Consequences of Sin

I have been thinking a lot lately about sin and it’s consequences. Because of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden every man suffers. We are not responsible for his sin and will not answer for it, neither do we inherit his sin, but we do suffer from the consequences of his sin (Ezekiel 18:19–20). Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

Because of Adam’s sin in the Garden I will die physically (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Hebrews 9:27). But because of my own sin I am separated from God (Isaiah 59:1–2). The first I can deal with, the second I cannot! Today I am thankful for a God that is good and merciful!

King David sinned against God when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed Uriah. The consequences of his sin followed him for the rest of his life. Saul of Tarsus wreaked havoc upon the church and considered himself the “chief of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Yet both of these men are considered to be lofty examples of the kind of men we are suppose to be.

Is my sin any greater, or any less offensive to God than theirs? How can I have comfort of heart and mind in light of the awfulness of my sin? Two things need to be remembered:

One, David and Saul both were remorseful for their sins, repented, and did their best to live faithful lives before God. When Nathan confronted David with his sin in 2 Samuel 12 David recognized his wrong and was moved with godly sorrow. When Christ confronted Saul on the road to Damascus he recognized his error and sought forgiveness. In Acts 22:16 Ananias responds to Saul’s heart, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

We too must come to realize the great offense of sin and the hopelessness associated with it as it pertains to our relationship to God and our eternal destiny. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We need to come to Christ in godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). We must repent and turn from the sin that separates us from God (2 Peter 3:9). We must confess our faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32–33; John 14:6; Romans 10:10). We must be immersed in water in order to have our sins washed away (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). And we must live lives of faithfulness (Revelation 2:10).

Second, we need to realize and be thankful that our God is a good and merciful God (Psalm 107:1). While He is indeed just (Isaiah 45:21), His justice is not without mercy. He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). The Hebrew writer says that God is merciful to our unrighteousness and our sinful deeds he no longer remembers (Hebrews 8:12).

No, I can deal with the consequences of my sins. I have to! We all do. But I need Christ’s sacrifice and God’s love and mercy to deal with the affects of my sins. I am thankful today that there is now “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

I love you! Be faithful!

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Christians, China and the U.K.

As we’ve written and talked about quite a bit lately, there is no question that America was built by men who believed in and feared God. People will tell you that that’s not true, that they didn’t believe or that the founders had a view of God that downplayed his involvement and importance in human life, but that’s simply not true. As you also know, whether people believe the truth on that issue in this day and age is becoming more and more irrelevant, because 21st Century Americans care less about God, the Bible, and His church with each passing day. This is where American would do well to take a lesson from… the United Kingdom and China?

As strange as that sounds, two news reports from England’s The Telegraph news site over the last week put America’s path toward total apostasy and rebellion in a shocking new light. In the first, British Prime Minister David Cameron called for the Christians of his nation to be more evangelical and more bold with their faith. To quote the article – Christians should be “more evangelical” about their faith and “get out there and make a difference to people’s lives”, David Cameron has said.

In his strongest intervention on religion to date, Mr Cameron said that in an increasingly “secular age” Christians need to be even “more confident” and “ambitious”. He said he wants to “infuse politics” with Christian “ideals and values” such as “responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility and love”.

Can you imagine those words being spoken in America today? Can you imagine a leader not only saying something nice about Christians simply to placate them, but calling on them to help them bring about the change the nation needs to see? Though Cameron made concessions later in saying that atheists and secularists can bring about morality as well, his point stood clear – if things are going to change, those who believe in Christ need to be leading the way. That’s a sermon every American needs to hear, coming from the lips of a world leader in a nation that has long been secularized.

The second article focused on the estimation that China is on pace to have more Christians than any other nation in the world by 2025. While our first inclination might be to suggest that that’s due to population, consider the fact that as China was in the midst of becoming the world’s most populous nation, in 1949 they only had one million who claimed Christianity. Today that number is nearing sixty million. Though there are still a number of underground churches facing persecution, there are also churches who are working with the government and even sanctioned by it, because, as the article says “’They do not trust the church, but they have to tolerate or accept it because the growth is there,’ said the church leader. ‘The number of Christians is growing – they cannot fight it. They do not want the 70 million Christians to be their enemy.’” One minister interviewed in the article said, “Christianity can also play a role in maintaining peace and stability in society. Without God, people can do as they please.” Though their doctrine may not be correct and though the Communist Party of China is still working hard to control what is taught, China is realizing what Cameron also pointed out: without vocal, active Christians a nation fails from the inside. Why has America forgotten that?

