John 15:6 - Burning Branches

John 15:6

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

Message: Burning Branches

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: That lesson yesterday was interesting and the idea that I looked at later that Jesus is the true vine of Israel and the branches are now us, His followers. He starts to shift His focus to abiding in Him and the importance of this. Verse 3 I looked at yesterday, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you" is an interesting verse I didn't comment on. Looking at the commentators, I saw this from theologian Matthew Poole (1624-1679):

Now that the traitor is gone out from you, ye are all clean; not by any works which you do, much less upon the account of any legal and ceremonial rites and purifyings; but through my word, your believing and obeying, Ephesians 5:26 1 Peter 1:22. Our cleansing is in holy writ attributed sometimes to the blood of Christ, sometimes to the Spirit, sometimes to the word. By the blood of Christ we are made clean as to justification, washed; but yet we had need wash our feet, contracting soil every day in a sinful world, from which we are cleansed by the purifying virtue of the Holy Spirit, working by and together with the word, which purgeth us of our dross, and maketh us obedient to the will of God.

What an interesting take on this, The words spoken to the disciples and speaking to their state of being clean, purified. They are clean because of the Word spoken by Jesus. The blood justifies us, but still in our daily life we are cleansed by the Holy Spirit working with the Word of God to make us obedient to the will of God. It is only the blood that justifies us and makes us clean. 

But now here in verse 6 seems to be a further explanation possibly of verse 2, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away." That verse spoke of bearing fruit and in verse 6 Jesus mentions, "not abiding in Me." Abiding to me is simply the conclusion now of every believer once justified by faith. Abiding starts with faith and then continues with praying, obedience with the Holy Spirit as our purifying agent in the world to make us obedient to the will of God. To me, the Christian without works is a dead faith. I don't think this means though works justify us, but the works are a result of our salvation and the true Christian does work. 

As I was speaking to my wife we were thinking of a friend recently that has cut herself off from any interaction with her parents because of years of being offended by them, of feeling oppressed and in response she has purged these people from her life. But those people are believers in Christ. She has simply decided that their presence in her life is against her nature. It seems odd. I mean it is one thing for the Christian to want to not embrace the cares of the World, but to take this position toward people of faith. The question arose of whether she is a Christian and if she ever was if she can take this continual position of not having love for her neighbor, her provider, her father/mother. It has created now an animosity and a tit-for-tat by her sister and family. Now, I don't believe that is right either. I think the parent and sister must continue to display themselves as wanting the relationship and opening their arms back up to her the moment she comes back. It is simply sad to see this stubbornness that is present. 

I mention this in wonder of this idea of abiding and what it looks like in the life of a Christian and how it needs to look and display itself. As people of faith, we need to have a desire to be purified completely by God's word, not simply in part. And yet the way this friend is displaying herself is similar to the dogmatic view that many of faith hold in regards to their own understanding of scripture and fettering out all others that do not hold to the same conviction. 

My point is the point that I think is addressed in this scripture and it is one whereby the Christian is always and constantly seeking for ways to better conform themselves to the way of Christ. We want to be people that bear fruit and so we need to constantly make sure our lives our working in this direction. 

As learned previously, sometimes people are simply wanting to be acknowledged as a member of the visible church, the church that they believe they should be rather than surrendering themselves completely to God and His word and be a member of God's invisible church. We are not simply to be counted as accepting by a person, but counted as being accepted by God. 

I have a person that has been asking me a question recently of whether him committing suicide will result in God banishing him to hell. He is looking for my opinion and I want him to look to God for His opinion, not mine. Let God define this in His life, not me. 

Summary: In abiding, we need to be people that our lives look like our faith. In trusting in Christ, abiding in Him is a life of living, asking God to prune, so that our lives are marked by fruit. 

Promise: Professing Christians who are not bearing fruit, even meager fruit, have no warrant to believe they are actually saved. 

Prayer: O God, you are good. You are glory and you are perfect and you are my ideal. You have chosen Me for some reason I do not know, but I do know as I surrender to You and yield my life to You, good things happen and You do indeed bear fruit in my life. It is not because of me, but because of You in me. I am marveled by this. It is easy for me to think that I am the one that is doing the great work, but let me keep the glory on You. And I pray that I continually have this desire to bear fruit. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:47-50 - Christ the Judge

John 12:47-50 

47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

Message: Christ the Judge

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Tabletalk mentions today in this devotional. a consistent theme in the Bible, a contrasting outcome of all people: 

Daniel 12:1-2 - "Now at that time [the time in which troubles are the greatest; typically, towards the close of Antiochus' reign; antitypically (foreshadowing), the time when Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ's coming] Michael, the great prince who stands over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress* such as never occurred since there was a nation [that is, ever since the world was, from the beginning of it, from the creation of the world] until that time; and at that time your people^ everyone who is found written in the book# [the first contrasting outcome - those written in the book], will be rescued. And many [more likely 'all'; but still may be specific still to Israel prominent during the reign of Antiochus] of those who sleep in the dust [grave] of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt [the second contrast - those resurrected to eternal contempt]."

* - Matthew 24:21 - for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of world until now, nor ever shall. 

^ - "the Jews, the people of Daniel; these shall be delivered not only from the then present outward troubles, not only from their present captivity and afflictions, but from their spiritual evils; from the bondage of sin, and the captivity of Satan; their disbelief of the Messiah; their confidence in their own righteousness, and attachment to the traditions of their fathers; they shall be turned from their transgressions, and return to the Lord their God, and David their King, and shall be truly converted, and spiritually and eternally saved..." - John Gill (1697-1771); Romans 11:25 - "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery— so that you will not be wise in your own estimation— that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in."

# - "By those found written in the book, or, as it is expressed, Isaiah 4:3, 'written among the living in Jerusalem,' may be understood, 1st, The pious Jews who should be preserved from the mischief and ruin designed them by Antiochus; but more especially, 2d, Such as should believe in Christ when he appeared, embrace his gospel, and become his true disciples, who should escape both the temporal calamities coming on their countrymen, and obtain spiritual and eternal salvation through him. It includes, 3d, Those who should be converted in the latter days, and restored to their own land; and lastly, All that should be found written in the book of life at the day of final judgment, that is, all truly justified, regenerated, and pious persons." - Joseph Benson (1749-1821).

This is one of my first times to take a moment in studying Daniel 12:1-2. It is interesting to me that the contrast of death and life is not always only spoken of in the Bible as occurring upon physical death but that which occurs also from spiritual death to spiritual life. Our death being in our sins and then the turning point of life which occurs by God (Glory Be!) like is mentioned in Ephesians 2:4-6, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." As Daniel 12:1 ends, "will be rescued." That idea of being made alive and being rescued places the glory completely on God and just continues to mesmerize me and challenge my thinking. 

This leads us to this text and the dividing line between life and contempt, salvation and condemnation. Verse 47 is an interesting verse as it specifies that hearing and not doing does not merit judgment. In other words, it seems the key here is verse 48 and rejecting Jesus. Following Jesus' teachings is not salvation. Following Jesus is the key. It is accepting Him. It is a combo of rejecting Him AND not receiving His sayings. The focus is not works. I'm immediately reminded of those that only speak of Jesus as a good teacher. Their focus is simply on what He has said and doing what He has said. But they are not acknowledging Jesus as the one who saves. They are rejecting His allegiance with God and having been sent by God. 

The words of John of Jesus are so clear. He speaks, but He speaks from the Father - "just as the Father has told Me."

Summary: The consistent them of the Bible is people go to everlasting life or everlasting contempt and believing in God, believing in Jesus, sent by God is the dividing line. 

Promise: It is urgent to believe in Jesus now.

