job done because this assignment was born out the Spirit and not out of the flesh (consensus and voting) like many of our local Church programs and projects!
John said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).
Notice that "consensus and voting" in the local Church usually brings forth an "Ishmael", a product of the flesh!
John also said, "What ever is born of God overcomes the world" (1 John 5:4).
The lord of the world is Satan. Therefore what is born of God cannot be defeated by Satan. Whatever is born of God must succeed and cannot fail!
This message concerns "Fellowship". Notice that the "Breaking of bread" does not mean only the part-taking of the Holy Communion but also concerns the sharing of meals together among believers (Acts 2:46). The needs of sharing among believers, being part of fellowship, will be discussed in this message.
The Basis of Fellowship
The word "fellowship" comes from the Greek word "koinonia" which means "sharing together" or "having things in common".
Paul said, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the main purpose of our salvation is to have fellowship with the Godhead. Notice the phrase "called into" indicates that fellowship is a goal (or an end) and not a means of achieving a goal. The "means" of achieving the goal of fellowship with the Godhead are witnessing and preaching the Gospel to unbelievers.
On this basis, we can define the Gospel as God's invitation to the human race to share the eternal fellowship of the Godhead.
Eternal Fellowship of the Godhead
The Godhead is eternal in nature; God is eternally the Father; He is eternally the Head of Jesus Christ and both of Them have eternal fellowhip in the Holy Spirit. All God's purposes including creation are born out of fellowship of the Godhead.
Here are some examples:
1. Creation of man is a collective decision of the Godhead in counsel:
God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; .... " (Gen. 1:26).
2. Collective decision to drive man out of the Garden of Eden:
The Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also the tree of life, and eat and live forever .... " (Gen. 3:22).
3. Collective decision to confuse men's language:
The Lord said, "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Gen. 11:7).
4. Collective decision to send Isaiah:
Isaiah heard the Lord said, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us" (Isaiah 6:8).
The Fellowship of Believers with one another and with the Godhead
John said, "..... that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. And these thing we write to you that your joy may be full" (1 John 1:3, 4, emphasis added).
In other words, believers' fellowship with the Godhead makes it possible for believers' fellowship with one another. The fullness of joy comes when believers enter into fellowship with the Godhead and with one another.
God's Condition of Fellowship
John said, ".... God is light and in Him is not darkness at all. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5, 7).
The condition of fellowshipping with God and with one another is we must walk continuously in the light. The reason being God is light. This is also the reason why believers cannot have fellowship with unbelievers because they walk in darkness before the regeneration of their spirit (2 Cor. 6:14 - 18). This does not mean, however, believers should have nothing to do with unbelievers. Believers can have friendship with them and share the Gospel with them.
The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus is also conditional. If we fail to walk in the light our sins will no be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Walking in the light is the test of our relationship with other believers. Here is a spiritual law - Out of fellowship causes the believer to be out of the light. Because the blood of Jesus does not cleanse in the dark, the believer who is out of fellowhip will continue to walk in darkness. The only way to come back into the light is by confession according to 1 John 1:9.
The protection of the blood is continuous if we continue to walk in the light and continue to have fellowship with other believers. This means that if this condition is fulfilled, it is not necessary to plead the blood of Jesus or to apply the blood in every object or situation. The important thing is not to plead the blood of Jesus but to walk in the light. If we fail to walk in the light pleading the blood of Jesus will not help us.
Fellowship is in the Realm of the Spirit
My readers should refer to my earlier postings concerning things of the spirit, soul and body.
Every man is a spirit being; he has a soul and he lives in a body. True fellowship is made possible when the man is born again by the Spirit of God. He is now able to have true fellowship with other born again believers led by the Spirit of God. His fellowship with other believers and with the Godhead is in the realm of the spirit led by the Spirit of God.
Paul said, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19, emphasis added).
All believers belong to God's family. This implies that as Christians we have horizontal and vertical relationships (fellowships). We have God as our Father and we are brothers and sisters one to another. Someone has said, you may choose your friends but you cannot choose your own family members. Therefore, whether we like one another or not we have to get along. Our soul life can be a hindrance to fellowship because we all have different temperaments. We can and will get along if we "see" one another in the spirit realm and when our soul life is under the control of our regenerated spirit led by the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit that binds us together in true fellowship.
The Importance of True Spiritual Fellowship
By careful study of the New Testament Church we discover an important spiritual principle - no fellowship no spiritual birth. In other words, all spiritual births are born out of spiritual fellowship between believers one to another and with the Godhead.
Here are two examples:
1. The Birth of the First Church
I believe the Church was brought forth in a prayer meeting and not on the Day of Pentecost.
There were about 120 people gathered in a prayer meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem.
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication , with the women and Mary the mather of Jesus and with His brothers" (Acts 1:14, emphasis added).
The above verse describes a true fellowship between believers. Notice that ture spiritual fellowship always includes prayer. This is obvious because without prayer and supplication God has no part in the fellowship.
2. The First Missionary Assignment
Read Acts 13:1, 2, 3.
