Thoughts on Baptism

I have been reading this book which goes really in depth in the study of evangelicalism and sacramentalism. Apparently in recent years, some Evangelicals have made the transition to Catholicism or Orthodoxy. The author goes through many differences between Evangelicals and Catholicism in particular, such as praying to Mary, confessing to a person rather than God, and using text other than scripture as the word of God. When the author started talking about baptism, I got very interested. We have some friends who believe in infant baptism, some friends who believe you must be baptized to be saved, some friends who believe if they are baptized, their whole family is saved, and some that believe you do not need to be baptized to be saved, but you do it as an outward sign of your repentance and commitment to God (I personally believe in the last option). What follows is from the author, Matthew Ferris. Whatever your viewpoint, I think this is a good topic to discuss and think about. I think you should look over scripture for yourself and decide what you believe. I enjoy a good debate and I also enjoy hearing why others believe differently from me, so this interests me, and my intent is not to offend anyone in this discussion. (Please forgive any mis-types as I typed this in quite a hurry and don't have time to re-read it at the moment.)

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Excerpt from the book "Evangelicals Adrift" by Matthew Ferris.

In sacramentalist understanding, one enters the Church and is granted forgiveness of sins through the sacrament of baptism. The evangelical usually holds to a believer's baptism, or credo-baptism. One must profess faith in Christ to be a candidate for baptism. baptism presents a physical picture of the spiritual reality of death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3-4. The picture of one going under the water accurately depicts death and the grace - our dying with Christ. 

Thomas Schreiner notes, "It is striking that there is no sustained discussion of baptism in any of the epistles, presumably because the NT authors were writing to those who were already believers to whom the significance of baptism was explained upon their conversion. When Paul does refer to baptism, he assumes that all believers are baptized. Hence, we cannot deduce from the infrequent references to baptism that baptism was unimportant." The concept of an unbaptized Christian is simply foreign to the New Testament. The extent to which evangelicals have failed to call attention to the importance of baptism as something obedient Christians should do demonstrates their failure.

Within sacramentalism, the importance of baptism is stressed, albeit at times to an outsized proportion. Sacramentalism practices infant baptism as both an entrance rite into the new covenant with God and as that which cleanses from sin. Indeed, in this view one cannot be saved apart from baptism. "Through baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 342). The sacramental view ascribes profound accomplishments to baptism: regeneration itself, and cleansing the baptized one from the stain of sin.

How did the sacramental church move away from believers' baptism in favor of infant baptism? In the New Testament, we meet with no certain evidence of infant baptism. In the book of Acts, where we find various instances of baptism, it is always upon belief. After Peter's Pentecost sermon, "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41. The Ethiopian eunuch, hearing Philip expound the gospel says, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:36-37). 

In Acts 10, Peter had been called to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, who was a God-fearer, or a Gentile who attached himself to the Mosaic Law. After his gospel preaching, all who heard believed, causing Peter to ask, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days." Acts 10:47-48. Baptism obviously followed belief in both of these cases.

The Philippian jailer's conversion is sometimes cited as evidence of infant baptism, or of household baptism, but this can only be by inference: "And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family." Acts 16:33. Were there small children or infants in the family? It is conjecture to assume this, as nothing is stated in the text. In short, nothing in the New Testament demonstrates any evidence of infant baptism. Rather, baptism upon profession of faith is instead seen again and again.

New Testament scholar James D.G. Dunn comments, "It is one of the standing ironies of the diversity of Christian theology and practice that the chief means of accomplishing regeneration for so many centuries has had so little foothold in the New Testament, and has not clearly been encompassed even within the wide-ranging diversity of first-century Christian practice. For it has to be recognized that infant baptism can find no real support in the theology of baptism which any New Testament writer can be shown to espouse."

Tertullian favors a delay in baptism: "The delay of baptism is preferable; principally, however, in the case of little children." He goes on to indicate that it is better if those who come for baptism can themselves understand what they are entering into: "Let them 'come', then, while they are growing up; let them 'come' while they are learning, while they are learning whither to come, let them become Christians when they have become able to know Christ." Tertullian indicates an age of accountability, implying that it is better if people attain an age when they are themselves able to understand the faith.

The Augustinian concept of original sin dovetails with that of baptismal regeneration. If the stain of original sin is removed through baptism, as the Catechism notes, then it is evident why sacramentalism assigns such prominence to baptism. Stated differently, if baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation, then its importance becomes clear. A catena of scriptural references can be cited to show that salvation is conditioned upon faith in Jesus, rather than on an external act done on their behalf without their knowledge or consent, but evangelicals should know these. For an evangelical, moving to sacramentalism requires the paradigm shift in the basis of authority to accept the hierarchical church's redefinition of what baptism is, and what it imparts.