Prayer: God, it is good to get into your Word and read it. I thank you for the encouragement of my friend Scott and his simple words yesterday of diving in Your words and studying them and that reminder that I have been living without this the last 2 weeks and realizing my time today with You needed to be important and a priority. So thank you for the richness of Your words today and the greatness of the salvation You have given me. You have rescued me. You have made me alive in Christ. I am forever in Your care, forever with You, starting now. All glory goes to You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 11:45-53 - An Unwitting Prophet

John 11:45-53

45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.

47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.

Message: An Unwitting Prophet

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: After Jesus brings forth Lazarus from the dead, many of the Jews who had come to this area, believed in Jesus. Jesus had shown them His relationship to the Father and that the Father is in Him and the Jews believed. Thus, there were Jews believing in Jesus. Not all, but there were Jews believing (v. 45). I think this is significant because Jews are being impacted for the gospel. And they still are today. 

But some of them responded by going to the Pharisees (v. 46). These were individuals that were basically snitching on Jesus and going to the Pharisees with the purpose of inciting some sort of controversy about Jesus, with the idea that people will come together and figure out a way to stop Jesus from saying these things about Himself and His relationship with the Father. For these, it did not matter the evidence that was being presented by Jesus, they were intent on disregarding Him and this is the condition of many a person. The Spirit needs to awaken in man that desire for Him. 

But the Pharisees intent first convene a council. They are taking this seriously. What Jesus is doing is serious to them. They believe that if Jesus continues to speak and do these things that many will believe in Him. They see Him as a threat. Their concern: losing "our place and our nation (v. 48)." Losing our place could mean they fear losing the temple but also their fear losing their purpose and vocation. One of the chief issues by man is this fear - the though that who they are will be lost and I think we all struggle with this to some degree. We have a difficulty conforming to the rules because we are individuals, proud of our individuality and fear we will lose that in surrendering our lives to Him. If allegiance shifts from their ways to Jesus, the Romans could then dissolve the Sanhedrin and destroy the temple.  

And Caiaphas makes a statement that is most revealing. In verse 50 he states and agrees that better for one man to die that the entire nation period. And then in verse 51-53 is his prophecy that Jesus will not only die for the nation but for all of those children of God all over. And so his fear and Jesus' reality the same - all will be saved. 

Summary: After seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, many Jews believed, but many others did not and these went to the Pharisees to plot Jesus' death.   

Promise: God works through intentions of fallen people to bring about His good will. 

Prayer: O God, I submit myself and surrender Myself to You and that desire I have You have given me and I am thankful that I can see that You are greater than I. That this world does not surround itself around Me, but around You and Your purposes for us individually and globally. You show me God your purposes will get carried out no matter what, even through those who are against You. It is because of those that are against You that you have died for my sins. They end up carrying out God's mission. Yes, Lord, you use those acts to carry out your eternal favor on all of Your children. How Great You are God. How Great You are. And yet God you don't want to see anyone fall from you and spend eternity outside of your Presence. Your love is great and great for all mankind. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:9b-14 - The Lame Man's Greater Need

John 5:9b-14

Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, "Take up your pallet and walk." They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, "Take up, your pallet, and walk?" But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you."

Message: The Lame Man's Greater Need

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: The next set of verses transition to the Jews. After the lame man has been healed, the Jews criticize him for carrying his pallet, despite the fact that Jesus had told him to, "Take up your pallet and walk." The Jews ask who the man is but the lame man that was healed doesn't know. Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and tells him now that he is well, do not sin anymore so that nothing worse befalls him. 

Sin is worse than being unable to walk properly. Sin is worse than any other human ailment. Jesus did heal the man and in the process took away from the man what the man thought was his biggest problem. 

Is not this our same problem still today? That is, what we think is our biggest problem is not our biggest problem. Following the pandemic and through the COVID pandemic, it because even clearer that our biggest problem people think they have is their health. It is true that health is focused on life and death on this earth and yet our response to sin or rather how Jesus has died for sin is the biggest issue of the day for it determines where our eternal life will be. 

Even prior to the pandemic I saw this continually emphasized in our prayer circles at church, in that what we brought to the Lord in our prayer requests was most often health related matters. I always thought we were like the lame man, thinking this is what is most important. Maybe because as people, this is the only thing in our lives that we feel we don't have control. And so when COVID hit, and life because so fragile, we proceeded to do at whatever level of person inconvenience - preserve our health. 

And yet Jesus says to the lame man and to me -- "do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you." Our greatest need is to turn from sin, believe in Jesus and move to living each day for Him. 

I've struggled with this - that is - taking something that has been valued greatly in my life and then seeing that something is more important and then wondering how I am to view that which was previously more important. Like what is our response to COVID or any sickness once we establish that sin is more important? I mean, Jesus healed the man. He wanted to give the man something that was important to him. But we must never lose sight in the fact that sin and dealing with sin is most important. 

We still don't know if this man, that Jesus healed, ever became a saved man. He blamed Jesus for having to carry his mat/pallet.  

Summary: Jesus tells the lame man, after he has healed him, that still his greatest problem remains - sin and how the man responds to it. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Our sovereign God may choose to intervene and bring about an unexpected physical healing. It is good and right to pray for Him to do so. Yet we must never forget that people need spiritual restoration far more than they need physical healing. As we minister to others inside and outside the church, let us not fail to call people to faith and repentance."

Prayer: Lord, I love this scripture and its application. It is my heart cry that we would value supremely what you value and that would be our focus always. May sinners be founds saved from the wrath to come and sealed with God for eternity. Lord, help me to make this my greatest focus with people. I'm thankful to hear of Bill who took a moment to do this with an employee at Target. I'm reminded of Dion Lear who had a pen with a simple gospel message that he shared often with others. What's holding me back Lord? 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 4:39-42 - The Savior of the World

John 4:39-42

And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to Him, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." 

Message: The Savior of the World

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I love these passages for they have in them little nuggets that I have heard most of my life, like the last phrase, "Jesus is indeed the Savior of the World." Citing Jesus as Savior was most likely using terminology popular during the 1st century in describing the Greek gods as Saviors and Roman emperors as well. And so in describing Jesus as Savior it probably means a little more then because Jesus is above every other perceived leader or deity. And Jesus is the one over all. And yet this does not mean that all are saved because of that proclamation but rather it is only in and through him that people can be saved. 

This passage in John 4 is an example of the harvest being ripe and many coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Salvation has occurred for these people. The woman bore witness of her experience with Jesus and people listened to this woman. Again, women were not respected or their words valued during these times and yet her words had an impact on them and they sought to follow Jesus because of what she said. 

And now they have seen for themselves. It is not clear to me what Jesus said to them. The previous verses seem to be verses he is speaking to his disciples, explaining to them what is truly meant by doing the will of God and planting seeds and reaping what you sow to experience then the fruit of that labor. 

Summary: Many Samaritans put their faith in Jesus and they proclaimed Jesus Savior of the World.

Promise: Christ is the only Savior of the World and there is no hope apart from him for salvation and eternal life. 

