I recently read an article, Should the Christian Live in Fear of God?, in which the author wrestled with the fear of God. He wrote,
“The Christian – who is justified by God’s grace in Jesus Christ though faith – should be at peace with God and not live in fear of him, correct?
This would seem to be logical consequence of a message like that of Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And yet, for confessional Christians who recite the Athanasian Creed once a year (as we did a few weeks ago), the end of this creed might, on occasion, cause one to doubt and wonder:
…At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
And here, as when reading passages like John 5:28 and 29 and Revelation 20:12, the doubts might encroach at a fast and furious pace! How can we not be terrified?
We need to recognize that while the Athanasian Creed is thoroughly biblical ... the end of the Athanasian Creed is the kind of message that a doubting Christian and/or terrified sinner does not need to hear!”
He twists and turns as he tries to explain this: Should we fear God? No. Yes. Sort of. But not really. What’s the problem? The Bible has come into conflict with his theology, and he doesn’t really know what to do.
Ah, the fear of God. This is a concept that runs throughout the Bible, yet it seems to be one of the most difficult for us to understand. In response I did a little study:
First, I gathered all the verses from both the Old and the New Testaments on the fear of God. This is a good study! The book of Proverbs is an especially rich source.
Second, I consulted a trusty commentator for insights. Just who is this commentator? Adam Clarke. He was a Methodist preacher, evangelist, commentator, and true scholar, but his views on this matter represent the classic Christian understanding of the fear of God.
Third, I randomly chose a few passages to present here. Well, not completely random. Since there are many who think the idea of the fear of God is an antiquated Old Testament concept, incompatible with the gospel, I selected all the references from the New Testament.
Here are my findings, with Clarke’s explanations of the fear of God:
Deuteronomy 6:2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
That thou mightest fear the Lord - Respect his sovereign authority as a lawgiver, and ever feel thyself bound to obey him. No man can walk either conscientiously or safely who has not the fear of God continually before his eyes. When this is gone, more than a guardian angel is fled.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Now, Israel, what doth the Lord require of thee - An answer is immediately given. God requires, That ye fear him as Jehovah your God; him who made, preserves, and governs you...
Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Fear the Lord - Reverence him as the sole object of your religious worship.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. Wisdom itself begins with this fear; true wisdom has this for its commencement. It is the first ingredient in it, and is an essential part of it. In vain does any man pretend to be wise who does not fear the Lord; and he who fears the Lord departs from evil: he who lives in sin neither fears God, nor is wise.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God, and the love of man; the former producing all obedience to the Divine will; the latter, every act of benevolence to one's fellows. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit produces the deepest religious reverence, genuine piety, and cheerful obedience. To love one's neighbor as himself is the second great commandment... Without love, there is no obedience; without reverence, there is neither caution, consistent conduct, nor perseverance in righteousness.
This fear or religious reverence is said to be the beginning of knowledge; the principle, the first moving influence, begotten in a tender conscience by the Spirit of God. No man can ever become truly wise, who does not begin with God, the fountain of knowledge; and he whose mind is influenced by the fear and love of God will learn more in a month than others will in a year.
Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Fear him - Even the friends of God are commanded to fear God, as a being who has authority to send both body and soul into hell. Therefore it is proper even for the most holy persons to maintain a fear of God, as the punisher of all unrighteousness. A man has but one life to lose, and one soul to save; and it is madness to sacrifice the salvation of the soul to the preservation of the life.
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Walking in the fear of the Lord - Keeping a continually tender conscience; abhorring all sin; having respect to every Divine precept; dreading to offend him from whom the soul has derived its being and its blessings. Without this salutary fear of God there never can be any circumspect walking.
Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
There is no fear of God before their eyes - This completes their bad character; they are downright atheists, at least practically such. They fear not God's judgments, although his eye is upon them in their evil ways.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
In the fear of God - that we may dread his displeasure, and abhor whatever might excite it, and whatever might provoke him to withhold his manna from our mouth.