It’s clear throughout the course of history that once a nation experiences hard times or hits rock bottom morally, they begin to turn back to God for guidance. That was the entire point of the book of Judges, and we can see it happening elsewhere to Israel and their contemporaries throughout the Bible. It doesn’t HAVE to be that way though. Some sort of rock bottom status is not a requirement for large-scale repentance on a national level, though. Unfortunately, as long as a nation’s citizens feel self-reliant and morally good in their own hearts without God, and the Christians of a nation feel comfortable and lack urgency in their evangelism, change will never come about without some sort of rock bottom experience. Sound familiar? That’s exactly where we are in America today, and unless that changes we will continue down a path to destruction where God will bring us to repentance. What can we do to stop what feels like a runaway train of immorality among the populace and apathy among the church?

First, develop a proper understanding of sin. Sin isn’t a “mistake” or a bad decision, it is rebellion against God and makes us guilty for putting His Son on the cross. It separates us from each other through our own selfishness, from God’s blessings because of His justness, and from God Himself because of His righteousness. So long as we continue to think that our sins aren’t that bad or that other people’s sins like homosexuality, drug abuse, etc. are worse rather than focusing on our own separation from God, we will remain stagnant.

Second, we have to develop a sense of urgency. Yes, heaven is a real place that God has promised those who are faithful to Him, but hell is just as real and from what we read of Jesus’ words about the broad gate (Matthew 7:13), most people are going to go there. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, even those folks you would consider enemies – is that the end you want them to meet? Eternal separation from God and the punishment that sin without atonement absolutely requires?

Unless we start thinking eternally, we will continue our path towards national destruction. Change doesn’t start with a legislature passing a law or a court making a decision according to God’s precepts. They haven’t done that, they aren’t doing that, and so we shouldn’t expect them to do so. Instead, change starts within us, as individuals and churches, developing the fire for God’s Word and taking it to the people around us lest it start to catch fire in our bones like Jeremiah (20:9).

– http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10770425/David-Cameron-says-Christians-should-be-more-evangelical.html,

– http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10776023/China-on-course-to-become-worlds-most-Christian-nation-within-15-years.html

 

 

 

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Word of God

Psalm 119 is an interesting piece of scripture. Not only does it have the distinction of being the longest “chapter” in the Bible with 176 verses, but it is divided into twenty-two sections with eight verses each and begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, evidently which the author arranged in a methodical manner to facilitate memorization. The entire emphasis of this eminent psalm is on the word of God. Notice some lessons we can learn about the word of God in the second section (Beth).

The word of God can cleanse (119:9). Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). We are sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26).

The word of God needs reading daily (119:10). In seeking God with our “whole heart” and trying not to wander from His commandments, we need to be daily Bible readers.

The word of God can prohibit us from sin (119:11). However, it can only work if the word is in our heart (Ps. 40:8; Rom. 10:8; Col. 3:16). It will do little good in prohibiting from sin if the word of God is simply on the shelf, on the table, in our pew, or even in our hand. It must be in our hearts.

The word of God requires learning (119:12). Just as the psalmist was open to learn the word of God (Ps. 119:64, 68, 108, 181), we likewise should be eager to learn. A knowledge of the word of God does not come naturally through osmosis, but rather it takes diligent study (2 Tim. 2:15). As the Ethiopian nobleman answered the question from Philip concerning his understanding of the word of God, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:30-31). Jesus quoted the prophets (Isa. 54:13; Jer. 31:34; Mic. 4:2) when he said, “And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45).

The word of God requires teaching (119:13). After learning the word of God, we should be willing with our lips to declare “all the judgments of thy mouth.” Jesus emphasized this in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). The psalmist also said, “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest” (Ps. 40:9). Paul told the young man Timothy, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

The word of God is valuable (119:14). It is “better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Ps. 119:72). It is more valuable than “gold; yea above fine gold” (Ps. 119:127). The wise man spoke of the wisest investment one can make: “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23).