Prayer: Lord, your message of renewal and salvation and eternal life continues to be shared. You Jesus are still making an impact today and saving souls and bringing good news. I want to praise you God and Jesus and Spirit for making me know and showing me the way. You are one God, the only true God and I praise You. Keep bringing people to the knowledge of You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Pursuing Assurance of Salvation

I John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

2 Peter 1:3-11
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."

Message: Pursuing Assurance, Assurance and Sanctification, False Assurance

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is exclusive. I John 5:13 states, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." There are not multiple ways, but one way. Refuse to believe and one is condemned. Peter states in 2 Peter 1:10, "give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." Again, what you believe is important; nothing more important. It is one thing to believe an airplane will take you from one destination to another, but it is quite something else to board that plane, experience it and actually travel. Again, in reading the Bible we must remember the two perspectives, what God knows and what people experience. They are not always one in the same. God is infinite, all-knowing. Man is finite with boundaries. A God who created the world is different from a man who builds a house. Jesus uses pictures or stories to communicate truths. The Parable of the Sower is one of the stories. This parable tells us to simply look at the type of soil we are, but to examine oneself. Again, to what 2 Peter 1:10 says, make sure. Confirm your faith. And so we go through a process, according to scripture to confirm or have assurance of our being saved. 

I John in general is a great book to speak to assurance of one's salvation. I find a lot of similarities between it and what I read and studied in John 3 about the Light and Darkness. I John tells us to "walk in the light", to confess our sin. Again, walk and confess are the first subjects spoken of in the book. Romans says, "For all have sinned." Romans 1 is a book that speaks of people falling away from their faith and one of the marks of a person falling away and distancing themselves from God is "being wise in their own eyes." People who think they are great do not think they have done anything wrong. 

I John also tells us to keep His commandments, to Love One Another, to Not Love the World, to practice purity or righteous living. So many people treat faith like going to the supermarket, it is good and necessary to do but not something I need to do all the time, only when I'm hungry. But, this isn't a part of our life, this is our entire life. As I John 2 says, we can't practice sin and expect to abide in Him. We must live the way our heart states we are to live. We are to give to those in need. And also test those spirits because there are alternate truths or beliefs that will be presented to us throughout life. Again, these are all ways we assure our salvation. They prove to ourselves that we are saved. Paul says, to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."  Each of us needs to know we are in Christ, it is part of our duty. 

Therefore, much of our faith is about reminders. 2 Peter 1:12 says, "Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present in you." And much of scripture is written to remind us. I see this in the Old Testament. God wants people to honor Him and yet there are numerous examples of him continue to love and provide for His people despite their rejection of Him. He wants His name to be great. He wants us to know that our lives will be lived better, with more peace as we live according to His ways. 

I think we can know we are saved. We can know we are set apart. We can have that same knowledge that only God can have. Other faiths don't agree. Again, there are differences in understanding. Our faith systems are made up of people talking and conversing and further developing their faith. 

Some say that having this assurance makes one not want to serve and yet this misses the point of the assurance because this assurance is not a one time event, but a continual process, I believe. Assurance grows us in holiness. 

Knowing I am saved encourages me to do good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 speaks of my salvation by grace alone not be works, but then in verse 10 I am moved to do those good works. The works don't save me because that is an act of God. I am not God. God is different from me. The works I do confirm my faith. Without the works I am not saved, it is true. But the works are there to strengthen me and give me assurance. 

Matthew 7:21-23 is a great passage and the pastor preached from this text this past Sunday. For the first time I was really struck by the phrase, practice lawlessness and it reminded me of I John 3:4, "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness." The stumbling block of our faith is continually practicing our sin. We need to rise to a point in our lives where sins that we have struggled with in the past are somewhat conquered. 

The focus today on this passage though is the danger of false assurance. These are individuals who think they are saved, but are not. I found that when my friend and I went to the mall to speak to about what they believe, we often found people that believed they were fine with God. I think what stands about this passage is this individuals were practicing supernatural sort of things such as casting out demons and performing miracles. These are not ordinary people that may think they are saved because of growing up in the church. These are individuals that are practicing religious theatrics. But perhaps they are not doing them with the right motives. 

The point in this verse to me is we need to evaluate our motives always for what we are doing for God and get serious about our sin. 

Summary: Assurance of Salvation is possible and necessary in our life as we grow towards holiness.

Prayer: O Father God, I praise you for granting me that assurance that I am born again and sealed forever with You. Thank you for that assurance and providing me multiple ways in Scripture to confirm this in my life.  

John 3:17-18 - Why God Sent His Son

John 3:17-18

17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Message: Why God Sent His Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As mentioned today in my Tabletalk reading, "we should note that most commentators believe that verses 16–21 were not spoken by Jesus but are rather John’s expanded commentary on Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus." It somewhat makes sense because it seems odd in a way for Jesus to say these words about Himself and God. Jesus always spoke of himself as the Son of Man and yet here the reference is to Son of God. And yet because they come from John does not make them any less significant. Verse 15 and 16 is a culmination of the words spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus on needing to be born again. 

Verse 17 is further clarification and the reason God sent Jesus to the world, for salvation to all people. God's desire is to save people. And the way we are saved is through Jesus. Jesus provides a way for sinners to escape condemnation. He is the way and I still can't see how this can be a partnership. To me, it is either Jesus does it all or man does it, but I do not see how it can be shared. 

But condemnation or judgment is the result of not believing. 

I think many thought of the day that the Messiah would come to condemn. Man deserved this. But in these words we see pardon instead. He will at some point judge the living and the dead but his first mission is to save. I see this often in the Old Testament, God's love for His people, their disobedience, His punishment but then also His pardoning of their sin, in order to restore and keep them as His people. God wants to be praised, I believe. 

Summary: Those who look to Christ escape condemnation, but those who refuse to trust Him are as good as condemned already.

Promise: As we share the gospel with others, we need to take care to warn them that rejecting Christ as Savior will mean their eternal condemnation.

Prayer: You are Savior and You are Lord. Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for making me whole. Continue to draw people closer to You in every way and bring grace and mercy to the world. Help me direct people to the truth of being born again. 

John 1:47-51 - Seeing the Way of Salvation

John 1:47-51

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Message: Seeing the Way of Salvation

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus has left Nazareth and now is in Galilee. Andrew and John, Peter and Phillip and Nathanael. And in this passage today is a conversation between Jesus and Nathanael. Jesus and Nathanael see one another and acknowledge one another, and in the process acknowledge some things. Nathanael is probably coming to get to know Jesus a little better and figure out who He is. Nathanael is an Israelite. 

Nathanael is startled a little because Jesus already knows who He is and had seen him prior. It is not clear if Jesus is showing his all-knowing attributes here or maybe he did see him previously. And yet in Nathanael's response he believed there was something supernatural by what Jesus had done. 

Nathanael calls Jesus King of Israel, Son of God. This is one more title or name given Jesus so far in this book (Word, Light, One, Him, Son of God, Lamb of God). And then Jesus utters a phrase he will repeat often, "Do you believe?" Believe is really the major crux of Jesus. Do people believe in Him? 

And Jesus is remarking one of the first steps of discipleship and that is believe. We must believe before we can trust. 

And Jesus lets him know that as Nathanael is with Jesus and follows Him, then Nathanael will see things, great things, like the heavens open and the angels of God ascending and descending. Being with Jesus will be greater than anything. 

In those words is something interesting as well from Jesus, "You will see." It is repeated twice, in verse 50 and 51. Philip in the previous lesson said to Nathanael, "Come and see." The promise we have with Jesus is to come and see and we will see. Life will be much fuller and complete once we see and behold Jesus, The Spirit illuminates us and gives us understanding and then in Christ we see more than we could have dreamed. It is not that we need to have a major illumination or experience. But it is simply trusting in Him and being guided by Him that we see that life is full and complete. 

And in addition, Jesus says, "You will see greater things than these." This is a great promise from God. I had great joy at my salvation. I often listen or hear the song from Edin Adahl, "Bring back the joy of my salvation" and yet the longer I am following Jesus, the greater it is. Upon salvation, it is only the beginning. The more I am in fellowship with the Lord and see Him in creation, in people, in all things, my faith multiplies and I see and behold Him more and more. And Jesus seems to be expressing this to Nathanael that today is only the beginning. We always have hope for tomorrow, for the future. He promises us heaven and eternal life. We know life will only improve in Christ. 