A group of believers including prophets and teachers were fellowshipping in the Church at Antioch. They were having fellowship with the Lord, ministering to Him, fellowshipping with one another, fasted and out of that came forth a divine purpose.
The Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2).
Notice that this divine assignment was born out of spiritual fellowship among God's people and not out of a Church Committee meeting. The end result was that they accomplished the purposes of God as recorded at the end of Acts 14.
They've got the job done because this assignment was born out the Spirit and not out of the flesh (consensus and voting) like many of our local Church programs and projects!
John said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).
Notice that "consensus and voting" in the local Church usually brings forth an "Ishmael", a product of the flesh!
John also said, "What ever is born of God overcomes the world" (1 John 5:4).
The lord of the world is Satan. Therefore what is born of God cannot be defeated by Satan. Whatever is born of God must succeed and cannot fail!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The Goal of Our Instruction
Every Christian ministry has a goal and there are means to achieve this goal. In general, every believer is involved in teaching in more than one way - in counselling, instruction, exhortation, leading, witnessing, sharing of testimonies and preaching etc. The Bible says, irrespective of the means, the goal of our instruction (or teaching) is love.
The New American Standard is very vivid about this truth:
Paul wrote to Timothy, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5, NASV, emphasis added).
"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 13, NASV).
As a young pastor Timothy was to learn from Paul's example of ministering and teaching believers in love and sincerity. I believe any teaching or instruction of Biblical truth that does not yield love and produce loving people is missing the goal. The goal of our instruction is not only to produce knowledge but love from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. Every true teacher of the Scripture must teach in truth, faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
Types of Doctrine
This message concerns the teaching of Bible Doctrine. There are two types of doctrine:
1. The Apostles' Doctrine
James said, "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment" (james 3:1, NKJV).
The word "teacher" comes from the Greek word "didasklos" which describes many types of instructor - communicator, doctor, master and teacher of doctrine. In the context of the above verse James was talking about teachers in general. God places great responsibility and accountability to teachers. They receive a stricter judgment because God's judgment is according to the measure of light and knowledge given to His people (Matt. 11:20 - 24). The teacher of Biblical doctrine, in particular, recieves stricter judgment because other believers' faith depends on hearing the correct or incorrect doctrine from the teacher.
When three thousand believers were added to the Church after they have heard Peter's first sermon - "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers" (Acts 2:42).
Notice that, of the four activities of the early Church, the most important one is the learning, obeying and applying the apostles' doctrine continuouly with steadfastness. This is understandable because Paul also places great importance of the correct doctrine for new believers:
".... you are .... members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:19, 20, emphasis added).
If believers fail to uphold the apostles' doctrine, the very foundation of their faith will be greatly weakened and thus open themselves to Satan's deceiption. Therefore I believe whenever a local Church has departed from the apostles' doctrine it will inevitably ends up in trouble and failure. In fact the average contemporary Church has already departed from the apostles' doctrine in various degrees!
2. The doctrines of demons
The counterfeits of God's Doctrine (apostles' doctrine) are the doctrines of demons:
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1).
Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled in our days - we are living in the last of the last days. Notice that demons have many doctrines which have their roots from deceiving spirits. Christians who depart from the Christian faith will be deceived by deceiving spirits and they might even "continue steadfastly" in upholding the doctrines of demons without being aware of their problem. I believe one of Satan's major tactics against the Church of Jesus Christ is to produce erroneous doctrines.
In the next two verses (1 Tim. 4:2, 3) Paul lists some of the symptoms of obeying the doctrines of demons - speaking lies in hypocrisy, having no conscience, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from various types of food that are sanctified by God.
The Importance of the Apostles' Doctrine
Paul advised Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16).
In other words, Paul was saying, if you are wrong in your personal life the right doctrine would not accomplish what it should. But, if you continue to live right and preach the right doctrine then you will do well - you will save yourself and those who hear you. The reverse is also true. If a Bible teacher does not live right and preaches the wrong doctrines (doctrines of demons) he brings death (spiritual first and followed by physical) to himself and death to those who hear him!
The apostle John gave some good advice to a Christian (elect) lady concerning false teachers of doctrine:
"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9 - 11, emphasis added).
What radical statements and what a solemn warning!
Notice that the "doctrine of Christ" means the "doctrine taught by Christ and His apostles" which is the apostles' doctrine steadfastly followed by the early Church.
John pointed out that a teacher who does not teach the correct apostles' doctrine is not a true Christian (one without the Father and the Son) and we must neither greet him nor welcome him in our home or we will share his evil deeds. We must have nothing to do with such a fake "christian" but we usually greet a non Christian and welcome him in our home because he is unlikely to deceive us.
It is good that Christians today heed John's advice. The local Church must be very very careful when inviting preachers to teach the congregation of believers. A preacher who draws a large congregation of hearers does not necessarily mean his doctrine is correct. In fact he should be a suspect of being a teacher of wrong doctrine until he is proven otherwise. He must be tested. The genuine uncompromising apostles' doctrine is unlikely to attract many hearers. It is more likely that many will run away the Church.
