The Insult that Became a Compliment

It was a time where the Jewish religious leaders were opposed to Jesus Christ. They had not listened to anything that He had to say, and they were pushing towards the time when they would murder Him through the hands of the Romans. One such religious leader—a lawyer—came to put Jesus to the test. His motive was to tempt or trap Jesus through His words, and specifically, through His knowledge of the Law of Moses—something that the lawyers (at this time, those who were “experts” in the Law of Moses) supposedly knew quite well. One of the amazing things about this occasion is that it completely changed our conception of a word. Before the unfolding of this event, the word “Samaritan” was an insult that might have had none uglier. As a matter of fact, on one occasion when Jesus backed the Pharisees into a corner through His argumentation, they exclaimed in exasperation, “…thou art a Samaritan…” (cf. John 8:48). Nevertheless, should one refer to us today with the words, “He or she is a good Samaritan,” we would count it as one of the highest compliments that we could receive. What has made the difference? It was the story that Jesus told “a certain lawyer” on a fateful day (Luke 10:25-37).

In response to the question from the lawyer, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tested the ability of this lawyer in two ways. First, He questioned his knowledge — “You have been reading the Law of Moses; so you ought to know what is written.” Second, Jesus questioned him, “How have you been reading it?” These are two important questions for all students of the Bible. It is very important to be good readers of the word of God, but it is equally important how we read (and interpret) it.

Evidently, he was good at what he did, because he gave the correct answer (Luke 10:27-28) by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. On another separate occasion, another lawyer comes to Jesus (Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34) with the question, “Which is the first and great commandment?” In this instance, Jesus quoted the very same passages that this aforementioned lawyer gave. Thus, the lawyer in Luke 10 had evidently learned some things from his studies.

Yet, the problem arose with its execution—the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Thus, Jesus provides an infamous parable to teach the lesson that love serves. The problem with this religious leader is not what he knew, but in its execution—an important lesson for many of us today. Far too often, the problem we have is not in our knowledge of the Bible, but it is in our execution of what it says. Rather than asking ourselves, “Am I as the Samaritan, or am I as the priest or Levite?” maybe we should rather ask ourselves, “Am I as the Samaritan, or am I as the lawyer?”

Do not forget that this account began with a theological question—“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus took the question (and subsequent answer) out of the temple (where the Levite and priest would work and associate) and put it down on the rugged road from Jerusalem to Jericho. I have seen many congregations post a sign in their buildings above their doors, “Enter to worship; exit to serve.” This is the practical answer that Jesus gave. If we truly have love for God and our neighbor, then we will practice such outside of our assemblies wherever people have need. We should never limit redemption to our place of worship—this is what the priest and Levite did—but we should practice the principles of redemption on the roadside. Sorrow, need, sympathy and mercy know no racial boundaries or nationalities.

Jesus epitomized completely everything stated about this unnamed Samaritan. His mission was to spend His life doing good for others while accomplishing the will of the Father. Through His influence, He intends to make Good Samaritans out of us all—Jesus will accomplish this when we love God and love our neighbors as He taught in this parable. How much more may I accomplish in service to my God? There are always people in need, and there is room for growth in my life. I need this in my life! If the church at Southwest (or anywhere else for that matter) wants to grow, things will change as we strive to become Good Samaritans—no longer an ugly insult, but a glorious compliment, especially by the Son of God!

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Can You Sin In Heaven?

IF YOU ARE IN HEAVEN, CAN YOU SIN AND GO TO HELL?

This is an excellent question.  Now there are some who logically assume that you can sin in heaven.  Otherwise, Jehovah has spent a lot of time and effort protecting free will, only to take it away.  And, since Satan and his angels rebelled in heaven, we know that we can rebel and be kicked out.  And so, there are many who believe that you can have free will to do what you want in heaven.  Furthermore, they think that since Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven, since there can be no sin in heaven, therefore, a person who willfully sins while in heaven, would lose their privileges and be exiled from heaven.  Well, there is a Hebrew word for this explanation: H O G W A S H.

There will be no more sin.  In fact, you could say that there would be the impossibility of sin.  Everyone is purified.  Even though people may have free will, we will not be able to sin because the creator, originator and designer of sin is Satan and since he is not there, there will be no sin.  Today, we have the choice of free will to chose Satan and sin or God and his will.  But in heaven, Satan can no longer compete for our choice.   This is somewhat like Henry Ford’s exclamation regarding the color choices available for the Model T, “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black!”  In heaven, you can have any righteousness you want as long as it’s God’s righteousness.