In these words, Jesus proclaims something significant and that is he is the one who intercedes or go between heaven and earth on behalf of sinful man. 

Alexander Maclaren states on this:

He makes a mightier claim than any that they had dreamed of, and proclaims Himself to be the medium of all communication and intercourse between heaven and earth: ‘Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

Christ is the ladder between heaven and earth and so he is the way of salvation. This appears to be a direct reminder of Jacob's Ladder whereby it joins heaven and earth. And the Son of Man is present between heaven and earth, bridging the gap. He is going to heaven and coming back for Man so as to take to heaven. 

Note: My understanding and writings today come from Alexander Maclaren who I really enjoy reading. 

Summary: Jesus proclaims that is present between heaven and earth, going back and forth, taking His people to heaven from earth, back and forth. We see him. We believe. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "On this side of heaven, the greatest thing we can see is Jesus as the way of salvation. Seeing and believing in Him is the only way to heaven."

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this passage and for Alexander Maclaren and the gifts you gave him to preach and teach Your words. I love to read him and understand so very well what you have done for me. You changed this text before me after a first reading and made it come alive, in seeing you and believing in You and giving me hope for the future. Thank you for Your promises and the joy in knowing You. Thank you for the hope we have for the future and for constantly renewing our hope and keeping me excited about tomorrow. 

Romans 9:22-24 - God's Glory in Salvation

Romans 9:22-24 

22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Message: God's Glory in Salvation

Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.

What the Lord is Saying: Salvation is a manifestation of God's glory. And He alone will receive the glory because God will not share His divine glory. Today's passage is compelling for it reveals much about God and what He does and did in saving sinners. It contrasts two types of people - "vessels of wrath" and "vessels of mercy" to display two works of God - the work of demonstrating His wrath for sinners and then also showing mercy for sinners. Whether in demonstrating wrath or showing mercy, he shows His power. 

This is a most interesting passage that I have studied before. It is a sobering truth that some people are on a course of wrath and others on a course for mercy. Only the divine agent knows the difference. And yet God commissions us to share the gospel with everyone, to be involved. But in people's salvation, it is the work of God and His mercy. He shows this mercy in saving us. And yet, His wrath also shows His glory for it shows His justice. For the saved, they will display works of righteousness and God will be glorified through their words and action. For the unsaved, they will display works of destruction and God will not be glorified through their words and actions. Redemption for some and wrath for others, but in both instances God is glorified. His ways are right and true. 

The point today, in this passage, is to remind us that God's Glory is displayed in Salvation. In yesterday's lesson we saw His glory made known through creation as God is creator. Man cares for creation and God can even work through man to give him the ability to discover, but ultimately God is our creator. In the same way He saves mankind and He is the author of salvation and the one He saves. Like creation, God involves people and commissions us to make disciples. 

Summary: God's Glory is evident in salvation as His glory is shown both on those He shows mercy and those that receive wrath. 

Promise: Mediate on the riches of God's grace today so that you will see more clearly the riches of God's glory. 

Prayer: O Lord God, you are good and gracious. Your ways are right and true. Lord, I do not understand the intricacy of salvation but I surrender to You always for I know that Your word reminds me that You God save sinners while also judge sinners. I see the difference in some are vessels of wrath and others vessels of mercy. But both are your actions. You are glorified and so I praise You and worship You. I look at myself and the wicked man I am, the sinner, and am amazed at your kindness. Thank you for changing me and giving me a desire for truth and working through me. Be glorified. 

I Corinthians 7:17-24 - Called from Every Vocation

I Corinthians 7:17-24

17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

Message: Called from Every Vocation

Time: Not the first, but 2nd letter to Corinthians, but the first to survive and to be considered authoritative. Written in AD 55, it was penned after Paul had reports of quarreling in this church he had previously visited. Paul covers a number of subjects, but all focus on the Christian's life in the church. 

What the Lord is Saying: It is interesting to me to understand the context of this passage. In Paul's day, the City of Corinth was the most important city in Greece, as it was a hub of worldwide commerce, but it also was a culture that was degraded and included idolatrous religion. Paul, in this book is firm as he deals with (1) divisions in the church, (2) disorder in the church, and (3) difficulties in the church. The New Testament church is young. Christ was crucified in AD 33 and so this is 22 years later, at a time when this church does not possess the Bible that I have in front of me today in its entirety. At this time, there would have only been penned Matthew, Galatians and James and yet we simply don't know how much of these letters or words were a part of the church. And so this letter Paul is writing to the Church becomes their doctrinal statement and my guess is much of how their church begins is through word of mouth. 

Chapter 7 gives the listener at the beginning principle for married life and at the end principles for the unmarried as well as remarriage. In the middle, my Open Bible has today's reading with a heading of "Principles of Abiding in God's Call." Again, I find this interesting that Paul seems to be addressing how one is to live. 

He writes to an audience that is probably Jewish and yet also Gentile. And he brings up first circumcision - an important practice of the Jew and yet he states what should be important in the life of a follower is not this practice (verse 18), but rather what is important is keeping the commandments of God (v. 19). Verse 19 seems to be the pivotal verse of this section and namely the last part -- what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. What matters is our obedience not who we are (freeman or slave, circumcised or not). Verse 23 says, you were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. We are to be a people of God. We need to be concerned about what God deems important. God has bought us, called us, made us all free (verse 22 - the Lord's freedman). 

Look at the similar thinking in Galatians 5:6, a writing by Paul that occurred at the same time. he says, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Circumcision is a rite or ritual, but liked I learned in the October 2017 issue of Tabletalk when I studied sacraments, this practices can be important and perhaps we can even say they are needed but I still can't say they are required. If Paul is telling us that circumcision does not mean anything in regards to freeing a man or being purchased, then it seems the purpose of the rituals or sacraments is therefore to point us towards God. And so they can be important, but we always need to be mindful that they do not in and by themselves lead to salvation nor are they on a salvation timeline or checklist that leads one to being saved or in Christ. But rather they can help us and point us toward that right relationship with God. 

I Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel... This does not mean that baptism is not important. In that verse he seems to be saying to not let the issue of whether you have been baptized or not divide you. Rather be united by the gospel and who we are in Christ. 

In time I have really come to enjoy the British minister Alexander Maclaren and his writings from the 19th century. He breaks this chapter and verse down in a way that really resonates with me. Again, don't get too caught up in the ritual that you miss the relationship with Jesus. Galatians 5:6 says what is important is faith working through love. In today's passage it is keeping of the commandments of God. It is doing the will of the Father. Jesus said in Luke 22:42, Not my will, but thine be done. 

Galatians 6:15 says, For neither circumcision anything, not uncircumcision, but a new creation. What is most important is my newness in Christ. What matters is getting to that new state of John 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

And so I am back to what is key. What is the key? Faith is the key. By trusting in Christ I become a follower of Christ and become one that keeps the commandments of God. I am a new creature created in Christ Jesus for good works. And so I want to live for Him. I want to learn from Him. I want to be like Him. And yet I live in the world and am called to be in the world and yet not to be conformed to it. Every step, every day I am Christ. I am His. And as His I am to be about the will of the Father. It is automatic if I let it. If I let my mindset change, it will change. Don't make it about duty or checklists or rituals. Make it about Him and letting Him renew me. Let my mind be renewed. 