The Apostles' Doctrine as a Reproductive Ministry
Teachers of Bible doctrine can be divided into two levels - those who initiate and those who reproduce. The apostles' doctrine is initiated by all the apostles. True Christians are all reproducers of this doctrine.
Paul said to Timothy, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Notice that there are four generations of teachers of the apostles' doctrine - Paul taught Timothy; Timothy taught "faithful men" in the Church; these faithful men continued to teach other Christians.
There is reproduction in the teaching of the apostles' doctrine through the overseers (bishops) also:
Paul wrote to Titus concerning the ministry of an overseer, "..... Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).
Paul said the overseer is expected to teach (what he was taught) to others sound Biblical doctrine so as to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts. The only sound Biblical doctrine is the apostles' doctrine. Unsound doctrine has no power to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts.
What it takes to teach the Apostles' Doctrine? - Major Requirements
1. Total commitment to the teaching of the Gospel (Col. 1:23 - 25)
Paul's commitment to be the servant of the Gospel was total. Paul's choice is clear; first a servant of the Gospel and second a servant of the Church. As true servants of God we must not do everything the Church wants us to do, and if there is anything found contrary to the Gospel or the apostles' doctrine, we must not obey the Church.
2. Have a comprehensive grasp of the whole Bible (2 Tim. 3:16)
Every Bible teacher must study and seek to understand the whole Bible if he wants to teach the full counsel of God. For example it is not enough just to study Kings but also the Chronicles. The Chronicles explain many things which are not found in Kings. Another example is in the topic of "faith and works" we need to study both Romans and James.
3. Uncompromising
Unfortunately, most of the truth of the Scripture has been obscured by compromising in the contemporary Church. To be uncompromising is a great challenge to our character. Uncompromising teaching of the Scripture can make us unpopular among believers. Not many believers would like to join an uncompromising Church. Many teachers and believers are unable to discern between compromise and love. To many, to compromise is to love and to be without compromise is to be without love. Who wants to go to a "loveless" uncompromising Church? Many believers will not endure sound Biblical doctrine because they have itching ears (1 Tim. 4:3, 4). They want preachers to preach what they want to hear and not what they need to hear!
This truth is well illustrated by the contrast in character of Moses and Aaron. Moses would not compromise in his dealing with Israel. On the other hand, Aaron compromised and pleased men; the result is the Golden Calf (Exodus 32).
In my opinion, it is not difficult to look for "Golden Calf" Churches. They have two things in common - One, they are all large local Churches; and two, they are "purpose driven" to "love" and please people but never warn people about end-time Bible prophecies. They have no eternity in mind. They lead believers into the broad way of destruction (Matt. 7:13)!
The narrow way that leads to life is found in following and obeying the apostles' doctrine in all circumstances. The choice is ours!
The New American Standard is very vivid about this truth:
Paul wrote to Timothy, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5, NASV, emphasis added).
"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 13, NASV).
As a young pastor Timothy was to learn from Paul's example of ministering and teaching believers in love and sincerity. I believe any teaching or instruction of Biblical truth that does not yield love and produce loving people is missing the goal. The goal of our instruction is not only to produce knowledge but love from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. Every true teacher of the Scripture must teach in truth, faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
Types of Doctrine
This message concerns the teaching of Bible Doctrine. There are two types of doctrine:
1. The Apostles' Doctrine
James said, "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment" (james 3:1, NKJV).
The word "teacher" comes from the Greek word "didasklos" which describes many types of instructor - communicator, doctor, master and teacher of doctrine. In the context of the above verse James was talking about teachers in general. God places great responsibility and accountability to teachers. They receive a stricter judgment because God's judgment is according to the measure of light and knowledge given to His people (Matt. 11:20 - 24). The teacher of Biblical doctrine, in particular, recieves stricter judgment because other believers' faith depends on hearing the correct or incorrect doctrine from the teacher.
When three thousand believers were added to the Church after they have heard Peter's first sermon - "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers" (Acts 2:42).
Notice that, of the four activities of the early Church, the most important one is the learning, obeying and applying the apostles' doctrine continuouly with steadfastness. This is understandable because Paul also places great importance of the correct doctrine for new believers:
".... you are .... members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:19, 20, emphasis added).
If believers fail to uphold the apostles' doctrine, the very foundation of their faith will be greatly weakened and thus open themselves to Satan's deceiption. Therefore I believe whenever a local Church has departed from the apostles' doctrine it will inevitably ends up in trouble and failure. In fact the average contemporary Church has already departed from the apostles' doctrine in various degrees!
2. The doctrines of demons
The counterfeits of God's Doctrine (apostles' doctrine) are the doctrines of demons:
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1).
Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled in our days - we are living in the last of the last days. Notice that demons have many doctrines which have their roots from deceiving spirits. Christians who depart from the Christian faith will be deceived by deceiving spirits and they might even "continue steadfastly" in upholding the doctrines of demons without being aware of their problem. I believe one of Satan's major tactics against the Church of Jesus Christ is to produce erroneous doctrines.