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
In the fear of God - Setting him always before your eyes, and considering that he has commanded you to love one another, and to bear each other's burdens; and that what you do in this or any other commanded case, you do as unto the Lord.
So, Should the Christian Live in Fear of God? The answer is, Yes: Respect his sovereign authority and ever feel bound to obey him; Reverence him as the sole object of your religious worship; Dread his displeasure, and abhor whatever might excite it; Set him always before your eyes. Is this salvation by works? No, this is thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
You should've grown up with me
I occasionally read comments on facebook from people lamenting their childhood, how their parents forced them to go to church, wouldn't let them watch what every one else was watching, homeschooled them, and other mean and terrible things. You should've grown up with me.
My mother was married to my father for maybe nine years. I remember almost nothing from those years of life, clearly not a good time for us. I don't know all the reasons, but it obviously wasn't a happy home and he wasn't a pleasant man. I have one memory of my father from this period - he and I were washing our hands for supper and I said to him, "Pull those shoulders back" (he always told us to stand straight with our shoulders back). He took exception to that and rebuked me severely. That's it. That's what I remember of my father.
After they divorced he never paid child support and I only saw him one time - he came to our house to see us, and while he was in the house talking to my mother, I sat outside. My mother came out and made me go inside to see my father. Can't explain why, but I didn't want to talk to him.
We moved a lot when they were married - several places in North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth & El Paso Texas, Boston, Jackson MS, Nashville (this was where my sister was born; the night she was born we stayed up really late to wait for the news, when my father's car pulled into the driveway my grandparents rushed us off to bed because he would've been angry that we were still up), and then Tucson. We moved so often one of our favorite games was playing "moving men", I was Jim and my brother was Joe. I remember deciding to quit trying to make friends when I went to school - we would be moving at the end of the year anyway.
They must've fought a lot. I do have a memory of walking to a friends house one morning so I could ride with him to school . As I was about to knock on the door I heard raised voices inside, I assumed they were fighting, that scared me so I started walking to school.
I always struggled with confidence, especially in attempting something new. One day, out of the blue, my granddad told me that my father constantly put me down, "You're no good", "You can't do anything right." I tell you a light went on that day.
As I said earlier, my parents divorced. I have absolutely no memory of the separation or divorce. But the memories of my childhood do pick up after this. I don't know how old I was when they divorced, nor how long it was before she remarried. I don't remember them dating, in my memory banks he was just suddenly there. I do know that he talked her into selling everything and moving to Hawai'i. Talk about being uprooted! I finished 3rd grade at Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School in Honolulu. We moved to Kahaluu and I attended 4th grade at a different school, only to move to Kaneohe and a new school for 5th grade.
When my mother remarried, there were three of us (me, my brother, my sister). About a year after they married, my mother gave birth to another brother. Her new husband had previously been married and had four children from that marriage. With his help and encouragement, they left their mother and life in Colorado to join us in Hawai'i. I remember the night they arrived, my mom was still in the hospital and we snuck up the backstairs to see her. Now we were 8. We were a real life Brady Bunch. And all 10 of us lived in a 3 bedroom house! After a brief adjustment period, I always considered them as my real brother and sisters. A little while longer and he became Dad to me.
When I was in the 9th grade they separated and four of us moved to Huntsville, AL. This was a bigger culture shock than moving to Hawai'i! We lived with my uncle. While we were here, my dad unsuccessfully attempted suicide. After a brief stay, we returned to Hawai'i and resumed life in paradise. Then my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery was successful but it was really downhill after that. He was serious and successful in his next attempt. I remember that night and the look in his eyes.
We rented our house in Hawai'i and I remember the landlord coming out to the house one day to inform my mother he would be raising the rent. Well, we were on a limited income and could not afford the new rate, so we sold everything and moved to Nashville, TN. Why Nashville? My grandparents lived there. We spent the summer with them. And because their house was too small to accommodate us all, I spent every night in a camper trailer parked in their driveway. That was the summer of my senior year. I tell you, I hated having to move to the mainland, but something good happened to me here, in March of '73 I became a Christian - meeting Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me!
