Come and See Great Things

In the postmodern, consumer driven society we live in people often respond to an invitation to come to worship services, place membership, or become a Christian with the question of, “What’s in it for me?” We often respond that it is not a matter of what I can get, but what I can give. While this is true I think it may be a misguided answer to the question. What I can give is a sign of spiritual growth and maturity. May I suggest that we do indeed receive something from Christ and the church in fact we receive “Great Things!”

In John chapter one we learn that when Philip initially decided to follow Jesus he first Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote— Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” So Philip said, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him He said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael replied, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Then Jesus replied to Nathanael, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these” (John 1:43-51).

Indeed he did see great things while with Christ. The disciples saw the blind healed, the leper made whole, the mute speak, the lame walk, the hungry feed, and the dead brought back to life. When He cast the unclean demon from the man in the land of Gadara, east of the Jordan, the man wanted to follow Jesus. Instead, Jesus told him to, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19).

Now we have the inspired, preserved Word of God, that details all these things for us so we can know His person, His power, and His promises. Yet John says, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

The faithful, obedient child of God understands that the great things Jesus did while here on earth are overshadowed by the great things we have in Him today. Sure, we suffer trials, are tempted by sin, and even persecuted. But when we look beyond the empirical, selfish, temporary world we understand a few wonderful truths: we have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), we have all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), we have peace of mind that keeps us (Philippians 4:7), we have the forgiveness of our sins (Colossians 1:14), we have fellowship with each other and with the Godhead (1 John 1:5-7), and we have an abundant life (John 10:10)! What one will experience in Christ is the greatest life a man can live!

But it doesn’t end there! Paul would by inspiration write that, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

What are you waiting for? Come and see! Be faithful.

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The Tomb

HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO A 7TH DAY ADVENTIST ABOUT JESUS BEING IN THE TOMB FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS?

Lets begin by looking at Matt. 12:40, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  Now, there are two things in this verse that many have discussed and disagreed with at length.  One is the question of what day Jesus was crucified.  Some have taught for entire class periods on this subject, trying to prove that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday on the basis that He had to be in the tomb three full days and nights (exactly 72 hours) and playing on the term “heart of the earth”.  But, the Bible does not make such claims.  We must understand that the Bible uses different expressions to mean the same thing.  “In three days” (Matt. 26:61), “the third day” (Matt. 16:21), and “after three days” (Mark 8:31) all describe the same period of time.  Therefore, part of a day is spoken of as a day just as part of a year is spoken of as a year (Gen. 42:17-18).  It is as today we worship on Sunday, yet the service may only be one hour.

Now, the exception to this rule is if a term such as “full” or “whole” is used with it (Lev. 25:29; Acts 11:26; 28:30).  Therefore, it is commonly accepted that Jesus was quickly buried sometime between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening because this was the preparation day of the Sabbath (Mk. 15:42) and because they were forbidden to work on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10).  Then, Jesus arose sometime before the daylight hours on Sunday morning, after the Sabbath (Mk. 16:1) and before the two Mary’s had time to properly bury him (Mk. 16:2).  This was the third day as Peter said in Acts 10:39-40.  If this is not the case, then why did the chief priests and Pharisees request the sepulcher be made sure “until the third day” (Matt. 27:64)?  And, in Matt. 28:4, the keepers or soldiers that were placed in front of the tomb was still there, after Jesus was gone.  Roman soldiers and veterans, who had been used to terrible sights in the field of battle; were men of courage, and fearless of danger; and yet were seized with a panic.

The second thing about Matt. 12:40 that needs to be understood is that if it was understood by those Jews to be three full days and nights, and He arose on the third day, why did the Jews not ask for the sepulcher to be made sure until the fourth day?

So, how do we teach a 7th day Adventist this?  Well, seeing as how they were formed by a woman prophet, who only see worship as ceremonial, who do not believe in hell, and who force people to keep the Sabbath holy, it is hard to pull them from this teaching too.  But, we are to be patient in teaching others the truth in love and I would suggest to just stay on Acts 10:39-40 because if the apostle Peter said, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that God raised Jesus on the THIRD DAY, I have no reason to doubt it.

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One Another: Two Important Words

The term “one another” is used frequently in the New Testament.  There are “one anothers” for man to embrace and to avoid.  The mind of God, the Bible, displays many messages which need no additional commentary.  When laid out in front of the reader, verse after verse declares the importance of different concepts God desires man to know and incorporate in their lives.  Consider the two lists of “one anothers” below as part of a self evaluation.  Have you embraced what you ought?  Have you avoided what you should?