In the next two verses (1 Tim. 4:2, 3) Paul lists some of the symptoms of obeying the doctrines of demons - speaking lies in hypocrisy, having no conscience, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from various types of food that are sanctified by God.
The Importance of the Apostles' Doctrine
Paul advised Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16).
In other words, Paul was saying, if you are wrong in your personal life the right doctrine would not accomplish what it should. But, if you continue to live right and preach the right doctrine then you will do well - you will save yourself and those who hear you. The reverse is also true. If a Bible teacher does not live right and preaches the wrong doctrines (doctrines of demons) he brings death (spiritual first and followed by physical) to himself and death to those who hear him!
The apostle John gave some good advice to a Christian (elect) lady concerning false teachers of doctrine:
"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9 - 11, emphasis added).
What radical statements and what a solemn warning!
Notice that the "doctrine of Christ" means the "doctrine taught by Christ and His apostles" which is the apostles' doctrine steadfastly followed by the early Church.
John pointed out that a teacher who does not teach the correct apostles' doctrine is not a true Christian (one without the Father and the Son) and we must neither greet him nor welcome him in our home or we will share his evil deeds. We must have nothing to do with such a fake "christian" but we usually greet a non Christian and welcome him in our home because he is unlikely to deceive us.
It is good that Christians today heed John's advice. The local Church must be very very careful when inviting preachers to teach the congregation of believers. A preacher who draws a large congregation of hearers does not necessarily mean his doctrine is correct. In fact he should be a suspect of being a teacher of wrong doctrine until he is proven otherwise. He must be tested. The genuine uncompromising apostles' doctrine is unlikely to attract many hearers. It is more likely that many will run away the Church.
The Apostles' Doctrine as a Reproductive Ministry
Teachers of Bible doctrine can be divided into two levels - those who initiate and those who reproduce. The apostles' doctrine is initiated by all the apostles. True Christians are all reproducers of this doctrine.
Paul said to Timothy, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Notice that there are four generations of teachers of the apostles' doctrine - Paul taught Timothy; Timothy taught "faithful men" in the Church; these faithful men continued to teach other Christians.
There is reproduction in the teaching of the apostles' doctrine through the overseers (bishops) also:
Paul wrote to Titus concerning the ministry of an overseer, "..... Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).
Paul said the overseer is expected to teach (what he was taught) to others sound Biblical doctrine so as to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts. The only sound Biblical doctrine is the apostles' doctrine. Unsound doctrine has no power to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts.
What it takes to teach the Apostles' Doctrine? - Major Requirements
1. Total commitment to the teaching of the Gospel (Col. 1:23 - 25)
Paul's commitment to be the servant of the Gospel was total. Paul's choice is clear; first a servant of the Gospel and second a servant of the Church. As true servants of God we must not do everything the Church wants us to do, and if there is anything found contrary to the Gospel or the apostles' doctrine, we must not obey the Church.
2. Have a comprehensive grasp of the whole Bible (2 Tim. 3:16)
Every Bible teacher must study and seek to understand the whole Bible if he wants to teach the full counsel of God. For example it is not enough just to study Kings but also the Chronicles. The Chronicles explain many things which are not found in Kings. Another example is in the topic of "faith and works" we need to study both Romans and James.
3. Uncompromising
Unfortunately, most of the truth of the Scripture has been obscured by compromising in the contemporary Church. To be uncompromising is a great challenge to our character. Uncompromising teaching of the Scripture can make us unpopular among believers. Not many believers would like to join an uncompromising Church. Many teachers and believers are unable to discern between compromise and love. To many, to compromise is to love and to be without compromise is to be without love. Who wants to go to a "loveless" uncompromising Church? Many believers will not endure sound Biblical doctrine because they have itching ears (1 Tim. 4:3, 4). They want preachers to preach what they want to hear and not what they need to hear!
This truth is well illustrated by the contrast in character of Moses and Aaron. Moses would not compromise in his dealing with Israel. On the other hand, Aaron compromised and pleased men; the result is the Golden Calf (Exodus 32).
In my opinion, it is not difficult to look for "Golden Calf" Churches. They have two things in common - One, they are all large local Churches; and two, they are "purpose driven" to "love" and please people but never warn people about end-time Bible prophecies. They have no eternity in mind. They lead believers into the broad way of destruction (Matt. 7:13)!
The narrow way that leads to life is found in following and obeying the apostles' doctrine in all circumstances. The choice is ours!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Understanding Biblical Water Baptism
It is impossible for every believer of Christ to understand fully the mysteries surrounding water baptism. Similarly, it is also impossible for every believer to understand fully all the commands of Christ. But we are not called to understand all the things of God; we are only called to obey. It is the will of God that every God-fearing child of God to believe and to obey every command of Christ found in Scripture. The need of water baptism is such a command (Matthew 28:19).
Moses said to all Israel, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, ....." (Deu. 29:29, NKJV).
Solomon said, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter" (Proverbs 25:2).
John said all believers are made kings and priests (by Christ) to God the Father (Rev. 1:6).
