Historical Posts
Luke 20:20-26 – Give to Each His Due – Audio
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Text: Luke 20:20-26 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Different people deserve different things:
- Parents take good care of their children, and thus deserve much support and appreciation.
- Teachers have command of the classroom, and must have the attention of their students and assignments turned in on time.
- Bosses oversee employees to help make the company successful, and thus deserves projects turned in on time and respect.
- Coaches help athletes become better athletes and better individuals, and deserve a great effort from them.
The same is true with our government and with God. Give to each his due.
I. Government: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
A. Every soul must be subject to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-2).
B. Peter indicated that even Jesus paid the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27).
C. Christians likewise are subject to every ordinance of man (1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:6-7).
II. God: Give to God the things that are God’s.
A. We must give ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
B. We must give financially as we have been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Romans 12:8; Mark 12:41-44).
C. We must fear God, keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Proverbs 24:21; Deuteronomy 6:1-2).
D. God requires us to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).
E. God deserves our time (Ephesians 5:15-17).
F. We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19; John 14:15).
Give to each his due!
Give to those that are deserving of such. We have legal obligations to our government and must give our due there, but we have a greater responsibility to God. He created us; we must give to Him all glory and honor due Him! Are you giving God the glory? Start by recognizing, accepting and obeying His son.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth
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“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This is a phrase that describes a very unpleasant place. People who are unhappy and uncomfortable are there. Who will be there specifically and why? On five different occasions, Jesus describes different groups of people who will be in such a place as this:
- Sons of the kingdom without faith
- Not properly attired
- Evil servants
- Fearful and unprofitable
- Workers of iniquity, unknown by Jesus
Let’s look at each of these in more detail so that we may not be numbered among them.
1. Sons of the kingdom without faith – Matthew 8:5-13
a. Jesus commended a centurion for his faith (Matthew 8:10).
b. Jesus said many would come in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11).
c. The sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). Esau was a son, but sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).
2. Not properly attired – Matthew 22:1-14
a. Jesus told a parable of a king who arranged a marriage feast for his son, and sent out servants to call those invited to the wedding (Matthew 22:1-4).
b. Some were disrespectful and unwilling to come, others went about their business, and still others killed the servants (Matthew 22:3-6).
c. The king destroyed the people and the city, and sent the servants to invite others (Matthew 22:7-10).
d. A man attended without a wedding garment, showing disrespect, and was cast into outer darkness, where there were weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:11-13; see Revelation 19:7-9; 3:4-5; 16:15).
3. Evil Servants – Matthew 24:45-51
a. Jesus praised the servant who is faithful (Matthew 24:45-47).
b. The evil servant, who says in his heart his master is coming, will be cut in two and abide with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:48-51).
4. Fearful and Unprofitable- Matthew 25:14-30
a. Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a man who distributed talents among three servants (Matthew 25:14-15).
b. The servant who received five talents made another five talents; the one who received two talents received two more. The one who received one talent went and hid it (Matthew 25:16-18).
c. The man praised the servants who doubled their talents, but cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:19-30).
5. Workers of iniquity who Jesus does not know – Luke 13:22-30
a. As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, one asked Him if few are saved (Luke 13:22-23).
b. Jesus explained that many will seek to enter the narrow gate, but will not be able to enter (Luke 13:24).
c. Those Jesus did not know, workers of iniquity, would depart from Him, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:25-28).
Who will be weeping and have gnashing of teeth? Jesus explained those that are:
- Sons of the kingdom (born into the kingdom but not abiding by the king’s laws)
- Individuals not properly attired (as the church is the bride of Christ)
- Evil servants who delay for the master’s coming
- Unprofitable servants, fearfully hiding their talent(s)
- Workers of iniquity crying “Lord, Lord”
These groups will all be weeping and gnashing their teeth. However, we do not have to be among them and weep or gnash our teeth; we can rejoice forever more by doing the Lord’s will and making sure we are not in those groups! As a result we will hear, “well done good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:21, 23).” Have you taken the steps to abide in God’s word and use your talents for Him?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Make the Most of Today
Make the Most of Today
Dale Carnegie observed, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” In a sense, the Psalmist said the same thing. He wrote: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, KJV).