“One Anothers” to Embrace

John 13:34 –   love one another

John 13:14 –  wash one another’s feet.

Colossians 3:13 –  forbearing one another, and forgiving each other

Ephesians 4:2 –   forbearing one another

Galatians 6:2 –  Bear ye one another’s burdens

Romans 15:14 –  admonish one another.

Romans 12:10 –   be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;

Romans 16:16 –  Salute one another with a holy kiss.

Romans 15:7 –   receive ye one another

Romans 14:19 –  edify one another.

Colossians 3:16 –  teaching and admonishing one another

1 Thessalonians 4:18 – comfort one another

1 Thessalonians 5:11 –  exhort one another

Hebrews 10:24 –  consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;

1 Peter 5:5 –  serve one another:

1 John 3:11 –  For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:

“One Anothers” to Avoid

Romans 14:13 –  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.

Galatians 5:15 –  bite and devour one another,… consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:26 – provoking one another, envying one another.

Titus 3:3 –  hating one another.

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Understanding (Part 2)

UNDERSTANDING MAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

In the first part of this study we examined the nature of man’s circumstances from birth to the final judgment. In this part of our study, let us look at the consequences that will result from our decision while we live upon this earth. We will discover that there is one of two places that we will go, either to heaven or to gehenna (i.e. the lake of fire – hell). Yes, when the Righteous Judge (i.e. Jesus Christ – John 12:48) judges mankind after the resurrection He will assign us to either heaven or to gehenna (i.e. translated HELL in the K.J.V.) forever.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES

Today is the acceptable time to make the right choice about Divine and eternal things. The Bible teaches us this fact very clearly in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):” (ASV) My decisions now, while I am able to make them will determine my eternal destiny after I am resurrected at the last day. Because I understand that my righteous decision today will determine my eternal destiny, I want to make the right decision (i.e. choices) so that I can be assured of going to heaven rather than to Hell.

There are occasions in my life whenever I pause and consider the options that I do have when I am considering some action that involves right and wrong. Should I choose the right because I know that my decision will be seen and recorded by God or do I choose the questionable; or perhaps the wrong without consideration of future consequence? If I choose the right I have made the righteous choice if on the other hand, I choose the wrong, I have consciously made the unrighteous choice knowing that it will condemn me in God’s sight. Therefore, it is imperative that I consider each choice that is presented to me in the light of God’s instructions and choose the righteous over the unrighteous for the sake of my eternal soul’s future welfare.

There are a number of Scriptural references that teach clearly the above concept, please note some of them:

2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” (ASV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” (ASV)

Acts 5:23, “saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.” (ASV)

Romans 2:3-11, “And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (shall be) wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:  for there is no respect of persons with God.” (ASV)

THE FIRST CHOICE:

For everyone there comes a time in life when a decision about obeying our impulse to seek God’s way comes over us. This impulse comes over us whenever we hear and understand that our sin can be forgiven by God predicated upon some action on our part to comply with His instruction (i.e. obey Him). Our response to this calling of God (i.e., the impulse to choose) by the gospel message is the most important decision that we will ever make in our earthly life. You see, if we make the decision to immediately rush into the out-stretched arms of Christ and obey Him – cf., Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV)  we will then be in possession of that hope of heaven that will  become our heritage after a lifetime of faithfulness – cf.,

To those that overcome in Smyrna – Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)

The apostle Paul’s hope –  2 Timothy 4:5-8, “But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

IF THE CHOICE IS; “Yes Lord!”

If your choice is right, you will rush to Christ and fulfill whatever instruction that is required so that you will be saved from your sins. We have Biblical example that inspires many to follow their action in

Acts 2:36-40, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (ASV).

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE YOUR LIFE RIGHT WITH GOD?

The final decision about serving the Lord and becoming a Christian is a decision that only the individual can make. There is no possibility of someone else making it possible for a person to be saved from sin but Jesus Christ. You should make that decision while you are still able to do so; the time may come when you will no longer be able to change your relationship to God. If you know that you have a bad relationship with God because of your sins or because you are part of a religion that is not approved by God you need to make a decision about it today. Remember this; no one can become a part of the Lord’s church today for you – you must make that decision.