In the light of the above Scripture passages it is good for us to search out the Scripture all the "secret" things of God pertaining to water baptism. We need to identify the problems and controversies concerning the need of water baptism for all believers.
Problems identified
The following are some of the commonly asked questions pertaining to the need of water baptism:
1. Is water baptism just a sacrament (or an ordinance) like the Lord's Table (Holy Communion)?
2. Is it true that a person is not born again (or saved) until he is water baptized? In other words, is water baptism a necessary condition for salvation?
3. Is water baptism simply an outward symbolic sign of an inward spiritual experience? In other words, is water baptism a means of testifying the grace of God?
4. What is the correct mode (or form) of water baptism? Does it matter?
5. What is the correct formula of water baptism? Does it matter?
6. In summary - What is the proper Scripture answer, and what is the apostolic interpretation of the practice of water baptism in all its related areas?
As this message is not a detailed study of the doctrine of water baptism, it is not necessary to have a theological definition of water baptism. It is also not necessary to study the various interpretations of water baptism as a sacrament according to various denomination Churches. We are talking about Biblical water baptism - a Biblical practice supported by the Scripture. Or water baptism according to the apostles' doctrine. Thus we only need to give Biblical answers to the above questions.
Water Baptism and the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper
The only similarity between water baptism and the Lord's Supper is both are the commands of Christ - All believers must be water baptized once, and all must part take of the Lard's Table as often as possible. In the early New Testament Church water baptism was done outside the Church building because believers must be water baptized before they were brought into the fellowship of the local Church. Ordinances (sacraments) only have meaning when these ritualistic activities are carried out in a Church service. There was no mention of the sacrament of water baptism in the early Church because all believers were already baptized. We are told that the activities of the early Church (or Christian community) consist of teaching of the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper and sharing of meals) and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Water baptism as a sacrament is man's idea and not God's. According to Church scholars the act of water baptism seen as a "sacrament" is to relate a physical act to a spiritual reality. Thus Christian water baptism is "an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace". Salvation is a spiritual grace of God; and water baptism is a visible physical act to testify that the person concerned is saved by grace.
Water Baptism and Regeneration (Salvation)
I prefer to use the term "regeneration" rather than the term "saved" to indicate the spiritual condition of a person when he is born again by the Spirit of God. As I have explained in some of my previous messages, "salvation" is not an instant change, but a "journey" to be taken by all believers of Christ because when we are born again only our spirit is born again. We have to wait for the final redemption of our soul and body when Christ comes again.
According to the Scripture when a person is born again by the Spirit of God he needs to be water baptized. By the examples given in the Book of Acts all believers were baptized almost immediately.
The pre-requisites of water baptism in their divine order are:
1. Repentance
The first pre-requisite is repentance. Jesus said that repentance and the remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations (Luke 24:47, emphasis added).
Notice that "Repent" was the first word of John the Baptist's message (Matt. 3:2). It is also the first word of Christ's message (Matt. 4:17).
Peter said to those who had listened to his first sermon, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins; ....." (Acts 2:38, emphasis added).
Paul preached to the Ephesians elders, ".... testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21, emphasis added).
Hence, the first requirement is "repentance" which is a person's change of mind to turn away from sin and to turn toward God.
2. Believe in the Lord Jesus
As in the above verse of Scripture (Acts 20:21) the second pre-requisite of water baptism is faith toward God through Jesus Christ which also means believe in Jesus Christ.
When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, they came to some water and the Ethiopian asked Philip if there was anything that hindered him from being baptized. Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may" and he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37).
The Philippian jailor and his household were baptized immediately after they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31 - 33).
It may be concluded that genuine repentance precedes saving faith. The one who is to be baptized must be a repentant and believing person first. Thus the divine order is - repentance, believing faith and water baptism.
The Mark 16:16 Controversy
According to most English Bible translations Mark recorded that Jesus said to the eleven apostles, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
In my opinion, this verse of Scripture is controversial because of two reasons:
1. It appears that the conditions for a person to be saved are "belief" plus "water baptism". Many Christians presumptuously take this verse to mean that without water baptism a person will be condemned eternally. To them water baptism is a decisive act required of a believer to determine his own eternal destiny - spiritual life or death; in heaven or in hell. In other words, anyone who believes but fails to be water baptized before he dies will not be found in heaven. Seen in this "light" salvation cannot be by the grace of God only but by "works" also. A believer needs to earn his savation by the act of water baptism. He is not saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but saved by his own choice - to be water baptized or not.
2. There is footnote concerning the 20 verses of the 16th. Chapter of Mark of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It says:
"Some of the most ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8. One authority concludes the book by adding after verse 8 the following: 'But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation'. Other authorities include the preceding passage and continue with verses 9 - 20. In most authorities verses 9 - 20 follow immediately after verse 8; a few authorities insert addition material after verse 14".