Does the New Testament teach that baptism is a requirement of salvation? Peter's plea to his hearers at Pentecost ends with the appeal, "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38). This passage is often cited as proof of the necessity of baptism. But Peter's insistence on repentance carries the implication of faith with it. To repent is to change one's mind, and the change of mind Peter pleads for is to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Here baptism is in no way separated from faith, but accompanies it.

The other passage often brought forth is in 1 Peter 3:21 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ... Concerning this, Schreiner observes, "Peter immediately qualifies the statement that baptism saves. It does not save mechanically or externally as if there are magical properties in the water. Peter comments that the mere removal of dirt from the body does not bring salvation, demonstrating that the water itself does not save. Baptism is only saving if there is an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The one receiving baptism also appeals to God for a good conscience, which means that he asks God to cleanse him of his sins on the basis of Christ's death and resurrection."

In  Corinthians 1:17, Paul states, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." If baptism were an act that imparted new life, why would Paul not seek to baptize infants and children at every opportunity? As he writes later, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." 1 Corinthians 9:22. 

On one side are those who insist, as sacramentalism does, that baptism is efficacious to save, to wash away sin, and to put one into the body of Christ. The fact that an infant cannot himself believe or exercise faith is entirely unimportant in this view. The parents are acting as proxies; their answers render as the infant's answer, their faith as the infant's faith. The practice that came to prevail of baptizing all infants led to a situation where faith is entirely unimportant; on the part of parents, or children, baptism was simply something one did as a member of a society dominated by the hierarchical church.

The deleterious effects of this are evident. It has emptied baptism of any of the meaning assigned to it in the New Testament. The identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection is changed to a rite of initiation into the professing family of God. The looming question which sacramentalism must answer is this: If baptism is indeed effective in imparting new life, in washing away sin, in putting one into the church, how is it that so many people who have undergone infant baptism manifest no signs of divine life whatsoever? There are huge numbers of people who are considered part of the Roman Catholic Church or part of the Orthodox Church because they have undergone infant baptism, yet do not participate in the church or cannot be considered members of the church in any realistic way. The only conclusion is that the effectiveness of the sacrament has failed. 

Infant baptism is not limited to sacramentalism. High church Protestantism kept the practice, though its ministers changed the underlying meaning somewhat. Adherents to this draw parallels with circumcision as a rite of initiation into the covenant. Calvin and other magisterial reformers were something in agreement with Catholics on the church as a visible society of the faithful. Infant baptism was the initiation into this christened society. When pressed to explain exactly what the significance of infant baptism is, Protestants who hold to infant baptism equate it with infant dedication. None of these Protestants would insist that it removes sin, or imparts the life of Christ, and so it has a very different meaning from what the sacramental church affirms.

Reality Check: It's Not All About You

In my Bible study today there was a point made that I hope we're all aware of, but many of us tend to forget at times.

Church is not all about you.

I know. Gasp! Horrors! Blasphemy! Look, I get it. Most of us (myself included) are completely selfish people. We can't help it. It's our sinful nature coming out full force. I like it when stuff is made easier for me. I like it when things go my way. I like it when it's about me. Don't you, at times?

So I was really convicted, but pumped up, when I read my study today.

Ephesians 1:22 says that God has put all things under Jesus' feet, and God gave Jesus to this world to be the head over all things to the church.

Ephesians 1:12 says that we should be to the praise of God's glory. (We should exist for his glory.)

Not our glory. God's glory.

Colossians 1:18 says that Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the church, that in all things he might have preeminence. (Preeminence meaning that he holds the first place)

*REALITY CHECK!*

As humans, we all want to be happy. But what Paul teaches us here is that the church does not exist to make us happy. We exist to further the Lord's purpose.

I understand there are times you feel frustrated toward your church. They've changed the worship music again. They've repainted the classrooms a color you hate. They sing too much. They don't sing often enough. The music is too loud. You can't hear the music. People are too friendly and you want to be left alone. People aren't friendly enough and you feel ignored. The preacher says something that hits you right in the gut and you don't like that. They're too busy. They're not busy enough. They only read out of a version of the Bible that you don't like. The sermons are too long. The sermons are too short. They never have flavored creamer at their coffee bar.

ENOUGH!

Again. The church does not exist to make you happy.

If you are feeling frustrated about one of the things I've listed previously, I urge you to search yourself and pray about these things. Are they significant enough to make you leave your present church? Are these roadblocks on your spiritual journey? Or are they just... things... that Satan uses to distract us?

If your pastor consistently preaches from his own opinion instead of the word of God, I encourage you to either pray HARD for discernment, or maybe seek out a new church. If things are happening at the church that are obviously against God, please find a new church. If the members, the deacons, the elders, the pastor are leading the church instead of God, you may want to seek out a new church.

Let's stop being so petty. Let's quit making church about me. Make it about God. Keep your focus on God, and all that other stuff should just fade away. 