Someone else has written: “Today is the day I have been looking for. All my life has been spent in preparation for it. Yesterday and tomorrow are faraway nothings – the one a faint memory, the other a vague promise. But this is my day. It offers all that God has to give, and I’m a laggard or a coward if I fail to make the most of it.” We need to make the most of today. We cannot afford to spend all of our time regretting the past or daydreaming about the future. If we do, we miss out on the present. Nor can we afford to live today in fear. Life is too brief and time too precious for us to do that.
Yet, there is a sense in which all of us must be vitally concerned about both the past and the future. A relationship with Christ will take care of both and enable us to make the most of today, to live today. Through obedience to the demands of Jesus Christ we can have all our past sins washed away (Acts 22:16). In this new relationship with Him, we can also live with heaven before us (John 14:1-3). As long as we walk in the steps of Jesus our future will remain secure (1 John 1:7). With the past forgiven, and the future secured, the present takes on greater significance. Jesus came so that we could live an abundant life (John 10:10). As a Christian we can face each day with confidence. With a smile on our face and a song in our heart life becomes an adventure. Each day offers new joys, rewards, pleasures and opportunities. Life is worth living and we can make the most of today.
But, if we remove Christ from the picture there is no hope and no forgiveness. The past will haunt us and the future will frighten us. The good news is that Jesus can make a difference, if we will let Him.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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That is no Excuse!
So called reasons are really no excuse.
Have you heard any of these lame excuses before?
- “The dog ate it!”
- “My alarm clock failed to go off.”
- “I have a headache.”
Have you ever used any of these “no excuse” lines yourself? They don’t always work; they are not always true. The fact is, some people give excuses to get out of doing something that they should do. Then reality sets in. Parents, teachers, and bosses do not accept these “no excuse” reasons. God will also accept no excuse.
Moses tried to make excuses when God called to him from the burning bush (Exodus 3-4). God accepted no excuse from Moses. Instead, God helped him overcome his excuses. God does not accept our excuses either! Paul said that the world God created shows us that there is a Creator! The world we see proves there is a God we cannot see (Romans 1:19-21). We have no excuse.
That same God loves the world. He sent His only begotten Son to save it from sin (John 3:16). Jesus exposed men of sin, and died to take away all sins! He even said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin (John 15:22).” Man must realize he has sinned, and do something about it! No excuse.
If one follows God’s plan for dealing with sin, he can enjoy an eternal feast. Jesus taught a parable of a man who prepared a great supper, inviting many. Sadly, those invited made excuses: one bought a piece of ground and had to see it, another bought five yoke of oxen and had to test them, and even another married a wife. None of invited were able to attend that great supper (Luke 14:15-24). No excuse was accepted. God has prepared an eternal home for us; if we make excuses, we’ll miss out! Accept His salvation right now.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Preaching to the Dead
Have you heard of preaching to the dead?
Huh? How can someone hear a sermon if they’re dead? If you have read this far, you must be thinking this by now. The answer is relatively simple: one who is dead physically cannot hear, but one who is spiritually dead can still hear and learn. The church in Sardis was described as follows: “…I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead (Revelation 3:1).” The church in Sardis was encouraged to repent and hear the Spirit’s message to the churches (Revelation 3:3, 6).
There are many people today who are spiritually dead! Peter tells us that: “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit (1 Peter 4:5-6).”
God is ready to judge us all! If we have obeyed the gospel message and lived faithfully, we will enter into life; if we have not obeyed it, or lived unfaithfully, we will enter into damnation. This is why the gospel must be preached to those that are spiritually dead; they need a chance to live! In order to live, one must put to death the deeds of the body and live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:9, 13).