Notice that, if all versions of translation of Mark 16 do not contain 9 - 20 the question of whether water baptism is a condition of salvation or not will arise. But, as it is, we cannot take Mark 16:16 out of context. In fact we need to exercise caution in the use of this verse as proof-text for the conditions (faith + water baptism) for salvation. It should also be noted that in the second half of the verse the only basis for condemnation is a refusal to believe.
Let us look elsewhere in the Bible in order to arrive at an undisputable Biblical conclusion:
1. No mention of the requirement of water baptism when Jesus said:
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18, NKJV).
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24, NKJV).
2. Paul repeats the same assurance of freedom from condemnation for anyone who believed. Again baptism is not a requirement for freedom from condemnation:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).
The truth is a true believer lives in Christ Jesus even before he is baptized. If he is condemned when he dies before he dies before he is baptized, then Jesus would be condemned with him!
3. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). Similarly, a born again believer believes in God and it is also accounted to him for righteousness.
Faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised (Romans 4:10). Similarly, a believer's faith was accounted to him for righteousness before he is water baptized.
Therefore the undisputable conclusion is "a believer will not be condemned even if he is not water baptized". The only basis of salvation and freedom from condemnation is belief (have faith in Jesus Christ).
Water Baptism is an Act of Identification with Christ
The following passages of Scripture support the fact that in water baptism a believer is identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection:
1. The believer is identified with Christ's Death:
"Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3, emphasis added)?
2. The believer is identified with Christ's Burial:
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, ...." (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).
3. The believer is identified with His Recurrection:
"..... Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).
The above is logical - as Jesus became identified with us in His death, burial and resurrection, so we become identified with Him in water baptism in this same death.
The Mode (or Form) of Water Baptism
There is no controversy here. The very word "baptize" implies total immersion. The symbolism view of identification with Christ as explained above indicates that the correct Biblical mode of water baptism is by full immersion. Only full immersion adequately sets forth properly the significance of identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4 - 6).
You cannot find a single example of other modes of water baptism (pouring or sprinkling) being practiced anywhere in the entire Book of Acts. I believe other modes of water baptism are being practiced because water baptism has become a ritualistic sacrament (or ordinance) in most denomination Churches. This is very unfortunate. It might be argued that, because water baptism is a symbolic act which does not save, there is no significant difference between full immersion and sprinkling. But we must also consider the faith and conscience of the believer being baptized. By failing to minister full immersion baptism to a Christian of "weak" conscience and of little faith, the Church would cause him to stumble. Anyone who causes a brother to stumble in faith, causes him to sin against God:
Paul said, "..... whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).
Notice that Paul would not cause any of his Christian brothers to stumble on anything (1 Cor. 8:13).
The Formula of Water Baptism
What is the right formula? To be baptized "In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Christ's Command - Matt. 28:19) or "In the Name of Jesus"?
Careful study of the Books of Acts shows that everwhere without exception all believers were baptized in the Name of Jesus. Places mentioned were - Jerusalem, Samaria, Gaza Desert, Damascus, Caesarea, Philippi, Corinth and Ephesus.
In my opinion baptism into the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the same as baptism into the Name of the Eternal Godhead. According to the apostolic interpretation, the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Name of the Godhead Bodily.
Paul, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).
Paul says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17, emphasis added).
Water baptism involed both words and deed and thus must be carried out in the Name of Jesus.
Who are the Baptizers?
Christians often have the notion that only the pastor or elders of the local Church have the authority to administer water baptism. But I fail to find any example in the Book of Acts or in the epistles that a baptizer must be an apostle or an elder of the Church. It is true that very ofter apostles are the baptizers but it is never a necessary condition. It is common to see Bible teachers debating whether it was possible for Peter and other apostles to baptize all three believers (Acts 2:41) immediately they had received Peter's words and believed. But this is mere speculation.
Water baptism was never self administered and another believer needs to be present to bear witness of the grace of God. The Scripture seems to suggest that just the presence of the baptizer and the one to be baptized are sufficient even though more witnesses might be more desirable.
Even Jesus Himself was baptized by John who was not himself baptized (Matt 3:14). So, the baptizer need not even be someone who is baptized already.
This fact tells me three things:
1. The three thousand who believed the words of Peter baptized one another immediately.
2. The effectiveness of water baptism seems to have depended much more on the spiritual state of the baptized than the baptizer.
3. Christians who are doing evangelism work (this applies to every believer) should baptize immediately with full immersion those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior. This I believe is the Biblical way of fulfilling the Great Commission. Notice that Matt. 28:19 applies specifically to every believer: Make disciples and baptize them. Nothing in the Bible to say that we should bring them to the Church to get them baptized by the pastor and then make them disciples! A true believer in Christ must not be deceived by this erroneus Church doctrine but uphold the apostles' doctrine at all times.
Conclusion
Water Baptism although by the act itself cannot save must be obeyed because it is a command of Christ. Through water baptism the believer will have "the answer of a good conscience towards God". It is a conscience that is stirred up by the believers' faith towards God. It is a conscience which lines itself up by submission and obedience to the infallible Word of God.
Moses said to all Israel, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, ....." (Deu. 29:29, NKJV).
