The Trial of the One True Faith

In last weeks article we looked at the “ one true faith ” of Ephesians chapter four. In fact in Ephesians chapter two we read, “For by grace you have been saved through [the] faith; …” (v 8). While no modern translation includes the definite article before faith [pistiV] it is in the original language. Paul here is speaking of the one true system (i.e. the Gospel) that the grace of God has delivered in order to bring salvation to all mankind. He spoke of this when he wrote to Titus and said, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (vv 11-12).

Peter speaks of the preciousness of this faith (2 Peter 1:1) and when we understand our faith in the system of salvation we will clearly conclude as James did that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:18-20). The great “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 illustrates this truth for us all. Yet Peter also speaks of a “trial” of our faith that is “more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7). What does this trial of faith consist of?

  1. Sacrifice: God so loved the world that He “gave” His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus Himself is said to have given up His place in heaven in order to become a servant (Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus gave His life for us, the “ultimate sacrifice.” What does faith teach us? Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). What have you given up?
  2. Obedience: As we noticed in our first point Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father and is therefore the author of eternal salvation to all who will obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9). In fact Jesus said that the Father’s ever presence with Him was due to the fact that He “always” did the will of the Father (John 8:29). Obedience to the Gospel, to Christ and the Father, is absolutely essential to our salvation (2 Thessalonians 1:8). F.F. Bruce said “Faith and obedience are inseparable in one’s relationship to God.” Have you been obedient?
  3. Works: James said, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Again, the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11 have a consistent and beautifully interwoven thread of works that proved faith in the Almighty God. Now no one is contending that the kinds of works we are talking about here are works of merit. None can merit the grace of God; that is why it is grace! But there are works of righteousness, good works, that God expects His children to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Are you doing the good works of faith?
  4. Persistence: Hebrew 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” The false and deadly doctrine of “once save/always saved” is clearly refuted by this one single passage among many. Jesus laid the groundwork for this when He said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). That’s faith in action! It is called faithfulness. “Be thou faithful unto death…” (Revelation 2:10). Are you being persistent
  5. Victory: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” (1 John 5:4). This is what everything about faith hangs on… our victory in Jesus. When He comes again we will stand before the Judgment Seat of God and hear one of two things: “Depart from me…” or “Well done…” (Matthew 25). Do you and will you know the victory of faith?

Let us not just talk about our faith; let us demonstrate it to God and the world!

Adopted from Handfuls on Purpose – James Smith and Robert Lee, eds., Handfuls on Purpose (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971) Vol. 1, I, 211-12.

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Trial of the One True Faith

It’s Groundhog Day

Have you ever had one of those days that you just wish you could do over again? In asking this question, I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite movies, “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray. In the movie, the main character Phil Connors is a very self-centered man filled with cynicism and scorn with regard to virtually everyone and everything. Phil ends up repeating the same day, February 2, 1993, every time he wakes up. Each morning at precisely 6:00 am, he awakes to the same song and same radio DJ’s declaring, “It’s Groundhog Day!”

As the movie progresses and as Phil’s awareness that he is stuck in some kind of “time-loop” develops, he begins to experiment and attempt to change up the events of the day. At first he experiments by engaging in highly immoral activities and finds no satisfaction. As he begins to grow more despondent with his situation, he engages in criminal activities, such a bank robbing, etc. Finally, in desperation, he kidnaps the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, and drives off a cliff only to wake up once again in his hotel room. After this, he commits suicide in a number of different ways, each time waking up to “It’s Groundhog Day!”

Toward the end of the movie, he reveals his situation to one of the other characters, who suggests that he use the repeated day as an opportunity to improve himself. He puts the suggestion into action and throughout the rest if the film uses his knowledge gathered by repeating the same day over and over again to save lives and to befriend most of the townsfolk. He even manages to redeem his reputation as a first class jerk with his coworkers. At last, when he is accepted as no longer being the arrogant, self-centered man that he once was, he wakes up and finds that it is now February 3rd. His transformation is now complete and he is not the same man that he had been on February 1st. Of course, this movie is highly fictitious and devoid of Christian concepts. Yet there are a number of things about the movie that serve to emphasize the need for self-examination and for the transformation of character needed by the Christian.