I graduated in 1973, but it wasn't until January of 1974 that I went off to college - University of Tennessee at Martin. In the Fall of that year, while I was off at school, my mother remarried and moved to California! Which meant I had nowhere to go on school breaks! I was completely on my own, with literally no money. I had to drop out of school and go to work. But, by this time I had met this pretty girl and we were talking about getting married...
I could share many more anecdotes, like how we got all our clothes except underwear at Salvation Army, but I feel foolish giving this much. Why do I feel foolish? So many people had it worse than me. My sister's life was also full of trials and difficulties experienced after I left home. And my dad's children, who joined us in Hawai'i, could tell you stories that would raise the hairs on your neck. I know some of them, but those are their stories and this is mine. My point is, you had a hard childhood because your parents made you go to church, and homeschooled you, and wouldn't let you watch much TV? I didn't even have a TV for a while, and when we got it back we literally had to sign in and out to watch only so many hours per week. You should've grown up with me.
My mother was married to my father for maybe nine years. I remember almost nothing from those years of life, clearly not a good time for us. I don't know all the reasons, but it obviously wasn't a happy home and he wasn't a pleasant man. I have one memory of my father from this period - he and I were washing our hands for supper and I said to him, "Pull those shoulders back" (he always told us to stand straight with our shoulders back). He took exception to that and rebuked me severely. That's it. That's what I remember of my father.
After they divorced he never paid child support and I only saw him one time - he came to our house to see us, and while he was in the house talking to my mother, I sat outside. My mother came out and made me go inside to see my father. Can't explain why, but I didn't want to talk to him.
We moved a lot when they were married - several places in North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth & El Paso Texas, Boston, Jackson MS, Nashville (this was where my sister was born; the night she was born we stayed up really late to wait for the news, when my father's car pulled into the driveway my grandparents rushed us off to bed because he would've been angry that we were still up), and then Tucson. We moved so often one of our favorite games was playing "moving men", I was Jim and my brother was Joe. I remember deciding to quit trying to make friends when I went to school - we would be moving at the end of the year anyway.
They must've fought a lot. I do have a memory of walking to a friends house one morning so I could ride with him to school . As I was about to knock on the door I heard raised voices inside, I assumed they were fighting, that scared me so I started walking to school.
I always struggled with confidence, especially in attempting something new. One day, out of the blue, my granddad told me that my father constantly put me down, "You're no good", "You can't do anything right." I tell you a light went on that day.
As I said earlier, my parents divorced. I have absolutely no memory of the separation or divorce. But the memories of my childhood do pick up after this. I don't know how old I was when they divorced, nor how long it was before she remarried. I don't remember them dating, in my memory banks he was just suddenly there. I do know that he talked her into selling everything and moving to Hawai'i. Talk about being uprooted! I finished 3rd grade at Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School in Honolulu. We moved to Kahaluu and I attended 4th grade at a different school, only to move to Kaneohe and a new school for 5th grade.
When my mother remarried, there were three of us (me, my brother, my sister). About a year after they married, my mother gave birth to another brother. Her new husband had previously been married and had four children from that marriage. With his help and encouragement, they left their mother and life in Colorado to join us in Hawai'i. I remember the night they arrived, my mom was still in the hospital and we snuck up the backstairs to see her. Now we were 8. We were a real life Brady Bunch. And all 10 of us lived in a 3 bedroom house! After a brief adjustment period, I always considered them as my real brother and sisters. A little while longer and he became Dad to me.
When I was in the 9th grade they separated and four of us moved to Huntsville, AL. This was a bigger culture shock than moving to Hawai'i! We lived with my uncle. While we were here, my dad unsuccessfully attempted suicide. After a brief stay, we returned to Hawai'i and resumed life in paradise. Then my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Surgery was successful but it was really downhill after that. He was serious and successful in his next attempt. I remember that night and the look in his eyes.