Now, in Rev. 21:4, it states, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  In Rev. 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  And so, since sin brings forth death (Rom. 3:23-33), without death, in heaven we will be without sin.  Nothing will enter that will defile.

Thus, as Paul points out in Rom. 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  There will be a glory that is nothing like we know here.  And we will be forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17).  Forever paints the picture of the impossibility of leaving heaven.

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Idolatry vs Idletry

Okay, so “idletry” is not a word. My spell checker keeps telling me so and I cannot find it in the dictionary. But those of you who know me know that I am not shy when it comes to making up and using unwords. And though “idletry” is not a word there seems to be an awful lot of it going on in the church. And while many would take exception to being called idolators they would certainly have to admit to being “idletors.”

In the parable of The Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20 Jesus said that the landowner went out in the eleventh hour and asked those who stood around doing nothing, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” If you are an “idle” Christian consider that it is not because:

THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. We are called into the kingdom to be workers, not idletors! In John 4.35 Jesus asked and commands, “Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” My dad used to tell me when I was a kid, “All you have to do is look around, there is always something to do.” There is a lot of work in the kingdom that needs to be done. And often times neglected work never gets done. Someone once said, “The duty of the many should not be the task of a few.”

THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Christ knew that the time He had to accomplish the work He was sent here to do was not limitless. And He wanted us to know that we are in the same predicament. The fact is that time is running out on us. For many of us it is indeed the eleventh hour and the rest of us don’t know how much time we have left.

I often times in my life find that there is too much to do and too little time in which to
get it done. But we should not, or cannot, allow that to deter us from doing as much as
we possibly can in the time we are allotted here on earth. Time is running out on all of
us!

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city,
spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4.13-14).

THE PAY IS TOO LOW. Godliness is profitable both here on earth and in eternity. The apostle Paul was inspired to tell Timothy that, “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4.8).

The blessings that we receive in this life as obedient, faithful, busy servants of God
make this life a joy to live. We have hope, peace, love and the fellowship and friendship
of a family that the world longs for, but never finds in the myriad of relationships and
activities that offer only false hope and an inadequate sense of security.

Besides all this we are promised a crown, a home, a reward, an inheritance, which
can only be faintly understood and communicated in human terms. In fact the Bible is
clear that the only alternative to the heavenly reward is eternal damnation.

So I ask, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” If you have never obeyed the
gospel of Jesus Christ by repenting of your sins (Acts 17.30), confessing the sweet name of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (Matthew 10.32-33), and being baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2.38, “Why have you been standing here idle?” If you have done these things but are not faithful, “Why have you been standing here idle?” If you have not been as active (or as active as you should have been) in the labors of the kingdom, “Why have you been standing here idle?”

The declaration of Amos so long ago echoes across the fields of harvest, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6.1).

Adapted from “440 More Snappy Sermon Starters.” #155, p. 53.

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Honesty and Good Morals are Not Enough

Often today we hear some sincere person exclaim, “You know, so and so seems to be such a good person and they seem to be such a good family, don’t you think that they are saved people?” This statement or one similar comes up very often in conversation today. The question deserves a Biblical answer not an emotional one, as many are prone to offer. What does the Bible say about sincerity, honesty, and good morals?

Perhaps the best illustration in the Scriptures of God’s attitude toward the honest, sincere, moral person is revealed to us in Acts 10, please read the following quotation before we discuss it further:

Acts 10:1-6, “Now (there was) a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian (band), a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.” (ASV)

CONSIDER THIS:

1.  Cornelius was a good, sincere, honest, moral man but he was not saved from his sin – See qualities in 10:2.

2.  In 10:4 we see that God took note of his good deeds and morality but encouraged him by the angel to do more than that. There is a lesson here for all people of all ages.

“THERE IS MORE TO SALVATION FROM SIN THAN BEING GOOD”

3.  In 10:5, 6 the angel instructs Cornelius to send to Joppa and request that Simon Peter come to his home and tell him what he needed to do further, See verses 5, 6 above.

In this introduction to the context of chapter 10 we clearly see that Cornelius was a good, sincere, honest, moral man and yet God sends an angel to instruct him on what he needed to do further. Today we have God’s Written Word (i.e. the Bible) to guide is in understanding what the will of the Lord is. But at the time contemporary with Cornelius the written word was incomplete.