We must all believe and obey the gospel of Christ, “for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ… (2 Corinthians 5:10)” Have you done so, or are you still spiritually dead?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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A Christ Centered Religion
Christ Centered Religion – No creed but Christ, no head but Him, and no law but His!
We can never overemphasize the importance of being obedient students of the Bible. In God’s great scheme for the salvation of man, He provided for the preservation of His divine will through the written word. The Bible is no ordinary book. It is the word of the Almighty. It should be studied, learned, obeyed, and lived.
He who rejects the Bible and the Christ centered religion that results makes a terrible mistake. Paul wrote: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
The fact is that our eternal well-being depends upon our devotion to the sacred text. It is through the Scriptures that we learn of the Savior. We cannot know God’s will apart from His word. Therefore, we must be careful students of the Bible. All that we believe, teach, and practice must originate in the Bible, which will cause us to have a Christ centered religion. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
The churches of Christ make a concerted effort to be governed by the Bible, and the Bible alone. We have no creed but Christ, no head but Him, and no law but His! If you are interested in a Christ-centered religion, then give us a try. With Paul we say, “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Taxation Talk – audio
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As a number of seats were determined yesterday in the House and Senate, a few items on some ballots involved taxes. Some taxes were accepted; others were rejected. Voters want to know how much of a tax they are paying and what the tax goes toward. Some people want to know where every penny spent goes.
Paul had a little to tell the Romans concerning the government and taxes (Romans 13:1-7). The government has a role to use taxes in the proper way, and Christians must render taxes to whom taxes are due.
This was the concern of the Pharisees as they sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to know if it was lawful to pay taxes unto Caesar. Jesus told them to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:15-22).”
Some even questioned Peter about Jesus paying the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27). Jesus explained to him that although the sons of the king are free from paying taxes, they would pay in order to avoid offending them. Interestingly, money was provided to pay for them that did not belong to them.
Just as it is good to pay taxes, one must be careful about collecting them. Zacchaeus was a tax collector that was seen as a sinner in the public eye, but was brought salvation by Jesus; Matthew was a tax collector that left all in order to follow Jesus, becoming His disciple (Matthew 9).
As Christians, it is our primary to serve God (Matthew 6:33; Acts 5:29). When paying our taxes, we are supporting the good and combating the evil. It is what Jesus would have us to do. He taught what He learned from His parents as they paid their taxes (Luke 2:1-5).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Such Were Some of You
Thanks to Al Parr, working with the Saline Church of Christ, for the content of this post.
Such WERE some of you… means there was a change.
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11
The “such” to which Paul refers is the list of ten sins in the two preceding verses (1 Corinthians 6:9-10): fornication, idolatry, adultery, effeminacy, homosexuality, thievery, covetousness, drunkenness, revilement, and extortion. Some were involved in those sins, but no more. Such were some of you.
The doctrine has recently reappeared (did it ever completely disappear?) that baptism makes an adulterous marriage suddenly sanctified. It has been oft-repeated, though wrongly, “You can make the Bible say anything you want it to say.” It has also been said that “a text out of context is a pretext.” Those who want to believe their own ways delude themselves in thinking that the Bible supports them.
Paul does not say here that sin is no longer sin because sinners became Christians. They were cleansed from sin, not in sin (compare 1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:18-20). The context of these verses is that Christians no longer think, speak and behave according to the philosophy and morality of the world (1 Corinthians 5:1; 9-11; 6:7; 15-17).
Sin is not cleaned up by obedience to the gospel; it is cleaned out. If you are still in the same sin to which you were bound before your baptism, where is the obedience to the gospel? Where is the change? How can it be said, such were some of you?