God's Mercy Revealed in Genesis

I think it's safe to say I have read my Bible a good 5 or 6 times in my life. I've definitely read Genesis a dozen times or more. But I'm starting a new study where I'm reading the Bible chronologically (which I've never done) so I find myself back at Genesis. Back at the beginning. I'm reading along, nodding my head at the familiar days of creation. I read the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, a story with which I consider myself very familiar.

Tonight, as I read, though, I was struck by an act of mercy that I have never noticed before.

Right after God speaks his curse to the serpent, Adam, and Eve, Genesis 3:21-23 states, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden.'"

I'm pretty sure that every other time I read this scripture I was assuming the tree of life was the same thing as the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

See, back in Genesis 2:9, we read that God grew trees out of the ground to be pleasant to our sight, as well as to provide food. This included the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam that he can eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Aha! Is the tree of life how God planned to extend the lives of Adam and Eve? Without getting too deep into theology that I don't know a lot about, I do believe that God intended for Adam and Eve (and mankind) to live forever in perfection. It would make sense that he would have this tree for them to eat from and it would have a sort of "life-giving" substance.

Now, after Adam and Eve have sinned, God has to punish them as a consequence of their actions. One consequence for Adam is that he is going to have to toil and work and labor, for the rest of his life (Genesis 3:17-19).

What would happen if Adam had that curse placed upon him, and then ate from the tree of life? Is it possible, perhaps, that his life would be extended - in which case so would his toiling? his laboring? his work load?

That's why I placed that word "therefore" from verse 23 in bold when I typed out the verses previously. God steps back and says (verse 22) that Adam now knows about good and evil, and it is a good possibility that he could reach out and eat also from the tree of life, and thus live forever. Therefore God sends him out of Eden. For his own sake. Out of love. Out of extreme mercy.

I'm so thankful for the grace and mercy of God. I'm like Adam and Eve. I take my beautiful life for granted. I waste time. I miss opportunities to witness. I'm impatient. I try to do things my own way. I try to go faster than God. But this passage serves as a reminder to me, that God is always watching over me. Trying to steer me back onto His path. Diverting me from temptations or decisions that aren't right.

I would love to hear any thoughts you have on this passage. Have you ever thought of this before when reading this particular scripture?

The Value of Time

This is an excerpt from a book called "Seasons of the Heart", a compilation of devotions.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short..." - 1 Corinthians 7:29

To the Christian, how valuable is time! God has given it to us only minute by minute, to show us how precious a thing it is that He grants in these small drops. How soon is time over! How short is the longest life! And yet time is given to prepare for eternity. As we spend our time, so shall we spend eternity. The question "Where shall I spend eternity?" must be decided in time. When eternity begins, it will be too late.

Time is given us to serve the Lord in. Time is given us to repent in and to believe the gospel. Time is given us to do our duty in our station. Time is given us to do good to others. How much time is wasted! Idle gossip from house to house, too much attention to dress rather than neatness, foolish reading - so many things to waste precious time!

But there is one idea I should like you to have, one thought that I
trust the Spirit may write in all our hearts, and I pray He may keep in them, too, for Satan and the world would wish us to think far otherwise. This is it: time is given us to prepare for eternity. I am answerable to God for my use or abuse of time.

Let us pray to God to give us grace to spend our time in His service, in doing our duty in our day and generation, and in preparing for the life to come. Then, when time shall be over, we shall enter upon a glorious eternity through Christ our Lord. The ungodly and the careless will then wish, when wishing will be vain, that they had in like manner devoted their time to God. What would sinners in like manner give at the last for one short day! Oh, then, be wise now. Be wise in time. Consider your ways, and prepare for a life that shall never end!

- Elizabeth Julia Hasell

Financial Wisdom - Relating Finances and Spirituality

I was going through some old notebooks and found this. I think it is from one time when I spoke at a ladies retreat at church, although there is no date on it. I think this is something we need to be reminded of in regards to finances, so I wanted to share it here.

Wealth
As humans, we tend to relate money to wealth, along with possessions like houses, cars, clothes, etc.

Wealth is actually an extension of your personality. It can be used creatively - spreading the gospel or building up churches... it can be wasted on frivolous activities. It can be corruptive and it can be destructive. But ultimately wealth is entrusted to us by God. God gave us wealth not only for us to advance His kingdom, but for our enjoyment as well.

Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Blessings from God are not burdens. Many times when someone receives a financial blessing they may not credit it to God. Then, it is easy to let the world dictate how to use that money because it is seen as coming from the world.

Attitude
We know that ultimately when we die everything will be left behind. Why do so many people struggle to accumulate possessions to the point of obsession??

God is not interested in our ability to accumulate material possessions. Particularly if they become idols. He will provide.