The word of God requires meditation and respect (119:15). Oh, how we desperately need both of these things today. We should spend time in daily meditation of the word of God today (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; 63:6; 104:34; 119:78, 148; 143:5). As the psalmist later said, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (119:97). We also need a deep respect for the word of God as the supreme authority for our lives (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is divine in its origin (2 Pet. 1:21). It is truly a blessing to those who respect it (Ps. 19:11; Matt. 7:24). It is our standard for faith and practice in all matters of religion and morality (John 12:48; 1 Thess. 2:13). It is sacred (Deut. 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19).

The word of God requires remembrance (119:16). We need to take heed to “never forget thy precepts” (cf. 119:93).

May God bless our treatment of this sacred book that He has bestowed to us as a blessing!

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Good Name Good Man

A Good Name Given to a Good Man

He was such a good man that the apostles gave him a new name! Barnabas is an amazing example to Christians today of what each of us should be. The history of the church was changed by this man. To look at his life and see his impact on the church can be a great encouragement to every Christian.

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. His heritage in the priestly tribe of Levi gave him preeminence among the Jews, but he readily embraced Christianity from the beginning. Obviously, he wanted to find God and serve him.

Barnabas gave Himself to the Lord. When those first Christians, who had come from every nation under heaven and perhaps stayed longer than they had planned, had need (Acts 2:5), the members who had property began selling it to supply others’ needs. Barnabas is the only person who is specifically mentioned as having such a compassionate heart (Acts 4:36-37).

Barnabas was given a new name by the apostles because of his spirituality. Until that time, he had been called Joses (Joseph), but he was given a new name. From that time on he was called Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” The church was in its infancy, but Barnabas was such an encourager to others, he was given a new name.

Barnabas was responsible for the flourishing of the church in Antioch. When the church in Jerusalem learned of the establishment of the church in Antioch, they sent Barnabas, “The Encourager,” to help. God described him as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” When he arrived “. . . a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

Barnabas was responsible for helping Saul of Tarsus (we know him as Paul) find his place in the kingdom to serve the Lord. Those early Christians were afraid of Paul and were hesitant to accept him. “They were hearing only, ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy’” (Gal. 1:22-23). It was “The Encourager” who came to rescue Paul. He went from Antioch to Paul, who had returned to his home city of Tarsus, and brought him to work with the church in Antioch (Acts 11:26).

Barnabas was responsible for Mark finding his place of service in the church. Mark was his nephew and traveled with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. Paul was disappointed in what Mark did, but “The Encourager” stood up for this young Christian. Barnabas stood up against the great apostle. Had he not done this, we would be missing one of the books of the Bible, the gospel of Mark.

Think about it. What name would your brethren give to you? Discourager? Complainer? Lazy? Undependable? God help us all to become like “The Encourager”!

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Beyond the Plateau

In Wyoming, there are a number of plateaus. Their images cut clearly against the sky. As the light hits the plateau throughout the day, the strata displays a variety of appealing red, orange, brown, and grey tones, and a lazy shadow plods along at the side. In truth, not all plateaus have this distinct desert look. Some of the world’s plateaus are covered over in vegetation, some are underwater, and there can be quite a variation in sizes. To understand how big a plateau can be, it is said the state of Wyoming itself is a large plateau broken up by mountain ranges. Plateaus are created and shaped by wind, rain, movement of the earth’s crust, and even lava flows.

There is another meaning for the term plateau which is taken from the geologic feature. The term plateau can mean a point where growth, increase, or improvement has leveled off. For Christians, this is not a beautiful thing. They are called to continual growth.

2 Peter 3:18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

That growth comes from knowing and following the Word of God. When spiritual growth occurs, plateaus are left and a grand peak is climbed.

I Peter 1:1-2 – Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

Rather than geologic forces shaping the Christian life, humanity tries to shape it into a plateau. It tries to make the Christian like everyone else. It encourages his media choices. It suggests or tries to enforce worldly standards of morality. It offers many types of gods. If successful, these influences will not only cause a plateau in the life of a Christian, but they will erode it away into nothingness.

Matthew 7:24-27 – Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.  And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

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