Some of the events of the movie remind me of Solomon’s experimentation to find the secret of true happiness. In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Solomon lists quite a number of things he attempted to do in order to find true meaning in his life. He sought after hedonism and folly, materialism and beauty, wealth and women, work and wisdom (worldly), but none of it was to any avail. And so, he stated, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun…” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Later, Solomon reveals the true secret of happiness, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecclesiastes 12:13)

In the movie, when Phil first begins his journey of self-improvement, he begins by trying to stop doing and saying the awful kinds of things he had been used to, up to that point in his life, yet it still was ineffective. But only when he began to replace those bad habits with new knowledge and a better outlook on life, did he begin to feel he was making any progress, until finally these new habits brought about a complete personality makeover. This reminds me of Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, especially Colossians 3:8-10, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”(Colossians 3:8-10) From this we learn that it is not enough just to simply stop sinning, but we must replace our sinful works by doing the work of the Lord.

A final attribute of the film, is the concept of second chances. Phil keeps getting the opportunity for a “do-over.” We cannot, as Phil did, go back and undo the things we did yesterday, or escape all of their consequences, but we do have the opportunity every day to repent of our sins. We have the opportunity each day to not repeat the mistakes and transgression of the previous day. We have the opportunity each day to decide to live for Christ and to seek first His kingdom. Our God is truly a God of “second-chances,” Peter stated, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…”(2 Peter 3:9). But there is a limit to His longsuffering – our death. When we die, we don’t get to wake up to “It’s Groundhog Day!” and try again. At death, if we are still in our sins, we will have reached the end of God’s longsuffering.

While we cannot live the same day over and over again, until we get it right, we do have the opportunity to change and be transformed day by day. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day…” (2 Corinthians 4:16) If you had the opportunity to live yesterday over again, what would you do differently?

Posted in Jack McNiel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on It’s Groundhog Day

Inspiration

Three Points on Inspiration

When the Book of Acts opens, in Chapter 1, we find the eleven remaining apostles waiting in Jerusalem until they would receive power from Holy Spirit. They were gathered together in an upper room with about 120 of the disciples, including the mother and brethren of Jesus. In Acts 1:15-16, Peter said, “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.”  He then goes on in verse 20, “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.” Here he quoted two passages from the Book of Psalms – Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8.

From Peter’s statement in Acts 1:16 we learn a very important lesson from the Bible on Inspiration.

Inspiration is the means by which God has communicated to man from the beginning until the time when “that which is perfect” has come (1 Cor. 13:10). That is, until the complete revealed Word of God has come. “Inspired of God” literally means “God-breathed.” God “breathed” the very words of the Scriptures. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration – every single word of Scripture is God-breathed. God still speaks to us today – yet only through His Inspired Word.

Let us note three things from Peter’s statement in Acts 1:16:

First, note the Ultimate Source of the Scriptures. “…which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” We see that the God speaking through the Holy Spirit is the source of scripture. Just as Peter would later say, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Second, note the Medium  Employed (Webster’s  Dictionary, “The means or instrument by which any thing is accomplished, conveyed or carried on.”) “…which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” (David was not only king of Israel – he was a prophet of God, the inspired author of many Psalms.) God has employed, throughout the ages,  medium to get His Message to mankind. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1) This teaches us that God “spake in times past …by the prophets…” That is, “in the prophets themselves as the vessels of divine inspiration. God spake in them and from them.” (Vincent’s Word Studies)   Notice 2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue…” and Jeremiah 1:9 “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth….”

Third, note the Final Result of the process of Inspiration – Scripture. “This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” Scripture is the revealed Word of God in written form. The word “scripture” comes from the Greek word “graphein,” which means, “that which is written.” The Scriptures are the Words of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). May we all follow the example of the Noble Bereans who, “searched the scriptures daily…” (Acts 17:11) – and read God’s Word every day.

Posted in Jack McNiel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Inspiration

Always Restless

Always Restless

Small children are often into everything, everywhere. Small children are explorers, adventurers, dare-devils, and without fear. While children are small and unable to know their limitations, they are in pursuit of anything, from the cat’s tail, to the lamp on the side table by the couch; indeed, but don’t forget the electric socket and plug-ins on the walls and in lamps with no bulb installed – these may be dangers for the little explorers. We all are amused and careful with our small children while they are involved in the early stages of growing and learning. Yet, when the same children reach an age when they are under-standing that some things are no! –  No! We are not up to the task that requires our adult supervision and correcting impulses to take care that our children are learning while they are growing. The learning while they are growing process is also important to the spiritual development of our children.