Matthew 6:19-20 -  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

Proverbs 11:28 - He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

God is concerned only with our attitude. God doesn't care how much money we have or don't have, and our amount of money in the bank doesn't affect our relationship with Him. But our attitude can affect our relationship with Him.

We as Christians are supposed to trust God in every aspect and I think money is one area we are always a little terrified to hand over control.

One thing to remember - it is not wealth or money itself that is moral or immoral. There are plenty of dishonest poor people and plenty of dishonest rich people!

1 Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

Proverbs 11:4 - Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Does God condemn the wealthy? No:

Psalm 8:6 - Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.

What attitude should we have?

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

How does God define the real danger of money?

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Matthew 19:23 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

God's Wisdom

I found this great section on God's wisdom in a book I am reading right now. The book is "A Hope Deferred: Adoption and the Fatherhood of God" by Stephen Yuille. The section on wisdom is actually from another man, Stephen Charnock, who was a Puritan clergyman in the 1600's.

1. God is wise necessarily.
Job 12:13 - "With him (God) is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding."
God is wise simply because he is God and it is inherent to his nature.

2. God is wise originally.
Isaiah 40:14 - "With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?"
He isn't dependent upon anything outside of himself for wisdom.

3. God is wise perfectly.
Job 4:18 - "Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly."
Everyone is foolish in comparison to God.

4. God is wise universally.
Ephesians 1:11 - "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."
 His wisdom extends to all things. There's nothing that falls outside the parameters of his wisdom.

5. God is wise perpetually.
Psalm 33:11 - "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."
His wisdom isn't subject to change.

6. God is wise incomprehensibly.
Job 11:7 - "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?"
His wisdom exceeds our grasp.

7. God is wise infallibly.
Proverbs 21:30 - "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord."
God never errs in his wisdom.

I hope this encourages you today. Although we don't always understand situations in our lives or around the world, we have to remember that God is in control. And that control is perfect, because God's wisdom is perfect.

Psalm 94

Well, it's been over a month since I blogged about what I'm studying in the Psalms. I'm finding out a lot of great stuff and some awesome promises from God, but I made a commitment to myself that I will only blog when I really and truly have the free time. This morning I just have to blog about this psalm though.

Last night at church, I tried something different with our youth group. I have felt very convicted lately that we spend a lot of time teaching our youth group and not discipling them. We don't give them the resources they need to grow spiritually, and then we get mad when they turn to drugs or alcohol, or think church is boring and doesn't relate to them. I just really believe I personally have failed them in this way. So last night, at church, my point was to show them how I study the Bible and see if it's a way that they think will help them study. We went to http://www.random.org and picked a random psalm to study - Psalm 94. I had not ever studied this one, so I was just as clueless as them about the history and content. We read through the whole thing one time and then I explained to them my highlighting methods - blue colored pencil for actions of God, red colored pencil for actions I should take, and yellow colored pencil for characteristics of God. I asserted to them that this is simply how I do it and it may not work for them. Some of my very prepared teen girls actually had colored pencils on hand, so I was able to actually highlight with them while we talked!

We read through the entire psalm one time at first and it didn't make any sense to me. Some verses stood out to them and myself, but the whole thing didn't really come together. So we went verse by verse and tried to figure out what it meant and how it would relate to us. We got through verse 17 of the 23 verses, so I hope some of them went home and tried to finish reading and understanding it.

So this blog post today is a conglomeration of thoughts, from each of our youth members who came to church last night. They added some incredible thoughts and ideas. Some of them brought up things in the verses which I never would have thought of on my own, which is the fabulous thing about studying the Bible with other people. I am not ashamed to say when I don't understand something, and if someone ten years younger than me can explain it to me, then that is just fine with me!

I hope this blesses you and encourages you. I was so proud of our youth group. They are so smart and I was really impressed.

So, today's scripture is Psalm 94. Go here to read it in your preferred version.

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
² Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
³ Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
⁴ How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
⁵ They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.
⁶ They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
⁷ Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
⁸ Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
⁹ He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
¹⁰ He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
¹¹ The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
¹² Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
¹³ That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
¹⁴ For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
¹⁵ But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
¹⁷ Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
¹⁸ When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
¹⁹ In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
²⁰ Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
²¹ They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
²² But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
²³ And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

The first thing we noticed was in verse 1. The action of vengeance is supposed to be taken care of by God. When I highlight that in blue, to me, it's a reminder that it's not something I'm supposed to be partaking in. Vengeance is God's responsibility. The person writing this psalm is asking God to show up, because it's time to reap some vengeance on somebody.

In verse 2, we see that God is the judge of the earth. This is a characteristic of Him that is really significant for us, because we know that Judgment Day will eventually come. It's also significant because we know that God judges all of us right now. The person praying in this psalm is begging for God to lift Himself up and judge these wicked people - render them their reward. We talked about the phrase "getting their just reward" and how it means that people will get what they deserve. That's what this psalmist is talking about. Obviously he has been wronged or is seeing some wicked happenings around him, and he's wondering when God is going to take some action.