And so today, this lesson, "Called from Every Vocation", the lesson is simple. Be it freeman or slave, it does not matter. I am called to do the will of the Father. I do the will of the Father whether circumcised or uncircumcised, whether having been baptized or not baptized, taking the Lord's supper or not, married or not married, having children or not having children, rich or poor, Gentile or Jew, black or white, Baptist or not, Lutheran or not, Presbyterian or not. What matters is not me or my affiliation, but the will of the Father. It is not form or ritual, it is being in Christ so that then all things will flow forth. Wherever God has placed me, that is where I serve Him. 

Summary: Be it freeman or slave, it does not matter. I am called to do the will of the Father. 

Promise: The important thing to remember is that wherever we labor, we can labor for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for waking me up this morning. I woke up bothered by last night and the work I was doing. Whatever it was that woke me up it brought me to Your Word and brought me to a lesson that has been on my mind so often and a lesson that I so badly wanted to know and see. The lesson is that You have saved me. And in saving me, you have made me knew. O God, how I want to get out of the way and instead let you Spirit live in me the will of the Father. It only happens because of Christ being in me. Awakened by the Spirit, brought to faith by Christ, so that I may do the will of the Father. Renew me daily. As I live in this world, I do not want to be conformed to it. Keep me non-conformed. Keep me trained for Godliness. Keep me close to you. Thank you for calling me at this moment in the work you have and from it I can serve you as good as anyone else. What matters is being in Christ. Thank you God. Thank you for gripping me today with these truths. If I can, help me to pass it on. 

Acts 2:38 - Baptism and Forgiveness

Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Message: Baptism and Forgiveness

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.

What the Lord is Saying: I am enjoying taking a deeper dive into these studies on baptism and its significance as a sacrament. As I have studied in the last 2 lessons -- Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. For me in these studies, there needs to be a strong emphasis on baptism and its work before God in 3 persons and then being regenerated as a Called One of Christ. It is true that not everyone that is baptized will be part of the kingdom of God but this should not diminish the act of baptism. Baptism needs to be important in the life of the believer, of the person being regenerated. I think it needs to be something that each person that has made a decision to follow Christ does. In the previous lesson it speaks of how there is change in that person or a renewal. 

In today's passage it speaks of the forgiveness of sins. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith speaks of Baptism in 28.1. 

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.

Thus, there remains this close relationship between a person repenting and then being baptized. Acts 2:38 states that baptism follows repentance. "Repent and be baptized..." Thus, before one is baptized they repent of their sins.  

There are places in scripture that speak of salvation into the Kingdom of God that do not speak of baptism. I understand now that this does not mean that Baptism is not necessary, but I think repentance is the first key to our lives. It is the commitment and the act to turn oneself from sin and run towards Christ. We repent and then as we do baptism assures us that God has cleansed us from our sin and forgiven us. Thus, baptism gives us confirmation of God cleansing us. 

I definitely have not thought of baptism in this way in my life. I have heard some say it is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Yet, what it seems to be that we repent and turn from sin and then baptism confirms our forgiveness of sin. A baptized person can be a saved person, but a non-baptized person can still be a saved person and a baptized person can be an unsaved person. I am still not sure it is a requirement but it is very important and with the language about it being so prevalent in scripture, I think it is something that needs to be present in the life of every believer. It is not something to shy away from. 

For me, I believe a person can be complete in Christ following repentance but still it is a command and we need to follow through on baptism to the best of our ability, as soon as we can. I think a person can be complete because of so many instances of this in Scripture. And yet baptism needs to be present in the life of a follower of Christ.  

The Westminster Confession acknowledges that baptism can occur with an infant. I don't understand this thinking. This doesn't seem to be a valid form of baptism, but the reformers I know agree with this thinking.  

I'm still struggling with this. I also think that well Jesus has the authority to forgive sin. He forgives sin often in the Gospels. But forgiveness by people always was in the form of people acting. In the Old Testament, people would sacrifice animals. They carried out an act. In the New Testament people are baptized. And so people have this responsibility to act. As people we need to see these outward signs of our commitment to Him. But let's not get caught up in thinking that doing these acts saves people.  

Summary: People who have repented need to be baptized. It confirms their new birth to the visible church.  

Promise: The water of your baptism is God's unbreakable promise to you to forgive you when you repent. But it is the Spirit that cleanses us. God cleanses us. Baptism reminds us in a visual way to the visible church God's promise to cleanse and forgive. 

Prayer: Lord, this subject is one that I continue to struggle with in understand. Perhaps it is the way some people share it with me - with such authority that if a person is not baptized then they are not saved. And yet on the flip side I struggle with it that maybe it is too much of an afterthought. You have given us words that speak of its importance and so Lord help me to be one that confirms its practice. Right now, I'm thinking of my son-in-law Brandon and him sharing to me that he has not been baptized. Help me to encourage him in this. And continue to give me wisdom and guidance as I have future conversations about this with others. 

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - Word and Sacrament Together

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Message: Word and Sacrament Together

Time: Not the first, but 2nd letter to Corinthians, but the first to survive and to be considered authoritative. Written in AD 55, it was penned after Paul had reports of quarreling in this church he had previously visited. Paul covers a number of subjects, but all focus on the Christian's life in the church.

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson, I expanded on the idea of sacraments, these rites or acts we do and how they point to an act of God in a person's life. They reveal truth and reveal something in a person's life. They have a special relation or union between the sign and the thing signified. In this lesson, I will continue to study and connect these dots. 

Towards the end of my time what I saw was a way for us to see salvation in others through these sacraments and have a visible way to confirm faith. And so baptism and the Lord's Supper give breath to our visual world in helping us understand and believe spiritual truths. 

As we take these sacraments and administer them they are not simply done in silence but we spend time as they occur explaining the union of practice and grace. In the Lord's Supper we share scripture about it -- like today's passage. In baptism we talk prior to the act about salvation and what we see in baptism - death (a person under water) and resurrection (a person coming up out of water). In this practice we also observe what Christ did as well as he was baptized and he instituted the Lord's Supper. So we know that these events in our lives are important but they are joined with words and not simply acts alone. Even in other acts such as a marriage union it is important to speak of what God is joining together and it is of His doing. 

Faith is heard. Romans 10:17 - "Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ." So this speaking of the Word of God is paramount in the practice of the sacraments. No one can simply say they did it without the Word of God coming together with the Sacrament. 

In today's passage we witness this coming together and connection. Again, by themselves bread is simply a part of our meal for eating and nourishing and wine or drinking the cup is the same. But in this practice we make mention that the bread and cup have a connection to God giving up Himself for the salvation or giving of His life for sinners -- “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And lately I have been marveled at the usage of the language of cups in the Bible. Wondering if this cup of the Lord's Supper also can speak of God's wrath and His conquering of it in my life (Jeremiah 25:15).  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” The sacrifice occurs in the Body and the Blood takes the place of my sin or the need for judgment/wrath. 

Summary: These acts or rites we observe are empty without the words of God bringing these acts into significance with what Christ has done on our behalf. 

Promise:  It is the preaching of God's Word and the administration of the sacraments that must go together. Let us not let eagerness to meet Christ in His sacraments cause us to neglect meeting Him in His Word.

Prayer: O God, thank you for the gift you give us in these Sacraments and how we can come to know you better as we practice this ordinances of Your Grace in our lives. Help me to always stay grounded in Your Word as we witness or practice these sacraments. I pray the Word of God would remain paramount in our lives and unite us in these practices. Bring churches together and help us to not focus so much on our differences but our similarities so that we have more Unity within the Body of Christ. 

Joel 2:12 - Fasting in Worship

Joel 2:12

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;

Message: Fasting in Worship

Time: Little is known of the prophet Joel. He identified himself as the son of Pethuel, preached to the people of Judah, and expressed a great deal of interest in Jerusalem. A date of approximately 835 BC or soon after is what can be pieced together. Joel gives no indication of the time period.

What the Lord is Saying: Fasting is the lesson today. Corporate and individual. Lately, whenever I think of fasting, I think of my brothers and sisters in Africa and how fasting is a normal part of their lives - a common occurrence. My friend Daniel and new convert Akeem in Nigeria have been fasting for 30 days now. A friend in Tororo, Uganda mentions that he and his church fast frequently, dedicating their time together to pray for all of the various needs of their community and beyond. In contrast, fasting is something in the United States that is not mentioned much or I don't hear of people fasting very much or at all. 

And in this lesson today, the writers of Tabletalk mention that fasting is not necessarily only an individual practice by people but something groups of people will do or the church even corporately. 

Today's passage from Joel 2 is an interesting call by the priests of that day to warn people of the consequence of sin. In this passage is a description of the impending judgments - the Day of the Lord is coming (Joel 2:1) - and then its description follows. There is meant to be an alarm going off before the people of the intensity and wide effects of this judgment (darkness, never been like it nor again, nothing escapes it, people are trying to flee with all of their power because of what is coming, people in anguish, faces pale, who can endure it?). It affects everyone and this description seems to take up the first 11 verses of the chapter. 

And so then the response from the people is a response now to return to God with all of our hearts. "All" to me points to everything. It is consecrating everything to Him. It is complete surrender. It is to align ourselves only with the way of Jesus Christ. It is to stare at everything in our life that is potentially an idol and turn from it. The word "return" is used. "Return to Me." It is the realization that we have gone astray, that I do go astray, that I get myself off track often and aligned in other realms and other dimensions of my life and so I need to return to God. And so in this recognition, this turning from our sin - is it just to be different? Yes. But the response begins first with a time of "fasting, weeping and mourning." 

To start new is to wipe out everything that was there before. And for us as believers in Christ, it starts with fasting. Everything is silenced for a moment (food, TV, screens, worldly ways), for a time to get things right with God and this includes weeping and mourning over getting off track in my life -- so that when I start anew I start right with him, then introducing things into my life that are correct. It is pulling back and seeing that the going through of the motions of life is moving me away from Him. It is complete surrender and complete turning away from sin to embrace completely Christ and His righteousness. 

In some ways this is what happens anytime I come before God. It is right now as I read and discover this passage and spend time alone with God as I start my day. It is when I gather together with other Christians and re-root myself as we discuss our lives and how they have gotten off-centered and Christ needs to be at the center. It happens when I go to church and sing songs and lift up the name of Jesus in song and praise. I return to Him, to center myself, to align myself with him, setting aside all that has happened maybe in the week prior of getting my focus off of Him. And in that there is worship through fasting, through weeping over my sin and what I did, mourning over my sin and the consequences that resulted from that. 

And then what follows is verse 18 and beyond is God's deliverance. See the problem - turn - God will save. This the extent of the gospel -- 1) see your sin; 2) turn from your sin and 3) God saves us. 

In this seeing sin is seeing that judgment is real and is coming. This is a reminder I need, because in my selfish interests continually of getting things I want I forget about this future judgment actually taking place. It is true I made a point decision in life in 1982 to turn from sin to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, but this turning needs to be daily because the temptation to follow idols is present each day. And so because of this, shouldn't my actions be fasting, weeping and mourning - over the fact that I trade truth for a lie continually. 

Summary: I need to realize that judgment is a reality. I have wandered from him and still do. Judgement is coming. So stop. Return to God. With All of My Heart. Start with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 

Promise: When we fast, we are driven to more urgent prayer and to remember our creaturely dependence. If you have not fasted before, consider whether you should fast and pray this week.

  

Prayer: O God, wow. Your word is so alive. Even in this moment, you remind me that judgment is coming and from that I can see more clearly now that I still get side tracked and away from you and aligned with other priorities of my days and get off track. I refuge in entertainment, selfish ways. Yes, I work hard, but I don't actively and intentionally bring you up and show others that what I am doing is for your glory. God, I return to You. With all of my heart. I consecrate all of me to You. You are Holy Forever. I can then start afresh with Fasting, while in those moments I weep and mourn for my past sin of replacing You. O God, thank you that you are there waiting to deliver me and set me right always. You are the God who saves. You are Holy Forever. 

TABLETALK - August 2017 Article Summaries

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. Communion in Gifts and Graces - As believers joining in Christ’s sufferings we have community, exercising our spiritual gifts, in order to grow up the Body of Christ. Receiving and Giving God's Love - We come together because of His sufferings, but once we are together, we are to be about exercising our gifts to build up and grow one another, and it is done with love. 

Significant People from Church History

The Witness of Polycarp - Athanasius' Defense of the Incarnation - Thomas Aquinas and the Knowledge of God - John Calvin's Offering to the Lord - Jonathan Edwards and the Beauty of Christ

What I've learned from this study

As I finish this study now on the church body, I am left with the conclusion that church is not optional. That we must assemble with one another and that community is something we all need. First and foremost, it is important for each of us to come together regularly and agree on the principles of the gospel and that who we are is because of Christ and we are to boast in Him and what He has done for us individually and collectively. For the sake of the gospel, we are striving to be a part of the invisible church which is the church only God knows because only He knows the true condition of each person's heart. What we are doing as we assemble is meeting up with the visible church or those that we see. Yet, we must realize that there are those with us that are not part of the true church. And we are not all alike that are in the church. The church is made up of people from every tribe, every tongue, throughout history. And the church is more than one place. The invisible church I believe is made up of people in all walks of life, attending all different types of churches and denomination of churches today and in history. I think we need to be careful to avoid the temptation to boast in anything but Christ and this includes boasting that our church is the only true church. As such, we need to remember that we are all still fleshly beings with temptations and are influenced daily to live in manners more pleasing to Satan than God. This happens even in the church. But Christ is the head and we need to be centered on Him. Once we are in church, we need to submit to our leaders. A church needs to be committed to preaching the word of God and observing the sacraments - The Lord's Supper and Baptism. We need to keep encouraging the Gospel, turning from our sin, and returning to Him. And just as there is service and work in our world, it is to be present in our churches. We are all members of the Body of Christ. The church leaders that are often paid are not the only members, but we are all to be serving with the gifts that He has given us. Why? To grow me and to grow one another. This was probably one of my biggest learning aspects in this study and that is that tendency in me to be selfish. And the reminder that in serving I am to be about helping others grow. This is why ministry continues to call me in life - to talk to people at the mall, online as I do, and others face to face - and I need to do this at church as well with that Body of Believers. This is what life is really about - getting myself grounded but then also serving others to help them grow in Christ. 

Here also is a summary of the articles from Tabletalk for August 2017. 

Searching for Truth - Dr. Burk Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine) - As a pastor, when people find out he is one, they react in many different ways. Most of the time their response will be to start asking various questions. We are inquisitive people by nature and in this age, many are searching for answer's to life's ultimate questions. Pastors do have a responsibility and probably more opportunities and yet like a pastor, each Christian is a theologian and apologist. Every Christian is to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15). As people ask questions, we must be ready to speak and the Holy Spirit will give us courage and compassion to speak the truth in love. It is the Holy Spirit that opens people's eyes and makes them alive to the glory of Jesus Christ. 

The Role of Experience - R.C. Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We live in a time when personal experience or personal feelings have been elevated to the final criterion of right and wrong (e.g. divorce and no longer feeling like being married; homosexuality based upon the feeling of being attracted to the same sex; even Christians made decisions based upon how they feel). People always said the 4 minute mile could not be achieve, then Roger Banister in 1954 achieved it. Experience is a good teacher, but the problem is when we see it as always the final authority. Experience is not a license to disobey God. Some people claim an experience with the Holy Spirit that led them to do things contrary to scripture but this is impossible. Only the creator can be the final arbiter of right and wrong. 

Is There a God? - Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson - (Ligonier ministries teach fellow and author of many books; previously served as senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.) - This question is both easy and hard to answer succinctly. First, to answer the question - "Why is there something there, and not nothing?" The cosmos, my existence, and my ability to reason all depend on the fact that life did not and could not come from nothing, but requires a reasonable and reasoning origin; time + chance = reality is impossible. Second, this God is the biblical God for 2 reasons: God grounds what we know of the cosmos and His existence is the only rational basis for rational thought and communication. Atheists must borrow ultimately from the tenets of the Bible to even define their thoughts. What is good, true, rational, intelligible, and beautiful has no substructure. Even my conscience is fabricated as is "meaning." The Atheist has traded what is plain to them and repressing what they deep down know to be true: Romans 1:18–25. Our hearts are restless until we find him and begin as the Bible begins with, "In the beginning, God..." 

Is the Bible the Word of God? - Dr. Michael J. Kruger (President & Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC) - Skeptics often question the Bible, calling it fanciful stories, but it is a Spirit book and "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14). (1) - Scripture itself has divine qualities - it convicts (Heb. 4:12–13), it encourages (Ps. 119:105), it comforts (v. 50), and it brings wisdom (v. 98). All others have woven together a single, coherent message. (2) - God worked through man to reveal His word at the correct time; despite much scrutiny, the words are proven to be historically reliable. (3) - It is a book with words that people have been using, trusting, reading, and applying for thousands of years. Jesus even said: "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

Does God Care? - Dr. John Blanchard (1932-2021; apologist and teacher; director of Popular Christian Apologetics) - Atheists say no God; deists say God marks the field and watches from the grandstands. Yet the Bible says differently. After Adam and Eve sinned he said, "Where are you? (Gen. 3:9). And then he would send a redeemer to rescue them. And throughout history, God's care for his people is recorded. "He delivered them from their distress (Ps. 107:6)." Despite all Job went through he stated to God, "your care has preserved my spirit (Job 10:12)." We often don't treat God well and then David asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Ps. 8:4). Hard to comprehend and yet "because He cares we can cast all of our anxieties on him." (I Peter 5:6-7). And as He cares for us we are tasked to take care of others, of "orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). 

Is Jesus Really God? - Dr. James R. White (author, director of Alpha and Omega Ministries) - Read the words of Jesus and the writings of the disciples, in their context, and Jesus being God is the conclusion. (1) Jesus at His trial. When the chief priests were trying to find testimony to put Jesus to death - "Are you the Christ?" "I am. You shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power." The priests heard this statement and accused Jesus of blasphemy (Mark 14:55-54). Looking further at Psalm 110:1 - My Lord (Jehovah) says to my Lord (Adonai). David is writing and Adonai is a person of authority and based also on 110:5 - The person of authority is the Messiah. And Daniel 7:13 - There came on like the Son of Man, like of human descent - Not merely a man, but the Messiah. (2) Jesus defending the healing of a man on the Sabbath by stating both He and His Father (God) are able to work on the Sabbath showing God His Father and Himself equal with God (John 5:10-18). (3) Jesus states he has authority over life - and states He will lay His life down and take it up again or rise again (John 10:17-18). (4) The disciples speak - Titus 2:13 - God and Jesus Glory appears; 2 Peter 1:1 - God and Savior are righteous; John 12:41 - His Glory; This language is not merely of a man. He is worthy. We cannot be neutral about Jesus. He is worthy of our praise. 

Is There Only One Way of Salvation? - Dr. James N. Anderson (Associate professor of theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary) - "Have it Your Way" was the Burger King Slogan of the 1970s and as in consumerism this same message is brought into our thinking of how we achieve heaven or the afterlife or acceptance by from God. Yet, Jesus was clear - only those that believe in Him have eternal life (John 3:14-17). It is a clear message from Jesus. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (14:6; Matt. 11:27). As CS Lewis says - Either He is Lord over all, or He is Lord at all. The charge is arrogance to the Christian and yet we do mean that all other religions are wrong. And yet we are a people that often wants to negotiate in matters of life and death. In medicine, it seems ludicrous to not accept the cure for a disease and yet we all think we know best. Yet, God will not compromise His truth. His way is the only way as is voices by His apostles (Acts 2:39; 4:12; 16:31; 20:20–21; Rom. 10:9–17; 1 John 2:22–25; 4:14–15; 5:12–13). Yet, it must be that we truly do not understand the problem - that we are sinners standing under the righteous judgment of God, unable to make adequate atonement for our sins. Only Jesus removes this enmity between God and man, bearing the penalty for our sin (Rom. 5:6–11; 2 Cor. 5:18–21; 1 Tim. 2:5–6). 

Is God Unjust - Jared S. Oliphint (Phd. student in philosophy at Texas A&M and Th.M. student at Westminster Theological Seminary) - In the garden, Adam took the bite of forbidden fruit and God introduced earthly justice, resulting in his death, though it was a delayed sentence. But God also showed grace and mercy, two new ideas. God's people ask God to end betrayal, slavery, exile, and death. God's justice is fulfilled on Good Friday. Ultimate rest from injustice will be found in a new, eternal home. 

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People? - Dr. Greg Lanier (professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary) - Bone cancer in children, terminal cancer, abuse of a neighbor's child, terrorist bombings, hurricanes devastating entire islands. Important to distinguish between the head/intellectual side and heart/emotional side. Does the suffering of good people disprove God? 1. The question assumes there is "good" and "evil." Thus, a standard, hopefully a Godly one that determines right and wrong. "Evil" people do not think they are themselves evil. 2. Presupposes that suffering matters because humans have a unique dignity over animals and we are not randomly on this earth. Rocks and trees do not suffer. 3. There can be good reasons from God for suffering (punishment for sin Judges 2:11-15; display God's justice Rom. 9:19-26; driver sinners to repentance Ps. 119:71; the death of Jesus accomplished the good of salvation Acts 2:22-24; 4:8-12). 4. Despite evil and suffering, God is still benevolent to people. The idea of "do good, receive good, do bad, receive bad" does not hold true. Despicable people can prosper. "the sun rises on the good and the evil; rains on the just and the unjust Matthew 5:45." In other words, God's ways are not man's ways. It is inevitable, thus our response together, with one another, is to comfort one another with the loving comfort we have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3-7); grieve with people (Rom 12:15); bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2); and point people to Jesus who will wipe away every tear and one day all will be fixed (Rev. 21:4). [My observation: the conclusion is God knows best and He is in control. I still think sin is evil and has far reaching results on mankind that go even beyond quid pro quo in which there is a favor for a favor. And in general man thinks they know best always and always wants to be in control.]

Are the Bible and Science Compatible? - Dr. Keith A Mathison (professor of systematic theology at Reformation Bible College) - The issue here is how one defines the Bible and science. If one is a book of fairy tales and the other a book of facts, then obviously there will be conflict. Christians believe God is infallible. He reveals himself through his works that we see and read about in His Word. He is always truthful so if we think there is a conflict then the problem is our interpretation. Because humans are fallible, if there is a problem it is always man, never God. Science is not to blame. Science reveals to us the works of God. General revelation is God revealing Himself through His created works. Special revelation is God revealing Himself through His word. Between the two there is no conflict. For example, some find in scripture words that infer the earth as a flat disc and yet if it is true that it is a sphere based upon what we see and what science says, then the problem is our interpretation. How we interpret is always the cause of misinformation. Science and scripture are compatible unless we make them incompatible. Science is not the problem. False philosophies masquerading as science is the problem. As usual, it comes down to interpretation.   

Who Are You to Judge? - Gregory Koukl (president of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics and Story of Reality) - "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1) is often misunderstood. To judge is to find fault. True moral guilt (admitting our fault) though is central to the Christian message. It seems acceptable to warn people that they may be caught by the law if they are breaking it (i.e. speeding in a car). Secular society believes that no one is allowed to pass judgment of any kind. Morality is now a matter of personal opinion. And yet this is not really true because judgment is warranted when it suits the secularist. Again, the complaint is against absolute truth. Often the thought is people want to be left alone. The best way to counter this is by asking questions. Ask "What do you mean?" This helps you understand what people are feeling as it is possible an apology is in order. Clarify that the standard is God's standard. Can also say, "Are you saying it's never right to point out a wrong? If so, they why are you doing it with me right now?" However, we are not trying to catch people in a fault or be clever, but we are aiming to have people recognize their sin, so that this will turn from it and toward the mercy of God. 

Is This Life All There Is? - Dr. Bruce R. Baugus (Associate professor of philosophy and theology at Reformed Theological Seminary) - God has put eternity in man's heart (Eccl 3:11). In each person is a deep seated sense that there is more to this life than this life. Humanity is fascinated with the afterlife; it is a cardinal principle of every religion. It is why living only for temporal pleasures rarely satisfy. Epicureanism (300 BC) argued that pleasure was the chief good in life; this is the way of living many Americans are in today. And yet the sense of eternity is stamped on our hearts. Jesus constantly spoke of the dilemma of man - 2 eternal states - a glorious kingdom of peace and a dreadful place of outer darkness. He issued sober warnings of each. And as such He asks people to receive Him by faith or reject Him. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). 

Marriage as Two Pilgrims - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (Associate pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - The Christian marriage is different from other marriages around us: “they are heirs with you of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). Our marriage is centered on Christ and eternity. Our goal is the same as every Christian, but we go forth with it side by side. We are one flesh as Ephesians 5:28 says, “Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.” As such, when one hurts, the other hurts, injuring a spouse is injuring both; encouraging a spouse is encouraging both. And each one know the other person's weaknesses, strengths, temptations and knows how to encourage the other person. Thus, we go forward as coheirs and co-laborers united in one flesh. 

The Fruit of Patience - Robert Rothwell (Associated editor of Tabletalk and resident adjunct professor for Reformation Bible College) - I struggle with being patient. But I would like to be patient. My problem is a fear of the unknown. If I know what is going on, then I don't have to wait. Yet, waiting reminds me of my utter dependence on God and His Word. Examples: Abraham brought on more struggles taking on Hagar to get a son instead of waiting for Sarah. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul lost his kingdom when he offered sacrifices at Gilgal. Fear brings impatience, doubt, fear, and often greater sin. The ancient Israelites waited 400 years after Malachi to hear from God again, and awarded with the Messiah. We wait on eternal life. But in me waiting doesn't mean God is not working. He is working, but moving according to His perfect plan and purpose. He is working according to His plan, not my own. I can be patient. 

Shining God's Glory - Melissa B. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC) - Two thoughts come to mind this morning - reading the Mark Stuart book and the meaning behind the song, "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus" and the reality in that song that we don't need to try. Jesus is who He is. I am who I am. I'm never going to be as big as him. So no reason to try. The other idea was at the end of the Sunday School lesson was not asking for opportunities but seeing the opportunities God gives me. They are there. Then I read this article that Melissa gives us about cleaning silverware with tarnish and a simple way of using aluminum foil and a bowl of water and dish detergent and waiting and in time, the tarnish would be transferred from the silverware to the foil. This is what Jesus did for us. Our sin got transferred. He took our sin and now we can shine of the glory of God. But am I shining? I'm not. I'm living in this state of misery and not shining. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For our sake - he made him to be sin...so that in him we become the righteousness of God." The tarnish has been transferred. And I can shine the righteousness of God. I don't have to scrub myself clean. He made me clean. He did all the work. And now I can shine by loving Him, His truth, walking in His ways, and living in obedience to His commands. 

Discipleship and Growth - Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Everyone disciples. Everyone leaves a dent on someone - toward righteousness or wickedness. What impact will I have? "Today, I want to help others follow Jesus." (1) Begin with love. We follow people who love us. (2) It works through instruction and imitation. "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (I Cor. 11:1)." "Speak the truth in love...to grow...build up one another (Eph. 4:15, 29)." (3) Discover differences in one another. "God arranged the members in the body as He choose (I Cor. 12:17-18)." (4) It is churchwide. Everyone needs each other (I Cor 12:21). (5) Do it to equip others to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2). 

Finding Contentment Through Boasting - Tyler Kenney (Digital content manager at Ligonier Ministries) - A condition of our fallen hearts is instead of rejoicing when we see God's goodness to others, we become envious, antagonistic to their happiness and discontent with our selves. All people experience this but the Christian knows they should respond differently for God has given us every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3) and we are to be content since we have all things (I Cor. 3:21; Phil. 4:11). Knowing and doing are different but the Holy Spirit is there to equip us. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul addresses a problem the church has in rallying behind a certain preacher stems from a worldly desire to exalt themselves through association. By favoring a certain leader, the people are trying to puff themselves up (I Cor. 4:6). Some boasted in Paul, some in Apollos, some Cephas, some Christ (I Cor. 1:12). Thus the world pulls us to divide our allegiance - be it sports, leaders, even preachers. Yet, Paul reminds people that we are all essentially nobodies and yet God is pleased to call us all His own. No one is to boast in men, but only in God; this is where true contentment lies. I Cor. 1:29-31 - no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

The Need for Rural Ministry - Kyle Borg (Senior Pastor of Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church in Winchester, Kansas) - Author ministers in community of rural America, in Kansas, in a town of 551 people. He wonders if church associations are focused on rural America though it still makes up 15-20% of our population. In these cities, substance abuse, poverty, suicide, broken families, tragedy, and danger effect people at a larger proportion than those in the big city. Rural ministry is worth our time. We need to include these cities in our mission work and church starting endeavors. 

Keeping the Faith in a Faithless Age - Albert Mohler (President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky) - (Note: I noticed online that this article was published in 2004.) - The Christian church is no longer the center of western civilization and right and wrong are being redefined. It seems modern people act as if God did not exist. The church must speak from the words of Scripture. 

A Time for Confidence - Stephen J. Nichols (President of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida, chief academic officer at Ligonier Ministries) - Paul was one of the most intelligent people to ever live. He has every reason to have confidence and yet he counts all as loss for the sake of Christ. He never focused on Himself, but all instead on Christ. As we admire Paul and who He is and what He did, we can always see that there is someone else behind the scenes that is working everything out in Paul's life; and this is the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. The doctrine of justification is one of imputation. This teaches that our sin gets imputed to Christ. And Christ's righteousness gets imputed to us. In the presence of God we are now clothed in Christ's righteousness. In His passive obedience, He paid the penalty for our sins; in his active obedience He lives a perfect life. Thus, this is why not a day should go by that we don't rejoice in the Gospel. John and Charles Wesley are examples of men trying to get to God and then discover that Christ has done it all for them. In response, Charles wrote a hymn, And Can It Be. What made Christianity such a problem for Rome in the 1st century was its monotheistic stance and its desire to proselytize. Thus, being a Christian impugned you to death at any time and the death of Christians became a sport. Despite the fact that they lived exemplary lives, they were hated because of what they believe. Christus was hated and put on a cross and Christians are disliked even today. We still hold onto the truth of Gospel for we know it sets us free.