Whenever Peter received the messengers from Cornelius he acted according to his instructions from God and came to the home of Cornelius:

Acts 10:17-35, “Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.  And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.  And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned (of God) by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee.So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.  And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together: and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and (yet) unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean: wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me. And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.  Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord. And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.” (ASV)

CONSIDER THIS:

In this portion of the 10th chapter we can see that Peter came to the home of Cornelius, the Centurion rehearsed the things that had happened to him earlier, and Peter then exclaimed “But in every nation he that feared him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him” (10:35). This exclamation from Peter simply indicates that Cornelius, as with everyone, may be saved from sin by “fearing God and working righteousness.” (I.e. reverencing God and obeying Him).

Peter, after arriving at the home of Cornelius began to preach Jesus to him and his assembled family. At the conclusion of the sermon by Peter Cornelius and his family were baptized for the remission of sin as the Jews were on the Day of Pentecost earlier, see Acts 2:38. Notice the instructions of Peter at the close of his sermon at the home of Cornelius: Acts 10:47-48, “Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (ASV)

CONCLUSION:

We see that at the conclusion of the sermon in Acts 10 Cornelius and his family were baptized, but why were they baptized if their goodness, sincerity, honesty, and good moral could save them from sin? It is a Biblical fact that salvation from sin is acquired through belief, repentance, confession and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and in no other way (cf. Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3L21). Therefore, Cornelius and his family were saved from their sins, not by their good deeds, etc., but by their willingness to obey the instructions that came from God via Simon Peter. Please notice the statements in the Bible that establish the necessity of obedience over all other considerations:

1 Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Job 36:10-12, “10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.  If they hearken and serve (him), They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.  But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.” (ASV)

Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.” (ASV)

2 Thessalonians 1:8, “rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:” (ASV)

Hebrews 5:9, “and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV)

1 Peter 4:17-18, “17 For the time (is come) for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if (it begin) first at us, what (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?” (ASV)

Indeed, it is good to be honest, sincere, and morally correct, but man is instructed to obey God’s instructions too if he desires salvation from sin. Regardless of ones apparent goodness one cannot be saved from sin without coming to Christ on HIS TERMS (cf. Hebrews 5:8-9, “though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV)  

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Open Book Test

Which do you prefer, the “Open Book Test” or the test where the teacher unfairly and in oppressing fashion requires you to answer questions without access to the material? Do not answer to quickly! There is a time limit on both tests. And additionally, consider that you haven’t sat through every lecture, you haven’t taken any notes, and you haven’t studied the material or even read and familiarized yourself with the text. Now I’ll ask another question; will it matter if it is “Open Book” or not? The truth is you will fail such a test regardless!

The fact is we are all being tested and tried in this life (James 1.12; 1 Peter 1.7). And our lives will be graded in the Day of Judgment (John 12.48; Acts 10.42; 2 Timothy 4.1; 1 Peter 4.5).  We are being tested right now! The problem and tragedy is that so many are failing the test! And there is no need to…it is an “Open Book Test.” Consider carefully the following points:

The textbook (The Bible) is inspired, inerrant and available. It isn’t out of print, out of stock or outdated! “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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3.16-17). But how many folks are studying the text, searching it daily and committing it to memory (Acts 17.11; 2 Timothy 2.15)? The “Open Book Test” doesn’t do me a bit of good if I do not know where to find the answers. The Word of
God is meant to be: studied, searched, memorized, analyzed, scrutinized, and internalized.

There are lectures given every week. In the average lifetime (78 years) a person
attending every Bible Class and Worship Service will hear at least 16,224 lessons from the textbook. This does not include Gospel Meeting, special seminars, Ladies Bible Classes, devotionals, lectureships and other various public assemblies. In contrast, the person who attends only once per week will hear only 4,056. How much are you going to miss if you do not attend all the “lectures?”

Personal Study Time. The standard recommendation for a college student is two hours of personal study for every one-hour of classroom time. For the Christian who attends all four Sunday services and Wednesday evening Bible Class that would mean ten hours per week of personal study time. That may include private studies with others, daily personal devotionals, daily Bible readings, family devotional time, and daily prayer time. The problem is many Christians, even those who attend every service, go home, set their Bibles down in that preselected
place, and do not pick it up again till they walk out the door to the next “class.”

Application! This is real world stuff we are talking about and eternity hangs in the balance.  It has been said that, “He who learns but does not think, is lost.” And, “He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” John said, “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3.8). The work is being put in for the hope that we will change our lives for the better and for eternity.

There is a time limit on the test! “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1.24-25). “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4.14).

Friends, we need to be active in the Biblical education and the advancement of spiritual
growth in our lives. God has not left us without the necessary information or adequate
opportunities for instruction. But as is true with any test, the person responsible for passing or failing is the person taking the test. Not the teacher, not the material, not the pencil in your hand…You!

Be faithful.

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