Verse 3-4 - We often think this way. God, how long are the wicked people going to be in control? They keep getting wealthier and more powerful... how long will that happen? They're talking with disrespect to God and they're boasting in themselves? How long will you let this go on, God?

Verse 5 - I didn't understand this verse at all. One of the youth members brought up the great idea that these people are probably causing division in the church ("break in pieces") and when it says "afflict thine heritage" it is probably talking about being disrespectful of God and the Christian faith. Another youth leader brought up the idea that "break in pieces" could be literal and be physical punishments (such as dismemberment, beheadings) of people in the Christian faith. Of course, that happened frequently in these times.

Verses 6-8 - Verse 6 is pretty straightforward. They are killing widows, strangers, and fatherless. Wickedness and sin are out of control. We are seeing this more right now than I've ever seen in my lifetime. Yet these people don't care (verse 7). They think God doesn't exist, so He won't see these actions and He doesn't pay attention to the stuff that goes on in our world. The youth group agreed this is mocking God. In verse 8, the author of the psalm says these people are senseless and foolish, and when will they wise up and realize that God is GOD?

Verses 9-10 are important for us to remember. God gave us our ears - yet some people think He can't hear us? He formed our yes - yet they think He can't see what happens? He will chastise those who go against Him - yet we think He won't correct us when we do wrong? He teaches knowledge - yet we think He doesn't know what people do or what we're thinking? We don't give God enough credit as Christians, so of course people who don't know Christ are going to disregard Him.

Verse 11 - God knows all of our thoughts. He knows they are meaningless and He knows that our minds and thoughts can't be trusted. We referred to 1 Corinthians 3:20 because it was in some of our Bibles as a reference. It says almost the same thing - "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." So whether we are Christians or not, our minds are not trustworthy. None of the ideas or thoughts that we form are any good unless they come from God.

Verses 12-13 We felt that these should be read together. We are blessed when God chastens us. That just means we are lovingly disciplined - to get us back in the right direction. One of the youth leaders described this as how we discipline our children. It's not just because we like to discipline and we're power hungry. It's to keep them safe and teach them. I underlined the phrase "teachest him out of thy law". I want to remember that all good things are taught from the Bible. That's why it's so important to be in the Bible every day and trying to figure out what we don't understand. A good teacher, a good father, is going to not just say, "You can't do that!" He will say, "Don't do that. Do it this way." A good teacher and a good father (like God) does not expect us to figure out everything on our own. He wants to show us the right way. He wants to point us in the right direction. But we do have to put in some effort - such as reading the Bible and praying, so we have that intimate relationship with Him. And then we see in verse 13 that God wants to give us rest. He doesn't want us going through trials and troubles in our lives. He wants us to have relief. I compared it to the feeling you get when you've had a headache for a long time and then suddenly it's gone. That sense of relief feels so good. God wants that for us! So when he disciplines us and teaches us, it's ultimately so we can have that time of rest from the consequences in our lives. We talked about how a lot of bad things that happen to us are consequences of the decisions we make. God wants to keep us from that heartache.

Verse 14 - God will not cast off His people. He won't forsake us. These are great promises to highlight and remember.

Verse 15 - This verse confused me but we think we figured it out together. One youth leader referred us to the book of Jude, which we didn't read, but encouraged the youth to read at a later time when they're studying. One day there will be a judgment. Yes, on all of us. And we will be able to rejoice in that time because at that time righteousness will reign. God will take back this world and He will rule like He is meant to.

Verse 16 - Who will stand? Will you stand against persecutors? Will you stand against people who make fun of you? Will you stand against people who question your faith? Are you standing up for your faith right now? If not, I'm not sure you will be able to endure what may possibly happen in our lifetime - which will be more frequent persecution and more drastic ways of persecution.

Verse 17 - Unless the Lord had been my help. This totally struck me. My soul had almost dwelt in silence. I talked about how close I was to "dwelling in silence". I thought I was a Christian for many years, but my life had not changed. I was on the brink of my soul dwelling in silence. It's a sobering thought. Thankfully, God spoke to me through the members of church and I got saved six years ago. None of us can stand on our own two feet (above verse). We must have God's help.

Verse 18 - Every time my foot slips, God in His mercy holds me up. That is an incredible promise to know. 

Verse 19 - When I am overwhelmed by my thoughts, and I'm feeling anxious, the comfort of God will make my soul happy. He can relieve these thoughts and feelings inside of me. 

Verses 20-21 - This will begin happening more frequently, I believe. People will gather themselves together against innocent people who are believers. Government will turn against Christians. More and more people will begin to persecute.