We rented our house in Hawai'i and I remember the landlord coming out to the house one day to inform my mother he would be raising the rent. Well, we were on a limited income and could not afford the new rate, so we sold everything and moved to Nashville, TN. Why Nashville? My grandparents lived there. We spent the summer with them. And because their house was too small to accommodate us all, I spent every night in a camper trailer parked in their driveway. That was the summer of my senior year. I tell you, I hated having to move to the mainland, but something good happened to me here, in March of '73 I became a Christian - meeting Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me!
I graduated in 1973, but it wasn't until January of 1974 that I went off to college - University of Tennessee at Martin. In the Fall of that year, while I was off at school, my mother remarried and moved to California! Which meant I had nowhere to go on school breaks! I was completely on my own, with literally no money. I had to drop out of school and go to work. But, by this time I had met this pretty girl and we were talking about getting married...
I could share many more anecdotes, like how we got all our clothes except underwear at Salvation Army, but I feel foolish giving this much. Why do I feel foolish? So many people had it worse than me. My sister's life was also full of trials and difficulties experienced after I left home. And my dad's children, who joined us in Hawai'i, could tell you stories that would raise the hairs on your neck. I know some of them, but those are their stories and this is mine. My point is, you had a hard childhood because your parents made you go to church, and homeschooled you, and wouldn't let you watch much TV? I didn't even have a TV for a while, and when we got it back we literally had to sign in and out to watch only so many hours per week. You should've grown up with me.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Faith and part 2
This is part two of my survey of faith and. The first part considered faith and and and faith. Part two will cover believe and and and believe. This was an interesting study to say the least and at the end I will offer my conclusions. I considered presenting my findings in some kind of fancy, organized way but then I thought, “Nah, I’ll just list them in order and offer a few comments.” So here goes…
Believe and
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
This is a scary verse for many, but surely our doctrine has to fit the Bible. This is similar to repentance in that both repentance and baptism are ineffectual alone; faith is the key.
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
And just as surely, faith is of utmost importance.
John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
We believe and are sure or, have believed and have known. The certainty of faith.
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
This is cool. Believing in Jesus leads to worshiping him.
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Believed and turned. Yes. This is what it is to believe in Christ - we turn to him.
Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Believed and were baptized. Baptism is not the next step, it is the first step.
2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
We speak what we believe.
1 Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Oh the certainty that accompanies faith.
And believe
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Believe is the key, but you cannot believe without repenting.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
This is what the unspiritual man wants, “When I see it I will believe it.” That’s not faith.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Faith comes by hearing the Word. We also see this in Acts 15:7
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The world demands to see before they believe (30), yet they don’t believe even when they see (36). But what about see and believe of v 40? Is this a contradiction No. There was a generation that saw Jesus. They actually saw him, heard his words with their ears, saw his mighty works with their eyes, and yet we read something incredible, ye also have seen me, and believe not. Then Jesus declares, this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Know and believe. Interesting order, usually it is believe and know. But when you encounter the power of God, you know this is supernatural and then you believe in Jesus.
John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
He saw the empty tomb. We don’t have this opportunity, so of us Jesus said, blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. We are not that generation mentioned above who had the privilege of seeing Jesus with our eyes. We believe without seeing him in the flesh. Faith!
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
We have known by experience the love of God and believed it. Amen. Isn’t this wonderful? This is not simply a cold, mental acknowledgment, this is experiential! God is good.
This is what I learned - there are a lot of ands with faith! This is important because to hear some folks it's just faith, all by itself, almost a mere acceptance of some facts with no corresponding change in me. As in, “You can do whatever you want to do or be whatever you want to be as long as you believe.” But this survey has proven that untrue. Faith has many attendants, and they are important - it's not faith without 'em.
And what are these attendants, these family members of faith? Repentance, baptism, turning to the Lord, love, hope, patience, works. Yes, they are empty without faith, yet without these the professed faith is suspect. So, what do the family members of faith look like?