The spiritual development of our children is very important to the growing process because of the worldly influences that are fostered in many of the homes that provide playmates for our children in school (i.e. public and private). Unless we are aware of the dangers of peer pressure even at very young ages we may loose our children to the beggarly elements of the world very early – cf. Titus 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (KJV)

1 Cor 15:33, Be not deceived: evil communications (i.e. companion s- ASV) corrupt good manners. (KJV)

Prov. 1:7-15, 7 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: (KJV)

CONSIDER THIS: It is very important that parents of young children monitor their children’s friends and find out what kind of environment they favor and  pursue in life; children are imitators of their parents – if the children’s parents use alcohol, curse, never go to Bible study, have poor disciplinary rules, and spend their time in frivolous pursuits, their children will imitate them in these matters. If your children are left to develop their own friends; this is a serious child rearing error. Children have no idea about influences, or what is right and what is wrong for them to do or to be. Parents; it is up to you to care for and nurture your children in important matters that are pertinent to their very survival as a healthy, spiritual, and intelligent person – God requires this of you if you as a Christian parent. Isn’t it time for you to examine your parenting skills to determine if you are helping your children grow up or if you are hindering their proper growth pattern that God has given you?

CONSIDER THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE: Eph 6:1-4, 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise 😉 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col 3:20-21, 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

1 Thess. 2:11, “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, (KJV)

We must all consider the rearing of children as our greatest occupation after serving the one true God acceptably. We must turn back to the principle of our fathers and grandfathers, which were much more reliable than our modern standards of child rearing. We must return to God’s principles for raising godly children in an ungodly world. Dear friends; make no mistake about it – the worldly movers and shakers are after your children, they want them to be like the society of unbelievers that have brought our world into a chaotic state. A state where it will take parents of unusual integrity (i.e. dedicated Christians) to move them forward as God’s future stewards of the church.

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Always Restless

I’ll Try Anything Once

How many times have we heard statements such as, “I’ll try anything once”, “if you do it, it won’t kill you” or “are you chicken”? Statements like this leads to pride and then to the famous statement, “well, I’ll show you”. When we consider things like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sexual activities and other such things, people forget that while this may seem so innocent to try once, some do not realize how serious it is to give into temptation, even if it is once. I mean, you talk to those who have had their voice boxes removed due to dipping and smoking, or speak to those whose lives are destroyed from alcohol. In our society today, so many think that there are such things as safe sexual activities, while not realizing the millions who suffer from sexual diseases.

Our world is saturated with those who are not responsible and they tell faithful Christians that it is no big deal to try things like this once. But, what they do not say to you is that their one time event is laced in destruction. Jesus said, “unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!  It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Lk. 17:1-2.

The world becomes a stumbling block to Christians. Tragically, Christians try things that their friends want them to try and then they become addicted who then cannot understand why they feel trapped. Obviously, the harm is not the first time, but not being aware of the possibility for harm that exist before the drink, or before dipping, or before the sexual activities. Those who struggle with the first time, they do not see the ramifications of their actions. It is a shame that they have not heard of the accidents at parties, or while driving or those who have died in a neighbor’s swimming pool, or who is disoriented with an influential substance and walks over a cliff to his death.

Surely, things like this do not happen. Oh, but they do and quite often because they have the mentality that trying anything once is not that big of a deal. The world asks the Christian to throw out good judgments given by God. The world does not want us to be accountable and desires us to be in a stupor on life. Now, you may think this is all silly and that perhaps you have been involved in many things like this and you may think that the odds are in your favor and that nothing bad will happen. But, how many times does it take before they lose control of a car before they ruin their life forever and those who are also affected?

Do we, our children, friends and grandchildren know that the Bible teaches the importance of avoiding even one bad decision? How many times did Eve eat the forbidden fruit which affected the entire world? Or what about king David who decided to take another man’s wife and kill her husband over sexual activities? Do we not see all the consequences that came from that event? Ask Nadab and Abihu and how many times they offered strange fire (Lev. 10:1-2). Ask Samson if he gave in just once and what happened. Ask Moses who struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Did it keep him out of the land of promise? Do you think God is pleased when we try something that we know is wrong, just once.

It only takes one dip in your mouth and you are hooked, only one drag on a cigarette and your caught, one drink will set you down the road of drunkenness, one sexual activity will lead to more. The point is that we must guard ourselves against doing something wrong. We must guard against the lust of the flesh and eyes. We must guard ourselves against the darts of the devil. We need to realize that no matter how many times someone may call you chicken or cries out to just do it, we must respond with a resounding NO! Let them know of the consequences and that the risks outweigh temporary pleasures. Tell them that “if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Prov. 1:10). Tell them that you will not just try anything once.

Posted in Robert Notgrass | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on I’ll Try Anything Once