Solomon said, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter" (Proverbs 25:2).
John said all believers are made kings and priests (by Christ) to God the Father (Rev. 1:6).
In the light of the above Scripture passages it is good for us to search out the Scripture all the "secret" things of God pertaining to water baptism. We need to identify the problems and controversies concerning the need of water baptism for all believers.
Problems identified
The following are some of the commonly asked questions pertaining to the need of water baptism:
1. Is water baptism just a sacrament (or an ordinance) like the Lord's Table (Holy Communion)?
2. Is it true that a person is not born again (or saved) until he is water baptized? In other words, is water baptism a necessary condition for salvation?
3. Is water baptism simply an outward symbolic sign of an inward spiritual experience? In other words, is water baptism a means of testifying the grace of God?
4. What is the correct mode (or form) of water baptism? Does it matter?
5. What is the correct formula of water baptism? Does it matter?
6. In summary - What is the proper Scripture answer, and what is the apostolic interpretation of the practice of water baptism in all its related areas?
As this message is not a detailed study of the doctrine of water baptism, it is not necessary to have a theological definition of water baptism. It is also not necessary to study the various interpretations of water baptism as a sacrament according to various denomination Churches. We are talking about Biblical water baptism - a Biblical practice supported by the Scripture. Or water baptism according to the apostles' doctrine. Thus we only need to give Biblical answers to the above questions.
Water Baptism and the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper
The only similarity between water baptism and the Lord's Supper is both are the commands of Christ - All believers must be water baptized once, and all must part take of the Lard's Table as often as possible. In the early New Testament Church water baptism was done outside the Church building because believers must be water baptized before they were brought into the fellowship of the local Church. Ordinances (sacraments) only have meaning when these ritualistic activities are carried out in a Church service. There was no mention of the sacrament of water baptism in the early Church because all believers were already baptized. We are told that the activities of the early Church (or Christian community) consist of teaching of the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper and sharing of meals) and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Water baptism as a sacrament is man's idea and not God's. According to Church scholars the act of water baptism seen as a "sacrament" is to relate a physical act to a spiritual reality. Thus Christian water baptism is "an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace". Salvation is a spiritual grace of God; and water baptism is a visible physical act to testify that the person concerned is saved by grace.
Water Baptism and Regeneration (Salvation)
I prefer to use the term "regeneration" rather than the term "saved" to indicate the spiritual condition of a person when he is born again by the Spirit of God. As I have explained in some of my previous messages, "salvation" is not an instant change, but a "journey" to be taken by all believers of Christ because when we are born again only our spirit is born again. We have to wait for the final redemption of our soul and body when Christ comes again.
According to the Scripture when a person is born again by the Spirit of God he needs to be water baptized. By the examples given in the Book of Acts all believers were baptized almost immediately.
The pre-requisites of water baptism in their divine order are:
1. Repentance
The first pre-requisite is repentance. Jesus said that repentance and the remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations (Luke 24:47, emphasis added).
Notice that "Repent" was the first word of John the Baptist's message (Matt. 3:2). It is also the first word of Christ's message (Matt. 4:17).
Peter said to those who had listened to his first sermon, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins; ....." (Acts 2:38, emphasis added).
Paul preached to the Ephesians elders, ".... testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21, emphasis added).
Hence, the first requirement is "repentance" which is a person's change of mind to turn away from sin and to turn toward God.
2. Believe in the Lord Jesus
As in the above verse of Scripture (Acts 20:21) the second pre-requisite of water baptism is faith toward God through Jesus Christ which also means believe in Jesus Christ.
When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, they came to some water and the Ethiopian asked Philip if there was anything that hindered him from being baptized. Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may" and he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37).
The Philippian jailor and his household were baptized immediately after they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31 - 33).
It may be concluded that genuine repentance precedes saving faith. The one who is to be baptized must be a repentant and believing person first. Thus the divine order is - repentance, believing faith and water baptism.
The Mark 16:16 Controversy
According to most English Bible translations Mark recorded that Jesus said to the eleven apostles, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
In my opinion, this verse of Scripture is controversial because of two reasons:
1. It appears that the conditions for a person to be saved are "belief" plus "water baptism". Many Christians presumptuously take this verse to mean that without water baptism a person will be condemned eternally. To them water baptism is a decisive act required of a believer to determine his own eternal destiny - spiritual life or death; in heaven or in hell. In other words, anyone who believes but fails to be water baptized before he dies will not be found in heaven. Seen in this "light" salvation cannot be by the grace of God only but by "works" also. A believer needs to earn his savation by the act of water baptism. He is not saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but saved by his own choice - to be water baptized or not.
2. There is footnote concerning the 20 verses of the 16th. Chapter of Mark of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It says:
"Some of the most ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8. One authority concludes the book by adding after verse 8 the following: 'But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation'. Other authorities include the preceding passage and continue with verses 9 - 20. In most authorities verses 9 - 20 follow immediately after verse 8; a few authorities insert addition material after verse 14".