Repentance – change your mind, the way you think; we have all these unbiblical ideas about sin, salvation, Jesus, and before we can believe our thinking has to change. Repentance is a vital element of the entire Christian life.
Baptism – however you explain it, this is obviously faith expressed
Turning to the Lord – this is that old idea of conversion. We are to turn to the Lord, be converted. At one time we were sinners, disobedient, unconcerned about the will of God, but now we believe Jesus is Lord and we want to know and do his will. How can it be faith if we have no desire to follow?
Love – this is not the mushy ‘whatever you want to do and be’ attitude that is passed off as love today. This is love for God that moves me to seek to please him; this is love for fellow believers that transforms the way I relate to them and produces practical care for them; this is love for unbelievers that moves me to treat them as I would be treated. This love even warns folks of their need to repent and believe, because not everything I do is right.
Hope – because I believe the promises of the gospel, I hope for the day I see Him
Patience – because I believe and hope, I will wait and not quit. Hope and patience are reminders that our life is in Christ, not in anything earthly.
Works – works?? Yes! Faith is active. But what works? Doing what Jesus said. Simply put, faith without works is dead.
Certainty – I have never seen Jesus, but I believe in Him, and I know. What assurance! Not only assurance, but through faith in Christ I experience his grace and power. we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Faith is not alone. Faith is never alone.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Faith and
A couple of weeks ago I thought, “I wonder how often the Bible says faith and? and what comes after the and?” And as I sat down to start my search I thought I would add and faith, believe and, and believe to my search list. This was an interesting study to say the least and at the end I will offer my conclusions. I considered presenting my findings in some kind of fancy, organized way but then I thought, “Nah, I’ll just list them in order and offer a few comments.” So here goes…
faith and
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Faith and doubt not. Faith and doubt are not compatible. Not only this, but doubt destroys faith.
Luke 8:24-25 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Fear is actually faith in an inadequate object, in this case, their confidence in their sailing ability was not equal to the storm. Where there is fear, there is no faith in the Lord, and he rebuked them for not exercising faith. In this case, they were afraid of Jesus, of his power and authority. They were afraid because they did not fully believe in Him.
Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; full of the Holy Ghost and of faith... Yes! Oh yeah, ‘and much people was added to the Lord.’
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Salvation is through faith in Christ and not you.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
What a triad of graces: work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope!
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Faith and love march hand in hand in the Christian life. Where there’s faith there will be love.
1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Holding faith and a good conscience, that is hold fast to faith and a good conscience.
1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Grace is received by faith, but not by faith only, by faith, and love, and holiness.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Faith and love. Again. It’s like this is really important
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Very clear, faith and patience are necessary to inherit the promises. It’s not simply a moment of faith, it is faith and patience.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Faith and no works? This is a combination that does not work.
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Faith and hope. Look at this, we have seen faith and love, faith and works, now faith and hope. Faith is not simply mental assent, it is dynamic, it produces love, works, hope.
Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
What a list: works, love, service, faith, patience, and works. Jesus does not see this as believe and then sit down. No, faith has family.
and faith
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance and faith. Repentance is not enough by itself, but faith cannot stand without it.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Patience and faith. Hold on in all your persecutions and tribulations.
Philemon 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Love and faith. Faith and love. No matter what order they’re in, they go hand in hand.
This is so long I saved the second part for my next post: faith and part 2 which will cover believe and and and believe
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Problem Patience
Problem Patience or Patience in the New Testament part 2
Patience is a virtue. Trite and tired, right? Nevertheless, it is true, patience is one of the virtues of the Christian life. In my last post I pointed out there are two kinds of patience spoken of in the New Testament: longsuffering and patience, and took a look at longusffering, a beautifully descriptive word.