Verse 22-23. But God is my defense. He is my Rock. He is my Refuge. And eventually, yes, these people will pay for the evil they've done. God will cut them off and destroy them. It may not happen in our time and we may not even see it until Judgment Day, but I believe because the Bible says it, this is a promise that this will happen.

By Grace Alone: Effects of the Law

I am going to break from blogging about the Psalms for a little bit, although I'll still be studying them on my own. I've just finished an incredible book called "By Grace Alone" and I really want to share some thoughts from the book. I think it contains extremely important concepts for Christians and some misbeliefs that nonbelievers may hold. Please join me on this journey and share with your friends. If there is anything you want to look more in depth about, please consider purchasing the book. "By Grace Alone" by Derek Prince is available at most bookstores and on Amazon.

We've looked at why the Law was created, and it was not to achieve righteousness. So now we look at nine results the Law brings to us if we come under its influence.

1. The Law stirs up sin.

Romans 7:5 - "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."

Romans 7:9 - "For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died."

There are a few ways to interpret these verses. If there had never been any commandment, Adam would never have sinned. When the commandment came, sin came to life, and we died. One thing to think about is the story of the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. They broke the first commandment basically as soon as it was put into place. The commandment stirred up sin. Sin had been dormant until the commandment came. The Law doesn't bring people near to God. It keeps them away from God. 

We are saved by grace and then we determine we are going to earn our way. Then what happens? We lose our joy, we lose our peace, and we become a slave again. If we continue, we become nasty, edgy, critical, religious people whom no one cares to be around.

Prince suggests that coming back under the Law is the great danger that threatens every believer. We are saved by grace and then after a little while we think, "Now I'm living a really clean life, I've learned a lot of very valuable principles, I know the Scripture, and I have my quiet time every morning. I can walk in victory by my own efforts." Clearly, the end of this kind of thinking is a disaster. Endeavoring to live the Christian life by your own efforts is the greatest single hindrance to walking in the Spirit.

Romans 8 is a great passage about the Spirit-filled life. But if you are to live that kind of life, you cannot expect instant results. 

2. The Law strengthens sin.

1 Corinthians 15:56 - "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law."

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

If you are under the law, sin will have dominion over you, because it is the law that strengthens the dominion of sin over you.  

3. The Law produces transgression and wrath.

Romans 4:15 - "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."

You are not a transgressor without the Law. And transgression produces wrath on the part of the one against whom we transgress.

Think of this like a situation with a child. A child may jump off your coffee table. You can't get mad at them the first time, because they didn't know not to do it. So you explain to them that that is wrong and dangerous and not to do it again. Five minutes later, they are doing it again. So guess what? There's a little wrath involved the second time! Once there is a line set (the Law) and then it is crossed (transgressed), there is a consequence (wrath).

4. The Law causes condemnation.

Romans 8:1, 3 - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

The Law can never set you free from condemnation; it can only bring you under condemnation. As long as you live under condemnation, you cannot live in liberty. And condemnation can only be abolished by dealing with the problem of the Law.

5. The Law keeps us under Satan's dominion.

Colossians 2:14-16 - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."

God annulled the Law through the death of Jesus, and having done that, these verses confirm that He disarmed the principalities and powers. Jesus stripped them of their ability to dominate us. How? He revoked the Law. A radical transformation must take place inside us before we will abandon our faith in the Law.

6. The Law brings a curse.

Galatians 3:10 - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."

If you are under the Law, you must do the whole Law, all the time. If you don't, you are under a curse.

Jeremiah 17:5 - "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

Legalism is the attempt to achieve righteousness with God by keeping a set of rules; it is adding to what God has required for righteousness. This is the person who has tasted the grace of God, but we go back to trusting in our own ability and our own rules. In so doing, our hearts depart from the Lord.

Almost every significant movement in the Church began in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, however, many are relying on the flesh; they are relying on their own efforts, programs, promotions and rules.

Legalism is a person who has begun in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, but now they are seeking to become perfect in the flesh. Do not try to keep the Law, because you certainly will not succeed!

7. The Law brings a double enmity.

Ephesians 2:14-16 - "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

There is not only enmity between God and man (because we become transgressors if we don't keep the Law), but there is enmity between those under the Law and those not under the Law (particularly with Jewish people). 
    
8. The Law produces bondage.

In Galatians 4:21-25, Paul uses an allegory of Abraham's two sons. One of his son's mothers was a slave, and produced a slave. Paul is warning the Galatians that if they come under the Law, they will come under bondage. 

Romans 8:14-15 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

The Law uses fear to motivate us. We have become so used to that kind of motivation that we believe religion is supposed to be a fearful existence. The New Testament message, however, is not a message of fear.

9. The Law produces persecutors.

Galatians 4:29 - "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now."

Grace always frightens and offends legalism, and the religious legalist will always react with some form of persecution. Who persecuted Jesus and the apostles? The religious legalists.

The root: self-dependence.

The hardest tendency to curtail in our own lives is depending upon ourselves. The inner motivation of sin, in its essence, is the desire to be independent of God. The essence of Adam and Eve's sin was the desire not to depend on God any longer. The one person who perfectly sets forth the opposite of the desire to be independent is Jesus. The picture of Jesus is total, continuing dependence on His Father. 

John 5:19 - "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

John 6:57 - "I live by the Father."

Jeremiah 17:5 - "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

The one who trusts in himself makes his flesh his strength, and in so doing, his heart departs from the Lord. If we rely on our own efforts all we ever propagate is more flesh.

Habakkuk 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Also quoted in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38)

You can humble yourself and in faith depend on the Lord, or you can trust in yourself and your soul will be lifted up in arrogant religious pride.

If I am always doing the right thing in my own strength, I can boast. But if I am simply trusting in the grace of God and depending upon Him, I have nothing to boast of. Faith excludes boasting.

Here is a list of five things we commonly trust in rather than depending on the grace of God.

1 - Wealth

2- Nobility or social position

3- Education or knowledge

4 - Power

5 - Religion

God gave the Law to bare open the root of self-dependence, and the Gospel of grace puts the ax to it.

By Grace Alone: Why the Law?

I am going to break from blogging about the Psalms for a little bit, although I'll still be studying them on my own. I've just finished an incredible book called "By Grace Alone" and I really want to share some thoughts from the book. I think it contains extremely important concepts for Christians and some misbeliefs that nonbelievers may hold. Please join me on this journey and share with your friends. If there is anything you want to look more in depth about, please consider purchasing the book. "By Grace Alone" by Derek Prince is available at most bookstores and on Amazon.

So the question now is, if the Law doesn't really apply to us today and it was impossible for us to keep from the beginning, why did God even give the Law in the first place? Here are six reasons:

1. Not as a means to righteousness.
First, we have to realize that God did not give the Law as a way to achieve righteousness.


Romans 3:20 - "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Other than Jesus, no other human being will ever achieve righteousness by keeping the Law.

Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law..."

Galatians 3:11 - "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God..."

2. To reveal sin.
The Law makes us aware of sin. 

Romans 7:7 - "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law."

The only thing that revealed sin to Paul was the Law. Until we really see the nature of sin we are not going to see fully our need of salvation. God gave the Law so that we would see this force of sin in all its horrible working and with all its deadly effects.

3. To reveal man's carnal nature.
Our problems are the result of two forces at work within us. The first force is sin. The second force is human nature that comes under the influence of sin and turns away from righteousness.

This nature is easily affected by sin. The Bible refers to it as "the old man", "the flesh", "the body", "the body of sin", and "the body of the sins of the flesh". Not referring to the physical body, but rather to the nature we inherited with our physical body.

Romans 7:14-15 - "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

I'm sure a lot of us have felt like that before. The Law brings out into light the two root problems in my life.

4. To foreshadow Christ.
Although the Law diagnoses the problem, it foreshadows the solution. In Luke chapter 24, Jesus talks to the disciples, explaining the scriptures and showing how He has fulfilled the things in the Law and other Old Testament scriptures. He says all this scripture foreshadowed Him.


5. To bring us to Christ.

Galatians 3:24 - "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

The Law was to teach us the basic principles of righteousness, of obedience, of right and wrong, and then take us to the real teacher, who is Christ.

6. To keep Israel a separate people.

Numbers 23:9 - "For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations."

Even after Israel has been driven out of her own land, this prophecy has been fulfilled. The Jewish nation is still a separate indentifiable group of people after being dispersed from its own land for centuries, scattered among at least one hundred countries.

So that is why the Law was given. So how does it affect me if I try to keep it? That's what we'll look at next time.

     
     

By Grace Alone: 7 Facts About the Law

I am going to break from blogging about the Psalms for a little bit, although I'll still be studying them on my own. I've just finished an incredible book called "By Grace Alone" and I really want to share some thoughts from the book. I think it contains extremely important concepts for Christians and some misbeliefs that nonbelievers may hold. Please join me on this journey and share with your friends. If there is anything you want to look more in depth about, please consider purchasing the book. "By Grace Alone" by Derek Prince is available at most bookstores and on Amazon.

7 Facts About the Law of Moses

Fact #1: The Law was given through Moses.

John 1:17 - "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." 

Romans 5:13-14 - "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."

The time period from Adam to Moses was the period until the law. Man was ruled by conscience. When Moses came, the Law was given through him.

Fact #2: The Law is a closed system.

The Law of Moses is a complete, perfect system to which nothing can be added and from which nothing must be taken away.

Deuteronomy 4:2 - "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."

Deuteronomy 12:32 - "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."

According to God's command, the Law is completely unchangeable.

Matthew 5:17-18 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
     
A "jot" is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, about the size of a comma. A "tittle" is a little mark on the top of some letters that distinguishes them from other letters, and it's smaller than a comma.

Romans 7:12 - "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."

Fact #3: The Law means all or nothing.

If we wish to achieve righteousness by keeping the Law, it must be all or nothing. There is no in-between.

Galatians 3:10 - "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

Anyone who is seeking to be made righteous by the works of the Law is under a curse. Once you come under the Law, you have no more options. You must continue at all times to do all the commands written there. If at any point you fail, you are under a curse. Not even one omission or exception is tolerated.

James 2:10-11 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law."

Even if you keep 99.9% of the law but fail in 0.1%, you are a lawbreaker. It is all or nothing.

Fact #4: Christ fulfilled the Law.

Matthew 5:17 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law. He did this in three ways.

First, Jesus kept the Law perfectly. In John 8:46, Jesus asks the religions leaders of His day if any of them could convict Him of sin. If He had violated the law we can be sure they would have known about it, but He never violated it at all.

Second, Jesus fulfilled the Law by fulfilling all of its prophecies.

Luke 24:26-27 - "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

After Jesus was resurrected from the cross, He talked to the disciples and detailed all the prophecies He had fulfilled throughout His life, death and resurrection.

Third, Jesus fulfilled the Law by paying its final penalty on our behalf.

Romans 6:7 - "For he that is dead is freed from sin."

The original Greek there actually means he that is dead is justified from sin. The last thing the law can do is put you to death. If you have committed 15 offenses, the law can only put you to death one time. But Jesus Christ suffered the death penalty on our behalf.

Romans 7:4 - "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ."

Christ died to the Law and I died to the Law through His death. Because I am in Christ, the Law has nothing to say to me. I am outside its territory and jurisdiction, finally and forever.

Galatians 2:19-20 - "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Fact #5 - Christ broke down the wall of separation.

Look back at Romans 10:4. If you believe, then Christ is the end of the Law for you - whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. Ephesians 2:11-22 also discusses the difference between a Jew and a Gentile. In these verses Paul talks about a wall of separation. There was actually a wall in Jerusalem that a Gentile was not allowed to pass through. But Jesus has broke down that wall of division because He abolished the Law. Therefore Jesus has put an end to the Law and to the enmity between Jew and Gentile. 

Honestly, though, there is still enmity between Jew and Gentile. It exists because the Law has separated Israel from all other people. When you are under a religious law, it puts you at enmity with those who are not under the same law. That's why some Baptists are at enmity with some Episcopalians. And some Catholics are at enmity with some Protestants. (Of course that cannot be a blanket statement.)

The trouble with the church is that we as Christians have re-erected the middle wall of partition. Now, however, it's not just between Jews and Gentiles. We use other labels, like Baptist, Catholic, charismatic, or Holiness. Every time we establish religious law we reap enmity.

There is nothing new about a Gentile or a Jew. But what is new is that we are all in Christ as one new man. When Christ put an end to the Law, He removed not only the enmity between believers, but also the enmity between us and God.

Colossians 2:14-16 - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

In hymns, we often sing that Jesus nailed our sins to the cross. But really, He nailed the Law to the cross. Paul uses the word "handwriting" in that verse in Colossians. In Exodus, it tells us that God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger. He is the only one who can wipe out what He has written.

So, the ordinances have been wiped out. If we believed we were still under those commandments and ordinances, we would all be Seventh Day Adventists so we could worship on Saturday in order to keep the Sabbath. But the truth is, we're not under the old commands anymore.

Fact #6 - Christians are not under the Law.

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Romans 7:4 - "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;"

Israel was married to the Law, and as long as the Law lived, if Israel were to turn to anyone else, she would rightly be labeled adulterous. But what Israel had to learn is that the first husband has died, and she is now free to be married to Christ, the resurrected Messiah, without being adulterous. 

Romans 7:6 - "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Galatians 5:18 - "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." 

When you are a child of God, you are led by the Spirit. When you go back under the Law, you're not living as a child of God anymore.

Fact #7: Christians are warned against going back.

Galatians 3:1-4 - "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? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain."  
If you go back under the Law, it's all in vain. Paul talks later in Galatians 5:1 about a yoke of bondage, which is referring to the Law. We talk about bondage to drugs and alcohol now, but the bondage of the Law can be just as concerning. Once you have decided to abide fully by the Law, Jesus is of no use to you. The word bondage is actually a word that means "slavery". When you go back under the Law, you come under the spirit of slavery to fear. The Law says, "Do this! And if you don't do it, you are a transgressor! Do that! And if you don't do it, you will die!"

Next time, I'll look a little more at the Law. If we can't achieve righteousness by the Law, then why was it given?  What was it's purpose?