Al Parr works Confirming the Churches and preaches at the Saline Church of Christ
7300 East Michigan Avenue
Saline, MI 48176
734-429-4319
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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1 John 05:14-17 – Praying with Confidence and Compassion – audio
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Text: 1 John 5:14-17
Introduction
1. Rapidly approaching the end of his epistle, John has a few words on the subject of prayer – 1 John 5:14-17
2. This is not the first time he has broached this subject, for he has already mentioned…
a. The value of confessing our sins, which is done in prayer – 1 John 1:9
b. Our Advocate in prayer, Jesus Christ the righteous – 1 John 2:1
c. One reason why we receive what we ask in prayer – 1 John 3:22
3. In his final words on this subject, John does two things:
a. Expands upon a theme in prayer already introduced praying with confidence
b. Brings in another theme in prayer that is harmony with his teachings on brotherly love, praying with compassion
Body
I. PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE (1 John 5:14-15)
A. REQUIRES ASKING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
1. This is the point emphasized in 1 John 5:14-15
2. Confidence in prayer is not based upon some assumption that we have carte blanche in regards to prayer
a. Some may improperly conclude that we do from Jesus’ statements in John 14:13-14
b. But even Jesus’ own example illustrates that answer to prayer depends upon whether or not it is in harmony with God’s will – Matthew 26:39, 42
c. Paul learned this same lesson when he prayed about his thorn in the flesh – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
3. However, the more we learn God’s revealed will
a. The more likely we will pray according to His will
b. The greater confidence we can have that our prayers will be answered accordingly
B. REQUIRES KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS
1. This was stressed in 1 John 3:22
2. Even if we are asking something that would normally be within God’s will for us
a. If we are not keeping His commandments
b. …can we really expect God to favorably answer our prayers?
3. As Peter quoted from the Proverbs: “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And his ears are open to their prayers…” – 1 Peter 3:12
4. The righteous, of course, are those who “do those things that are pleasing in His sight” – 1 John 3:22b
5. Especially in regard to believing in Jesus and loving the brethren, two commandments given to us – 1 John 3:23
C. REQUIRES ABIDING IN JESUS, AND HIS WORDS ABIDING IN US
1. This was taught by Jesus Himself, and recorded by John – John 15:7
2. This should also help to clarify any misunderstanding from taking John 14:13-14 in isolation from its context
3. These words of Jesus actually summarize what we have already seen John to say
a. Confidence in prayer depends upon keeping the commandments, but keeping the commandments is the key to abiding in Jesus! – 1 John 3:24a
b. Confidence in prayer depends upon asking according to God’s Will, but if Jesus’ words abide in us, won’t that help us know what God’s will is, and what is proper to ask of Him?
D. Therefore, if we learn the words of Jesus, keep His commandments and thereby abide in Him, we will know what is in harmony with God’s will and pray accordingly. In this way we can have the confidence in prayer of which John writes!
II. PRAYING WITH COMPASSION (1 John 5:16-17)
A. FOR A BROTHER
1. This epistle of John has been one in which John has stressed “brotherly love“
2. He has told us that we “ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” – 1 John 3:16
3. He has said that if “one sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?“- 1 John 3:17
4. Certainly, then, we should be willing and ready to pray for our brethren
B. SINNING A SIN NOT UNTO DEATH
1. This is a difficult passage, one that raises several questions
a. What is the “sin not unto death” versus the “sin unto death“?
b. What is meant that “He will give him life“?