READ THIS:  2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:” (ASV)

 

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Understanding (Part 1)

There is a great problem today about understanding he teaching of the Bible and applying it properly. This problem is different from all other problems that man faces. The problem with a lack of understanding of God’s Word is different from any other problem because a failure to understand God’s Word will be the difference between our going to Heaven or to gehenna (i.e. the lake of fire). Perhaps some of our readers do not consider this matter as worthy of so serious a consideration but after we examine this proposition, I am sure you will have changed your mind. You see, there is nothing worse than loosing ones soul, the only possession that we have that is truly of eternal value (i.e. priceless) is our soul. Note the circumstance of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 12:16-21,

“16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (ASV)

You will notice that the rich man did not understand that his soul was really the most important possession he had – vs. 20. The rich man in the parable is like many of us today , we become so involved in the affairs of this life that we just do not take time to reflect on deeper matters of life, that there might be something of great importance that we are neglecting – the rich man was surely such a person.

WHY IS THE SOUL SUCH A VALUABLE ASSET?

Our soul has an eternal value (i.e. it outlasts the physical body), that part of us that is the life force; whenever it leaves the physical body it does not end. Because it does not end we must adequately prepare for it wherever it is going. The Book of God says that the soul of man is eternal and will reside in one of two places after death depending upon how we prepare for it when we physically die – Look carefully at Luke 20:35-38,

“35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in (the place concerning) the Bush, when he calleth the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.” (ASV)

Since the soul will survive physical death to be resurrected at the last day, every person ought to be alerted to the reality of this event and examine the nature of the resurrection and events that follow.

HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW WHAT PRECEDES And WHAT FOLLOWS THE RESURRECTION?

Each person may understand the nature of birth, life, physical death, the resurrection,  judgment, and eternal life or eternal torment {i.e. death}. This understanding is found whenever a person turns to God’s Written Word and searches it for such important details about these matters.

1.  BIRTH, This is the natural process that God put into action after he had created man and woman (i.e. Adam and Eve), Genesis 1-3

2.  LIFE, is what happens to those that are born {i.e. physically} into this world, each person begans to grow into adulthood.

NOTE:  During this time (i.e. living life) each person begins to understand many facets of life, we learn about other people, education (i.e. development of the mind and senses), we come to realize that in life each person is a product of their choices. Indeed, choice makes each person whatever he or she becomes – we choose between right (GOOD) and wrong (EVIL) as we decide upon our course of life. Many times we choose those things that are not wrong in and of themselves but we become so involved it them that we have no time or spend no time in contemplation, therefore we ignore sometimes the important things for the mundane things of life. You see, God instructs us to “seek first the Kingdom of God (i.e. recognize that God’s way is more important) cf. Matt 6:33 – before other things. A person will not want to waste this time that he/she has on the earth, they will want to make arrangements so that when they leave this life they will know where the soul will go. Paul said of this life in  2 Timothy 4:5-8,

“5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. 6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

To the church at Smyrna the John wrote, Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)

As a person can see by studying God’s Word, understanding of these important matters occurs because we do seek answers where real answers may be found, in God’s Written Word (i.e. the Bible).PHYSICAL

3.  DEATH, The death of everyone is assured by the testimony of God:

Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;

1 Corinthians 15:51-55, “51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (ASV)

4.  THE RESURRECTION, The resurrection of everyone is just as sure a reality as physical death. That the resurrection follows death is a Biblical doctrine that cannot be denied. With regard to the resurrection let us examine the teaching of the Bible:

*    Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;

**  John 5:28-29, “28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (ASV)

***      Acts 24:15, “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.” (ASV)

****    1 Corinthians 15:21, “For since by man (came) death, by man (came) also the resurrection of the dead.”

5.  THE JUDGMENT, The judgment of all mankind will take place before the Righteous Judge, Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” (ASV)

2 Timothy 4:8, “henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

THE FOLLOWING VERSES WILL TELL US WHAT THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT WILL BE:

“… The word that I speak (i.e. the words of Jesus Christ) …” is the standard – are measuring up to the standard? John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” ASV

6.  THE LAST DAY, The trumpet of God will sound, all the dead will be raised, everyone will be judges and sentenced on the “… last day …” All things created by God in the beginning will be dissolved and immortality of the resurrected will commence.

CONSIDER THIS FACT:  There will be only one last day. If the last day is not the last day then God has erred, we know that this is impossible, therefore there cannot be 1,000 years after the last day.

NOTE:

1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (ASV)

John 6:39-40, “39 And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 11:24-25, “24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;” (ASV)

John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (ASV)

SUMMATION:  Do we understand these things? We ought to study until we have reached an understanding of these important issues, that pertain to life, death, and the hear-after. Without a clear understanding of these things we will be unable to experience “JOY” in our lives and “The peace that passes understanding” will escape us – cf.

Philippians 4:4-8, “4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (ASV)

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