As I mentioned, there are two different words used for patience: μακροθυμια (longsuffering) and υπομονη (patience). John Chrysostom (349 – 407), Archbishop of Constantinople and fluent in Greek, described the distinction: “that a man μακροθυμια, who having power to avenge himself, yet refrains from the exercise of this power; while he υπομονη, who having no choice but to bear, and only the alternative of a patient or impatient bearing, has grace to choose the former.”
R.C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, wrote: “...μακροθυμια will be found to express patience in respect of persons, υπομονη in respect of things. The man μακροθυμια, who, having to do with injurious person does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up into anger. The man υπομονη who, under a great siege of trials, bears up, and does not lose heart or courage.”
Clement of Alexandria said it does not mark merely the endurance, but perseverance, the brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world.
Here are a few of the passages with patience in bold (30 times)
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
We sometimes forget this truth.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, the produce of God’s love in my heart, patience is the fruit of tribulation. Tribulations are those difficult times that squeeze you, that pressure you, that make you wonder if you want to continue in the faith. I don’t like them any more than you do, but we are taught here that these pressures make us strong, they help us develop the ability to hold on. I learn how to trust God in hard times, what is of eternal value, and that He will be with me all the time. That is experience or character.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
We hope, not because we are not sure, but because we don’t see it. And because we hope we patiently wait for it.
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
One of the marks of the ministers of God is patience: perseverance in the work in spite of discouragement and difficulty.
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
All patience with joyfulness! How am I ever to arrive at this point? As I am strengthened with His might and power. Supernatural living.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Don’t you dare quit. You. Keep. Holding on!
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
This is the whole point of patience - in all your persecutions and tribulations you continue to believe. How easy I have it now, but it’s coming...
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Do not lose heart, do not give up, do not quit if you wish to receive the promise.
It is interesting that earlier in Hebrews Paul used the word for longsuffering to say the same thing
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
This race is not a burst or a dash, it is a marathon. In spite of the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him the believer continues to run the race.
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Here it is again, patience is developed in trials and tribulations. And it appears I can help or hinder this patience and her perfect work.
2 Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Tribulation is the arena in which I learn patience, yet Peter tells us to add this to our faith, that is, make a conscious effort and decision to be patient in our trials and tribulations, to persevere in faith.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The context is tribulation and persecution.
Tribulations, trials, persecutions require faith and patience. Patience is indeed a virtue. It is a grace to be longsuffering toward others and patient in trials and tribulations. As I went through this it struck me that longsuffering is associated with love and patience with faith. It’s obvious to me that I need to grow in longsuffering, so my prayer is, May the Lord give me the grace to increase and abound in love. At this point, I confess, I do not want to pray for patience! I do pray that I would be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
Patience is a virtue. Trite and tired, right? Nevertheless, it is true, patience is one of the virtues of the Christian life. In my last post I pointed out there are two kinds of patience spoken of in the New Testament: longsuffering and patience, and took a look at longusffering, a beautifully descriptive word.
As I mentioned, there are two different words used for patience: μακροθυμια (longsuffering) and υπομονη (patience). John Chrysostom (349 – 407), Archbishop of Constantinople and fluent in Greek, described the distinction: “that a man μακροθυμια, who having power to avenge himself, yet refrains from the exercise of this power; while he υπομονη, who having no choice but to bear, and only the alternative of a patient or impatient bearing, has grace to choose the former.”
R.C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, wrote: “...μακροθυμια will be found to express patience in respect of persons, υπομονη in respect of things. The man μακροθυμια, who, having to do with injurious person does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up into anger. The man υπομονη who, under a great siege of trials, bears up, and does not lose heart or courage.”
Clement of Alexandria said it does not mark merely the endurance, but perseverance, the brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world.
Here are a few of the passages with patience in bold (30 times)
We sometimes forget this truth.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, the produce of God’s love in my heart, patience is the fruit of tribulation. Tribulations are those difficult times that squeeze you, that pressure you, that make you wonder if you want to continue in the faith. I don’t like them any more than you do, but we are taught here that these pressures make us strong, they help us develop the ability to hold on. I learn how to trust God in hard times, what is of eternal value, and that He will be with me all the time. That is experience or character.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
We hope, not because we are not sure, but because we don’t see it. And because we hope we patiently wait for it.
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
One of the marks of the ministers of God is patience: perseverance in the work in spite of discouragement and difficulty.
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
All patience with joyfulness! How am I ever to arrive at this point? As I am strengthened with His might and power. Supernatural living.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Don’t you dare quit. You. Keep. Holding on!
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
This is the whole point of patience - in all your persecutions and tribulations you continue to believe. How easy I have it now, but it’s coming...
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Do not lose heart, do not give up, do not quit if you wish to receive the promise.
It is interesting that earlier in Hebrews Paul used the word for longsuffering to say the same thing
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
This race is not a burst or a dash, it is a marathon. In spite of the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him the believer continues to run the race.
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Here it is again, patience is developed in trials and tribulations. And it appears I can help or hinder this patience and her perfect work.
2 Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Tribulation is the arena in which I learn patience, yet Peter tells us to add this to our faith, that is, make a conscious effort and decision to be patient in our trials and tribulations, to persevere in faith.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The context is tribulation and persecution.
Tribulations, trials, persecutions require faith and patience. Patience is indeed a virtue. It is a grace to be longsuffering toward others and patient in trials and tribulations. As I went through this it struck me that longsuffering is associated with love and patience with faith. It’s obvious to me that I need to grow in longsuffering, so my prayer is, May the Lord give me the grace to increase and abound in love. At this point, I confess, I do not want to pray for patience! I do pray that I would be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
Monday, June 6, 2016
People Patience
People patience or Patience in the New Testament part 1
Patience is a virtue. Trite and tired, right? Nevertheless, it is true, patience is one of the virtues of the Christian life. There are two kinds of patience mentioned in the New Testament: longsuffering and patience; and there are two different words used: μακροθυμια (longsuffering) and υπομονη (patience). I use the King James and this is how they are translated. The King James has a way with words - longsuffering is a beautifully descriptive word (kind of like that Old Testament word, lovingkindness). I suppose other versions use words like “patience” and “endurance”, but I prefer longsuffering.
As I mentioned, there are two different words used for patience. John Chrysostom (349 – 407), Archbishop of Constantinople and a native Greek speaker, described the distinction: “that a man μακροθυμια, who having power to avenge himself, yet refrains from the exercise of this power; while he υπομονη, who having no choice but to bear, and only the alternative of a patient or impatient bearing, has grace to choose the former. Thus the faithful would commonly be called to exercise the former grace among themselves, the latter in their commerce with those that were without.”
R.C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, wrote: “We may proceed now to distinguish between these; and this distinction, I believe, will hold good wherever the words occur; namely, that μακροθυμια will be found to express patience in respect of persons, υπομονη in respect of things. The man μακροθυμια, who, having to do with injurious person does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up into anger. The man υπομονη who, under a great siege of trials, bears up, and does not lose heart or courage. While both graces are ascribed to the saints, only μακροθυμια is an attribute of God.”
Here are a few of the passages with longsuffering in bold (14x as a noun; 9x as a verb)
Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Aren’t we glad that this is one of the attributes of God? I am!
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Longsuffering flows from love. A heart full of love has a long fuse.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
This is an important verse, longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit. It’s not me gritting my teeth and biting my tongue, it is the very life of the Spirit manifested in me.
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
All longsuffering with joyfulness! How am I ever to arrive at this point? When I am strengthened with His might and power. Supernatural living.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
This is interesting. Longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, and God works it in me by his might and power, and yet I am told to put it on, like a beautiful garment. Pray for the fruit of the Spirit, trust God for his power, then put it on and step out in faith.
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul is an example for us of the longsuffering of Christ toward us. Thank you, Jesus!
2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
People can be frustrating - the servant of the Lord must be gentle and longsuffering.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Preach with longsuffering. They didn’t get it the first time? Or 5th time? Bear with them and keep going.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. Amen! Thank you Lord that you put up with me that you may save me!
I have to be fair and admit that Hebrews and James use this word a little differently, more like patience, see Hebrews 6:12, 15; James 5:7,8,10. Even here the emphasis is on being patient for a long time.
This is really exciting.
First, God is longsuffering toward us. The longsuffering of the Lord is salvation. Honestly, it can’t get any better than that.
Second, longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, something God produces in me. I need to pray for this grace. It is also the outflow of love. Oh God, fill my heart with your love.
Third, Paul tells us, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Hey, living with people can be trying. Do I just sit back and wait for God to zap me with longsuffering? No. Pray for the fruit of the Spirit and the love of God, trust Him for His power, then by faith put it on like a beautiful garment, and be longsuffering.
Next: Patience
Patience is a virtue. Trite and tired, right? Nevertheless, it is true, patience is one of the virtues of the Christian life. There are two kinds of patience mentioned in the New Testament: longsuffering and patience; and there are two different words used: μακροθυμια (longsuffering) and υπομονη (patience). I use the King James and this is how they are translated. The King James has a way with words - longsuffering is a beautifully descriptive word (kind of like that Old Testament word, lovingkindness). I suppose other versions use words like “patience” and “endurance”, but I prefer longsuffering.
As I mentioned, there are two different words used for patience. John Chrysostom (349 – 407), Archbishop of Constantinople and a native Greek speaker, described the distinction: “that a man μακροθυμια, who having power to avenge himself, yet refrains from the exercise of this power; while he υπομονη, who having no choice but to bear, and only the alternative of a patient or impatient bearing, has grace to choose the former. Thus the faithful would commonly be called to exercise the former grace among themselves, the latter in their commerce with those that were without.”
R.C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, wrote: “We may proceed now to distinguish between these; and this distinction, I believe, will hold good wherever the words occur; namely, that μακροθυμια will be found to express patience in respect of persons, υπομονη in respect of things. The man μακροθυμια, who, having to do with injurious person does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up into anger. The man υπομονη who, under a great siege of trials, bears up, and does not lose heart or courage. While both graces are ascribed to the saints, only μακροθυμια is an attribute of God.”
Here are a few of the passages with longsuffering in bold (14x as a noun; 9x as a verb)
Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Aren’t we glad that this is one of the attributes of God? I am!
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Longsuffering flows from love. A heart full of love has a long fuse.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
This is an important verse, longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit. It’s not me gritting my teeth and biting my tongue, it is the very life of the Spirit manifested in me.
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
All longsuffering with joyfulness! How am I ever to arrive at this point? When I am strengthened with His might and power. Supernatural living.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
This is interesting. Longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, and God works it in me by his might and power, and yet I am told to put it on, like a beautiful garment. Pray for the fruit of the Spirit, trust God for his power, then put it on and step out in faith.
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul is an example for us of the longsuffering of Christ toward us. Thank you, Jesus!
2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
People can be frustrating - the servant of the Lord must be gentle and longsuffering.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Preach with longsuffering. They didn’t get it the first time? Or 5th time? Bear with them and keep going.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. Amen! Thank you Lord that you put up with me that you may save me!
I have to be fair and admit that Hebrews and James use this word a little differently, more like patience, see Hebrews 6:12, 15; James 5:7,8,10. Even here the emphasis is on being patient for a long time.
This is really exciting.
First, God is longsuffering toward us. The longsuffering of the Lord is salvation. Honestly, it can’t get any better than that.
Second, longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit, something God produces in me. I need to pray for this grace. It is also the outflow of love. Oh God, fill my heart with your love.
Third, Paul tells us, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Hey, living with people can be trying. Do I just sit back and wait for God to zap me with longsuffering? No. Pray for the fruit of the Spirit and the love of God, trust Him for His power, then by faith put it on like a beautiful garment, and be longsuffering.
Next: Patience
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