c. Whatever conclusions we draw should be in harmony with the rest of the scriptures, and with other principles revealed therein, just as we do not draw conclusions about praying with confidence based upon John 4:13-14 alone
2. To understanding of this passage we must see:
a. The difference between “a sin which does not lead to death” and “a sin leading to death” is:
1) John says in 1 John 5:17a, “all unrighteousness is sin“, therefore all sin is not to be taken lightly
2) But there is sin “not leading to death“
a) That is, sin which does not progress to the point in which one experiences spiritual death, or separation from God
b) As indicated by James, sin does not produce “death” until it is “full grown” – James 1:15
c) Sin which does not produce (lead to) death would therefore be sin “repented of“
3) Sin “leading to death”, producing spiritual death and separation from God would be sin “unrepented of“
a) We cannot expect God to forgive one who refuses to repent
b) As John writes with some understatement: “I do not say that he should pray about that” – 1 John 5:16d
C. GOD WILL GIVE HIM LIFE
1. If the “death” in this passage is “spiritual death“, it is natural to assume the life is “spiritual life“
a. The “life” which God will grant our penitent brother in answer to our prayers could also be described as “forgiveness“
b. Which is a crucial element of the “eternal life” to which John has referred throughout this epistle
2. Thus the promise offered in 1 John 1:9 to the child of God who penitently confesses his own sin in prayer is offered in 1 John 5:16 to the penitent brother when prayer is made on his behalf by another member of the family of God
a. One might ask, “Why bother to pray for a penitent brother if his sins will be forgiven anyway,” as taught in 1 John 1:9?
b. One answer might be found in James 5:16, where we are taught to pray for one another: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.“
Conclusion
1. The privilege of prayer is a wonderful blessing, especially when we do so with:
a. Confidence
b. Compassion
2. Are we fulfilling the requirements to be able to pray with confidence?
a. Abiding in Jesus, and letting His words abide in us?
b. Keeping His commandments and doing the things pleasing in His sight?
c. Asking according to God’s Will?
3. Are we praying with compassion?
a. Praying not only for ourselves, but for our brethren in need?
b. Praying for brethren overtaken by sin, but who have demonstrated that their sin is not one leading to death?
3. As we all need the fullness of God’s blessings in our lives, let’s encourage one another to do whatever we can to be able to pray with both confidence and compassion!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Can You See Yourself?
Can you see yourself in these parables?
A certain man who had two sons came to the first and said, “Son, go work in my vineyard.” The young man answered, “I will not,” but afterward repented and went. Then the second son was also commanded to go work in the vineyard. He said to his father, “Sir, I go,” but didn’t. Which one did the will of his father (Matthew 21:28-31)?
There is an important lesson in that parable. Jesus demands action, not just lip service! During his ministry He called attention to a statement Isaiah had made centuries earlier. The prophet had written, “…this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me…” (Isaiah 29:13). Jesus applied the prophet’s statement to His own generation. Men were quick to profess faith, but it was not a life changing faith. Theirs was a religion of the lips and not of the heart. Like the young man in the parable, men were saying yes but meaning no! Such a religion lacks value.
Can you see yourself in the story Jesus told? Have you said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you,” but you have refused to obey His commands? Have you been baptized (Mark 16:16)? Are you a student of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15)? Do you live your religion daily (Philippians 1:27)? Or, are you merely offering lip service to the Lord?
Ironically, it seems that many are content to be the second son, saying yes to the Father’s demands, but unwilling to obey. Is that how you see yourself? I hope not. The Lord saw through that young man’s hypocrisy, and he will see through ours as well.
Which son are you? I hope not the second! If so, change the way you are and the way you see yourself. Say yes to Jesus, and then follow through.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Noah’s Faith and Ours
Noah was saved through his faith; will your faith save you?
Recently, Brother Brian Giselbach conducted our gospel meeting on “Foundations of Faith.” His last lesson was centered on helping us when our faith becomes weak. One person that came to my mind who had his faith often challenged was Noah. Just imagine how Noah was mocked, ridiculed, and ignored while building the ark God instructed him to make. Imagine the possible doubts. Would it really rain? What indeed was rain? Did God know what He was talking about?
“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith (Hebrews 11:7).” Noah knew it was going to rain based on God’s warning, and did what God told him. Because he found grace in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8), Noah showed he was willing to listen and obey Him. When the rains came down, the ark went up! Noah and his family were saved by water and the unrepentent and sinful world was lost.
Today, God warns us of things not yet seen. The Bible, God’s Word, tells us what will happen to those that obey Him; it also tells us what will happen to those that do not obey Him.
We, too, must be moved with godly fear. We cannot come to God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), and that faith must work (James 2:17,20). Noah was saved in water, and today the waters of baptism help us be saved from our sins through the blood of Christ. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16).” Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16).
Noah was saved through his faith; will your faith save you? Will you act in faith and accept the salvation offered in Christ?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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1 John 05:01-05 – Three Tests of Authentic Christianity – audio
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Text: 1 John 5:1-5 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
1. As we began our study of First John, it was noted that it had a different objective than the Gospel of John
a. John wrote his gospel in order that one might have eternal life – John 20:30-31
b. His epistle was written so that one might know they have eternal life – 1 John 5:13
2. Throughout his epistle, then, John has mentioned the kind of things that provide evidence that one is truly a child of God, possessing fellowship with the Father and the Son – 1 John 3:10
3. There are actually several tests that John has been applying by which we can know that we have eternal life, and in the text for our study (1 John 5:1-5), they are mentioned together
Body
I. THE TEST OF BELIEF
A. IN PARTICULAR, BELIEF IN JESUS
1. As the Christ – 1 John 5:1a
2. As the Son of God – 1 John 5:5b
3. Who has come in the flesh – 1 John 4:2
B. TO DENY JESUS AS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD
1. Makes one a liar and antichrist – 1 John 2:22
2. Makes fellowship with the Father and the Son impossible – 1 John 2:22-23
C. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH FAITH IN JESUS
1. Necessary for one to be born of God – 1 John 5:1a
a. Just as faith in God is necessary to please Him – Hebrews 11:6
b. So faith in Jesus is necessary to experience eternal life – John 8:24
2. Necessary for one to overcome the world – 1 John 5:4-5
a. We can overcome the world only through the One who lives in us – 1 John 4:4
b. But with such strength, we can do anything God desires of us – Philippians 4:13
II. THE TEST OF LOVE
A. JESUS HAD MADE BROTHERLY LOVE
1. A mark of discipleship – John 13:34-35
2. A commandment to prove we are His friends – John 15:12-14, 17
B. JOHN HAD STRESSED BROTHERLY LOVE
1. As evidence of abiding in the light – 1 John 2:10
2. As evidence of being a child of God – 1 John 3:10
3. As evidence of having passed from death to live – 1 John 3:14
4. As evidence of knowing God and being born of God – 1 John 4:7-8
C. AND NOW, IN DISCUSSING BROTHERLY LOVE
1. John describes it as a necessary corollary to loving God – 1 John 5:1a
a. If you love God who brings forth children
b. …then you must love those children who have come from Him!
2. John reveals how we can be sure that we love God’s children by loving God and keeping His commandments – 1 John 5:2
a. I may claim to love my brethren
b. But if I do not love God and keep His commandments, my claim is a shallow one!
III. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE
A. JOHN HAD EMPHASIZED THIS TEST EARLIER
1. As essential to having fellowship with the Father – 1 John 1:6-7
2. As essential to knowing Jesus – 1 John 2:3-4
3. As essential to loving God – 1 John 2:5
4. As essential to abiding in Jesus – 1 John 2:6
5. As essential to being a child of God – 1 John 3:10
6. As essential to having our prayers answered – 1 John 3:22
B. NOW HE STRESSES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO
1. Loving the children of God – 1 John 5:2
2. Loving God Himself – 1 John 5:3a
C. TO JOHN, HOWEVER, THIS TEST IS NOT A BURDEN
1. The commandments of God are not burdensome – 1 John 5:3b
2. Though he had served the Lord for many years (possibly 50 or more), he had not found the commandments grievous
3. His attitude toward commandment-keeping was like that of David’s – Psalms 19:7-11
Conclusion
1. In these three areas, then, we find the proof of authentic Christianity:
a. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh
b. Love for the brethren
c. Obedience in keeping the commandments of God
2. It is interesting that today
a. Many people do not have any problem with the first two (belief and love)
b. But will often balk when told they need to be obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ (Oh, you are just being legalistic!)
3. But if we really love God and His children, if we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for our sins, then the commandments of the Lord will not be grievous
a. If you love Me, keep My commandments. – John 14:15
4. Are we passing the tests of authentic Christianity?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Mark 12:28-34 – You are Not Far from the Kingdom of God – audio
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Text: Mark 12:28-34 (Reading by Clark Perkins)
Introduction
A. A scribe was very impressed with the answers that Jesus had given to the Pharisees and Sadducees concerning the paying of taxes and the issue of resurrection.
B. As a result, he wanted to ask Jesus a question.
C. This was a very important question, and the answer would encourage him to be a part of the kingdom of God.
Body
I. What is the first commandment of all?
A. There are many commandments that come from God.
1) Perhaps the ones that are most familiar are those given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-22).
2) In addition to these, the book of Leviticus is filled with specific instructions that God had given to the Levites for the priestly duties.
3) Knowing the challenge of learning all commands, the scribe wanted to know which was most important.
B. Jesus says that first one must know God, and love Him.
1) He reminds the scribe of what God told Moses to tell the Israelites (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) about the ONE and ONLY GOD!
2) Later, the Israelites learned what God required of them: to fear Him, walk in all His ways, love Him, serve Him with all their heart and soul, and keep His commandments and statutes (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
3) Even Solomon said the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
4) We show God we love Him by keeping His commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
5) We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
C. Jesus even went further to answer the scribe.
1) As He Himself taught to go two miles with one that asked to go one (Matthew 5:41), Jesus gave a second commandment in addition to the first commandment.
2) The second commandment, like the first, was to love his neighbor as himself.
3) Again this commandment was given to the Israelites (Leviticus 19:18), as no doubt both were very familiar.
4) Even the apostle Paul commands Christians to keep many old laws, but all are summed up in this one: loving your neighbor (Romans 13:8-10).
5) On another occasion, Jesus was asked what to do to inherit eternal life. After reminding this person of the same two commandments, He was asked who his neighbor was. Jesus then went on to teach about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25ff.).
II. There is only ONE God!
A. Again, the scribe insisted Jesus answered well and true. He then confessed that there is ONE God, and no other!
B. This is often confirmed in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 4:39; Malachi 2:10; Ephesians 4:6).
III. Sacrifice is not the most important thing to God.
A. Again, the scribe points out that God requires so much more than just an offering or sacrifice.
1) Hosea prophesied, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).”
2) Samuel, too, said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).”
IV. The scribe was not far from the kingdom of God.
A. Jesus knew the scribe had answered wisely.
1) As a result, Jesus knew he was not very far from the kingdom of God.
2) However, we are never told whether this person did enter the kingdom of God.
3) God does, however, teach us what to do to be a part of His kingdom.
B. The reality is that not everyone will be in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:23-29).
C. Jesus taught the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is within them (Luke 17:20-21).
E. Jesus taught Nicodemus he must be born again, of water and the Spirit, to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3ff.).
E. The apostle Paul taught that the kingdom of God is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).”
F. Paul praised the Thessalonian church for their faithfulness, and therefore they were worthy of the kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5).
Conclusion
A. The scribe was very close to the kingdom of God, but one can only guess as to whether he entered or not.
B. What about you? Are you in the kingdom of God?
C. You know how to enter, so will you do what God requires of you?
Content by Richard Dillon
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A Friend of the Father
Thanks to Johnny O. Trail from the Sycamore Chapel Church of Christ for the content of this post.
Scripture calls Abraham a “friend of God.”
One such characterization is made of Abraham in James 2:21-24. The verses say, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” This description of Abraham is more significant than we sometimes think. The implication is that God was proud to call Abraham His friend.
Would God be proud to call you his friend?
A friend is “somebody who trusts and is fond of another.” “Somebody who thinks well of or is on good terms with somebody else.” Does God think well of you? