That’s Your Interpretation

“But that’s just your interpretation; yours and the rest of those folks up at the church of Christ where you go,” Joe said as he and his co-worker Chuck discussed the bible during their lunch break. “Baptism actually has nothing to do with getting saved – everybody knows that!”

Chuck slowly looked around at their co-workers at the other picnic tables enjoying the noon hour sunshine. As his eyes settled on Simon who sat engrossed in the local paper, he thoughtfully turned back to Joe and said, “Let me ask you a question Joe. Suppose in today’s paper, there was a Hopeland Store ad that said, ‘Free fifty-dollar Hopeland gift cards given out to the first fifty families to come through the door this coming Friday. Gift cards valid at local location only, and expire Friday night at midnight. One card per family; must be eighteen or over to obtain card.’”

“Now, what if someone showed up Thursday evening, was sixteen, and wanted a card? Would they get one?” Chuck said. Joe shook his head no. “Well, what about if a person showed up Friday morning, stood in line, and was a member of the fifty-third family to enter the store? Should they expect one?” Again, Joe shook his head no.

“Or try this,” Chuck continued. “What if someone showed up, was over eighteen, was part of the sixth family to enter the store on Friday morning, received their card, and then either tried to cash it in on Saturday, or over at Wal-Mart, or at the Sand Springs Hopeland – even if a friend or family member that they totally trusted had told them that that’s what the rules actually meant, despite what they literally said in big, bold, black and white print?”

Joe, beginning to get just a little bit frustrated at Chuck’s seemingly endless and somewhat elementary inquiries, responded rather impatiently, “Well then, no, of course they wouldn’t get to spend the card. Look Chuck, I can read. What’s your point?”

“The point is simply this Joe,” Chuck answered patiently. “And it’s an extremely important one. How is it that the whole town can – and is completely expected to without a single second thought – read and understand an ad like I’ve described, exactly alike? One reading, and they completely understand and accept the implications of every aspect of the ad, and then plan and act accordingly? They understand the “ground rules” of receiving this free gift card, without exception, exemption, or interpretation. They read and immediately accept that the rules mean exactly what they say, as written in straightforward black and white, and prepare to meet the requirements if they want to receive the free gift.  …And yet, when it comes to some of the bible’s plainest, simplest, most straightforward and easiest to understand of instructions, some of those very same folks seem to always want to insist that those are somehow a ‘matter of interpretation’ and that it’s therefore okay if we all understand them completely differently?”

Chuck leaned in seriously and looked Joe straight in the eye. “Joe, you don’t believe that man is smarter than God, do you? I know you don’t. And yet, if anyone believes that a salesman-authored ad and its written requirements to receive a free gift can be easily understood alike by all who read it, but that somehow God’s straightforward black and white written requirements in order to receive His free gift cannot be, then what they are actually saying is that a mere human being is smart enough to know how to communicate clearly with men, while their almighty God and all-knowing Creator is somehow not. Think about that for a minute Joe…” 

“And, let me give you an example,” Chuck continued as he thumbed through the well-worn pages of the small bible he always had handy at work. “Please read this passage,” he said as he handed Joe his bible, pointing to Mark 16:15-16. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,’” Joe read slowly aloud.

“Now,” Chuck continued, “a simple question; honestly, how do you ‘interpret’ that verse Joe? Does it mean that he who believes is saved at that point and should soon thereafter be baptized, as so many teach today? Or does it mean exactly what it says – that belief and baptism must both precede salvation?”

Joe’s mind raced to find a reasonable response. He could read and he knew he was caught. His indefensible and flimsy fog of man-made excuses and explanations were being blown away before his very eyes. It was also at that moment that something else occurred to him for the very first time as well. The way that verse read, if he said that baptism wasn’t essential to and must precede being saved, then the same could be said for the other element that verse contained – that belief wasn’t essential to and must precede being saved either – and he knew better than to say that… so he said nothing instead.

Sitting there in the suddenly stifling silence and sensing his friend’s indecision, Chuck softly tried again. “When we read in Acts 2:38, that Peter answered those seeking God’s forgiveness by saying that they should ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of them in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins,’ what did he literally mean? Really, how would you ‘interpret’ that Joe? That they should say a prayer inviting Jesus into their hearts to be forgiven and then should be baptized? That baptism was nothing more than an outward sign of an inward grace, and as an indication that salvation had already occurred sometime previously? Or… that they needed to be baptized specifically FOR the forgiveness of their sins, just as it very simply and plainly says in straightforward black and white?”

“But… we’re saved by faith and faith alone!” Joe stammered… “Baptism doesn’t save anyone!” Joe continued without much conviction, resorting only to quoting what he’d heard so many denominational preachers so proudly spout so many times before…

interpretation

Interpretation

“Then what do you make of this?” Chuck asked as he pointed Joe to James 2:19-24 and asked him to read it. Phrases like ‘even the demons believe – and shudder,’ and, ‘You see then that a man is justified by works, and NOT by faith only’ struck and stuck in Joe’s mind as if delivered by a divine sledgehammer.

“You see,” Chuck continued, “baptism for the forgiveness or washing away of our sins is how and when we call on the name of the Lord to be saved, according to Acts 22:16. It is the also the act of faith by which we become God’s children, according to Galatians 3:26-27. Let’s take a look at those two texts and see if your ‘interpretation’ isn’t exactly the same as-”

Just then the whistle signaling the end of their lunch hour suddenly sounded. Hastily gathering up their lunch containers and disposing of their garbage, Chuck, quite concerned for his friend’s soul, chimed in one more time, “Listen Joe, if anyone truly believes that baptism doesn’t have anything to do with saving us – especially when 1st Peter 3:21 expressly states that ‘baptism DOES now save us’ – well, that’s not a matter of interpretation, but a matter of interpolation. If you truly believe the bible is God’s word, then let’s get together and take a closer look at some of those texts tonight, shall we? What do you say Joe?

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Biblical Predestination

Predestination

“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,…..having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…” (Eph. 1:4-5)

Predestination

Predestination has only one Destination.

Some do not understand the concept of Biblical predestination.  They think that God chooses a person to be saved in heaven or lost in hell before they are born, and there is nothing that they can do about it.  However, it is not individuals, but a particular group or class of people that God chose before the foundation of the world.

A school teacher told his students that some would pass their course and some would fail.  He then described what they would need to do to pass.  Sure enough, at the end of the school year some passed and some failed.  He predestinated the outcome but he did not predestine the students.  It was up to them whether they passed or failed.  Likewise, God predetermined before the creation that He would choose those “in Christ.”   Friends, the CHOICE is yours!

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Fools and Their Disobedience

Are You A Fool?  Part 1

This is the first article in a series of articles on fools. Some people may hear the word fool and think of a silly friend or comedian. However, most folks associate the word fool with a negative connotation. The Bible has much to say about fools and without hesitation it presents the foolish in a negative light. Why study fools? If the Bible frowns on the foolish, then it would behoove man to learn about fools so that they can avoid being one. The series to be embarked upon will examine foolishness in a number of categories: Disobedience, speech, anger, knowledge, and consequences. Ultimately, it will be observed that foolishness is a choice which man can exercise and by it he will be known, labeled, and dealt with appropriately.

fool and disobedience

Disobedience is foolish.

God has enabled all men to receive or reject the truths which he has given. This has been established since the creation of man. God gave man a choice: avoid the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and live with all the blessings given man, or eat of the fruit and from that day forward experience death (Genesis 2:16-17). Man made his choice and the end result of that is what we see today. The world which now exists is a world which still has a great number of God’s blessings, but which is also full of cruelty, suffering, disease, and many forms of evil. Why would man make such a choice when he had been informed of the consequences? The answer is foolishness. Man chose to be a fool rather than remain in the image of God which is pure, holy, and without evil (Genesis 1:27).

When man chooses to ignore the direction God has provided for man’s most beneficial outcome, the result is disobedience, or more simply expressed – sin. Sinful disobedience can be directly equated with foolishness. The Old Testament makes such an equation in the following places as well as others:

1 Samuel 13:13 – And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

1 Samuel 26:21 – Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

2 Samuel 24:10 – And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

1 Chronicles 21:8 – And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

In each of the above passages, Saul or David (the first and second kings of Israel) had engaged in sin. They had gone against what God’s will was. The sin was identified and they were labeled or labeled themselves foolish for such disobedience. They saw the equation between the two terms. David, when he prays to God, asks for forgiveness. Not only does he know that he has sinned, but that God sees all the sins that man commits.

Psalms 69:5 – O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Where does the foolishness of man originate? It originates from where all sins come, the man’s heart. His choices are not accidents, whether ignorantly or with knowledge, man makes his own decisions and though they may vary in impact upon themselves or others, they are still sins against God. The variation of the sin does not eliminate the transgression.

Mark 7:21-22 – For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts and fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

It must further be understood that the foolish decisions of the heart are led by pride, emotions, and stubborn will.

Romans 1:21-23 – Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The horrible condition of the fool is achieved when they convince themselves that they are right in their behaviors. Consider the lengths to which King David went to take Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and then cover up the fact that he committed adultery. His deception led him as far as arranging the murder of a man who loyally served and protected him. The entire time, David proceeded forward with a blind eye to the commands of God. David indeed fit the description of a fool as Solomon his son aptly provided in the book of proverbs:

Proverbs 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 14:16 – A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Proverbs 28:26 – He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

When men put their own thoughts and emotions above priorities from God, they do not see clearly. Man certainly has not changed from the Patriarchal or Mosaic ages. From the first century era, the New Testament letter written by Paul to the Galatians calls them out for their foolishness.

Galatians 3:1 – O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 3:3 – Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Having received the gift of the son of God, the redemption of mankind, the blood atoning sacrifice establishing a new covenant following that which was fulfilled and therefore nailed to the cross, the Galatians were listening to men who would have them keep portions of the Mosaic covenant. John 14:6 recorded Christ saying he was the Truth and that no man comes to the father but through Him. Yet, the Galatians were treading a path separate from that which God ordained through Jesus. They were acting as fools and Paul let them know that. They had first obeyed the words of the gospel provided by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but now they were accepting words through the reasoning of man, flesh. They were behaving much like the false prophets that Ezekiel warned about:

Ezekiel 13:3 – Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

The Galatians had no logical reasoning for turning to Mosaic practices save their own spirit, their own heart, which compelled them to exercise such monumental disobedience. Following components of the Mosaic Law by the authority of that covenant is even practiced by some religions today. It was sinful in the first century and nothing has changed. Why do religious groups do such things? Foolishness! Of course, Romans 3:23 states “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. This includes all of the apostles, prophets, and prophetesses mentioned in scripture. It includes patriarchs and renowned men of faith as well. Sinful foolishness goes beyond following the old law and extends to all disobedience to the law of Christ. Consider the words of Paul to Titus:

Titus 3:3 – For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

That all men of all ages, save Christ, have acted foolishly is a fact. However, that all men have made themselves guilty of foolishness is no reason to continue such behavior. Disobedience to God must end. Paul drew the line when addressing the blessing of Christ’s sacrifice.

Romans 6:1-2 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

When man is disobedient, he not only demonstrates himself a fool, but he provides an example for others to follow in his footsteps. One thing the world does not need more of is fools. We are to no longer walk as fools but as men who are wise according to Ephesians 5:15. This means that man must get control of himself by giving control to God’s plan. Man must humble himself (Matthew 5:3) and realize that God’s ways are certainly higher than his ways (Isaiah 55:9). That is not easy to do. The idea of being a self made man is sought after by so many people, however, that is just an illusion of the fool. By laying aside such foolishness and following God’s plan, a proper example will shine its light upon others. Are you a fool? You do not have to be. You can make the choice to change. Put away foolish disobedience.

1 Peter 2:15 – For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

The next article in this series, “Are You a Fool? Part 2”, will examine “Fools and Their Speech”.

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Christ and the Church Bride

The Preciousness of the Church

With wisdom Samuel J. Stone wrote:

The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word;
From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Bride

The bride of Christ is the Church.

Subsequent to Peter’s great proclamation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” came the declaration, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).  This pronouncement comes so quickly from Jesus that He conveys this additional message:  “Yes, Peter, I am the Christ and now I am telling you about My bride, the church, and to know Me is to know her as well.”

Understanding the identity of Christ is not complete without understanding the church and his relationship to her.  The church was clearly precious to Jesus and it should be as precious to us as well.

Master builders and certified architects will tell you that planning for and building a house is a matter that is precious to the owner.  It becomes even more precious to them as the house is built and changed into a home.  From thought to reality that which was planned and built is that which is precious.

Would the same not be true for Jesus?  He cared enough for the church to send the Holy Spirit to inaugurate it (John 14:16, 17, Acts 2:1ff).  He cared enough for the church to give Peter the keys to the kingdom, to open the door, and to preach the terms of entrance into His body (Acts 2:38).  He cared enough for the church to leave the precious blueprints so that in case her physical form should be corrupted by man, others could come along and build her anew (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23).  The church is precious to Jesus because he thought enough to plan and build it.

A good, decent, and loving husband will tell you that there is nothing more precious in his sight than his wife.  He will humble himself to serve her, make sacrifices for her, and die for her if necessary.

The church is precious to Jesus because she is His bride (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17).  Ephesians 5:25ff says that Christ loved the church and cared for her so that she could be pure.  The church is precious to Christ because he loves her and cares for her welfare as his bride.

Each person understands the role of the head in relationship to the body.  When the body is hungry, the head seeks to feed it.  When the body is hurt, the head seeks to care for it.  The body is precious to the head.

Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18).  He loves and will provide for his body as it has needs.  The church is precious to Jesus because He considers it His body.

Finally, that which is precious is that for which we give our blood.  In our country, many have died to defend and protect the ideals upon which this nation was founded.  Blood shed proves how precious the cause.

Jesus shed his blood for his church (Acts 20:28).  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).  The church is precious to Jesus because He died and shed His blood for her.

Would to God that we all understand how precious the church is to Christ!

The Preciousness of the Church

Kevin Cauley

With wisdom Samuel J. Stone wrote:

The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation
By water and the word;

From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Subsequent to Peter’s great proclamation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” came the declaration, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).This pronouncement comes so quickly from Jesus that He conveys this additional message:”Yes, Peter, I am the Christ and now I am telling you about My bride, the church, and to know Me is to know her as well.”

Understanding the identity of Christ is not complete without understanding the church and his relationship to her.The church was clearly precious to Jesus and it should be as precious to us as well.

Master builders and certified architects will tell you that planning for and building a house is a matter that is precious to the owner.It becomes even more precious to them as the house is built and changed into a home.From thought to reality that which was planned and built is that which is precious.

Would the same not be true for Jesus?He cared enough for the church to send the Holy Spirit to inaugurate it (John 14:16, 17, Acts 2:1ff).He cared enough for the church to give Peter the keys to the kingdom, to open the door, and to preach the terms of entrance into His body (Acts 2:38).He cared enough for the church to leave the precious blueprints so that in case her physical form should be corrupted by man, others could come along and build her anew (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23).The church is precious to Jesus because he thought enough to plan and build it.

A good, decent, and loving husband will tell you that there is nothing more precious in his sight than his wife.He will humble himself to serve her, make sacrifices for her, and die for her if necessary.

The church is precious to Jesus because she is His bride (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17).Ephesians 5:25ff says that Christ loved the church and cared for her so that she could be pure.The church is precious to Christ because he loves her and cares for her welfare as his bride.

Each person understands the role of the head in relationship to the body.When the body is hungry, the head seeks to feed it.When the body is hurt, the head seeks to care for it.The body is precious to the head.

Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18).He loves and will provide for his body as it has needs.The church is precious to Jesus because He considers it His body.

Finally, that which is precious is that for which we give our blood.In our country, many have died to defend and protect the ideals upon which this nation was founded. Blood shed proves how precious the cause.

Jesus shed his blood for his church (Acts 20:28).“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).The church is precious to Jesus because He died and shed His blood for her.

Would to God that we all understand how precious the church is to Christ!

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Zacchaeus a Wee Little Man

Zacchaeus a Wee Little Man

A Sunday school teacher was telling Junior the story of Zacchaeus. When it came to the part where Jesus looked up into the sycamore tree and saw Zacchaeus, the teacher asked Junior, “What did Jesus say to the little man?” Junior replied, “Do not climb trees!”

zacchaeus

Zacchaeus was a wee little man…

When we think of characteristics of Zacchaeus, we immediately think of his small stature. Indeed, he was a small man physically (Luke 19:3), which required extra effort on his part to see Jesus. Moreover, he was a small man in the eyes of the Jews, because not only was he a publican, but he was “the chief among the publicans” (Luke 19:2). The Jews hated publicans for collaborating with the Romans regarding outrageous taxes, which they would procure from greed and extortion. Moreover, he was chief in that other publicans were under him. Of course, the Jews possibly despised him because Luke also describes him as being rich (Luke 19:2). Of course, the Bible does not condemn being wealthy (i.e., Abraham, Job and such like), but it does warn of the dangers that money presents (1 Tim. 6:10). Furthermore, he was a small man in the eyes of God. In other words, he was little spiritually in that he was a sinner (Luke 19:7). This was the appraisal of the people, and they were correct. However, by the end of the story, this small man rose to new heights and became big.

What principles can we learn from the account of this man? First, we should not condemn people in groups. It is true that most publicans were bad. However, Matthew (Levi) was not, and Zacchaeus was not as bad as most would like to think. Consider the fact that he desired to see Jesus (Luke 19:3). In fact, he not only desired to see Jesus, but he made the extra effort and determination to see him (Luke 19:4). Many people do not share this same desire and determination. We often have to beg and plead with others in the world to learn about Jesus and the gospel. Some who do desire to see Him possess the desire for the wrong reasons, such as Herod the Great who deceived the wise men and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also” (Matt. 2:8), and Herod Antipas who wanted to be entertained when he “hoped to have seen some miracle done by him” (Luke 23:8). Moreover, Zacchaeus was not as bad as one might think because he was hospitable (19:5-6). He was probably surprised, but nonetheless happy, that Jesus was coming over to his house. We are to be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). He was willing to show genuine penitence and benevolence (19:8). Consider his words: “…and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation…” (Luke 19:8), which is translated from the Greek ei tinos ti esukophantesa. AT Robertson comments on this, “It is a condition of the first class (ei and the aorist active indicative) that assumes it to be true. His own conscience was at work. He had extorted money wrongfully as they all knew” (Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, TN, 2000, p. 167). William Burkitt adds that when he states, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor,” Zacchaeus is stating the readiness of it—not that he will at a undetermined time in the future where he may possibly forget, but that it is done—he has resolved in his mind to do it, beginning right there. Therefore, we should avoid blanket remarks to group of people (cf. Acts 10:34). Not all lawyers are crooks, not all politicians are liars and not all publicans were beyond the ability to change their lives.

Second, problems may be the beginning of blessings. The problem that Zacchaeus had was his height, which was not his fault, but this led Jesus to notice him. The apostle Paul said his bonds helped him further preach the gospel (Phil. 1:12-13). The psalmist declared, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Ps. 119:71). Most have heard the axiom, “When life deals you lemons, make lemonade!” Thus, we can overcome handicaps and problems; when a door closes, another one usually opens.

Third, one can be wealthy and still have an empty life. Money cannot buy happiness—the late Howard Hughes and so many others illustrate this. Jesus taught, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). While the church in Laodicea were “…rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” Jesus revealed rather that they were “…wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Fourth, praise God that Jesus is a friend of sinners! People were shocked that Jesus would even associate with this man (Luke 19:7). I am thankful that he did, because I now know he will associate with me (Rom. 5:8). We are all sinners (1 John 1:8; Rom. 3:23). Thus, we should be careful not to rule out someone because we might think he/she is “too bad.” With regards to this “wee little man,” Jesus succinctly stated, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

In conclusion, here was a short man who rose to new heights. Jesus offered salvation to him (Luke 19:9), as he offers it to everyone. It will raise us to new heights as well, if we will only obey God. Jesus wishes to abide in our house, but not everyone receives him gladly as Zacchaeus did. How far will we go and how high will we climb to see Jesus? (Rev. 3:20).

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