Notice that, if all versions of translation of Mark 16 do not contain 9 - 20 the question of whether water baptism is a condition of salvation or not will arise. But, as it is, we cannot take Mark 16:16 out of context. In fact we need to exercise caution in the use of this verse as proof-text for the conditions (faith + water baptism) for salvation. It should also be noted that in the second half of the verse the only basis for condemnation is a refusal to believe.
Let us look elsewhere in the Bible in order to arrive at an undisputable Biblical conclusion:
1. No mention of the requirement of water baptism when Jesus said:
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18, NKJV).
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24, NKJV).
2. Paul repeats the same assurance of freedom from condemnation for anyone who believed. Again baptism is not a requirement for freedom from condemnation:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).
The truth is a true believer lives in Christ Jesus even before he is baptized. If he is condemned when he dies before he dies before he is baptized, then Jesus would be condemned with him!
3. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). Similarly, a born again believer believes in God and it is also accounted to him for righteousness.
Faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised (Romans 4:10). Similarly, a believer's faith was accounted to him for righteousness before he is water baptized.
Therefore the undisputable conclusion is "a believer will not be condemned even if he is not water baptized". The only basis of salvation and freedom from condemnation is belief (have faith in Jesus Christ).
Water Baptism is an Act of Identification with Christ
The following passages of Scripture support the fact that in water baptism a believer is identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection:
1. The believer is identified with Christ's Death:
"Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3, emphasis added)?
2. The believer is identified with Christ's Burial:
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, ...." (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).
3. The believer is identified with His Recurrection:
"..... Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).
The above is logical - as Jesus became identified with us in His death, burial and resurrection, so we become identified with Him in water baptism in this same death.
The Mode (or Form) of Water Baptism
There is no controversy here. The very word "baptize" implies total immersion. The symbolism view of identification with Christ as explained above indicates that the correct Biblical mode of water baptism is by full immersion. Only full immersion adequately sets forth properly the significance of identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4 - 6).
You cannot find a single example of other modes of water baptism (pouring or sprinkling) being practiced anywhere in the entire Book of Acts. I believe other modes of water baptism are being practiced because water baptism has become a ritualistic sacrament (or ordinance) in most denomination Churches. This is very unfortunate. It might be argued that, because water baptism is a symbolic act which does not save, there is no significant difference between full immersion and sprinkling. But we must also consider the faith and conscience of the believer being baptized. By failing to minister full immersion baptism to a Christian of "weak" conscience and of little faith, the Church would cause him to stumble. Anyone who causes a brother to stumble in faith, causes him to sin against God:
Paul said, "..... whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).
Notice that Paul would not cause any of his Christian brothers to stumble on anything (1 Cor. 8:13).
The Formula of Water Baptism
What is the right formula? To be baptized "In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Christ's Command - Matt. 28:19) or "In the Name of Jesus"?
Careful study of the Books of Acts shows that everwhere without exception all believers were baptized in the Name of Jesus. Places mentioned were - Jerusalem, Samaria, Gaza Desert, Damascus, Caesarea, Philippi, Corinth and Ephesus.
In my opinion baptism into the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the same as baptism into the Name of the Eternal Godhead. According to the apostolic interpretation, the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Name of the Godhead Bodily.
Paul, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).
Paul says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17, emphasis added).
Water baptism involed both words and deed and thus must be carried out in the Name of Jesus.
Who are the Baptizers?
Christians often have the notion that only the pastor or elders of the local Church have the authority to administer water baptism. But I fail to find any example in the Book of Acts or in the epistles that a baptizer must be an apostle or an elder of the Church. It is true that very ofter apostles are the baptizers but it is never a necessary condition. It is common to see Bible teachers debating whether it was possible for Peter and other apostles to baptize all three believers (Acts 2:41) immediately they had received Peter's words and believed. But this is mere speculation.
Water baptism was never self administered and another believer needs to be present to bear witness of the grace of God. The Scripture seems to suggest that just the presence of the baptizer and the one to be baptized are sufficient even though more witnesses might be more desirable.
Even Jesus Himself was baptized by John who was not himself baptized (Matt 3:14). So, the baptizer need not even be someone who is baptized already.
This fact tells me three things:
1. The three thousand who believed the words of Peter baptized one another immediately.
2. The effectiveness of water baptism seems to have depended much more on the spiritual state of the baptized than the baptizer.
3. Christians who are doing evangelism work (this applies to every believer) should baptize immediately with full immersion those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior. This I believe is the Biblical way of fulfilling the Great Commission. Notice that Matt. 28:19 applies specifically to every believer: Make disciples and baptize them. Nothing in the Bible to say that we should bring them to the Church to get them baptized by the pastor and then make them disciples! A true believer in Christ must not be deceived by this erroneus Church doctrine but uphold the apostles' doctrine at all times.
Conclusion
Water Baptism although by the act itself cannot save must be obeyed because it is a command of Christ. Through water baptism the believer will have "the answer of a good conscience towards God". It is a conscience that is stirred up by the believers' faith towards God. It is a conscience which lines itself up by submission and obedience to the infallible Word of God.
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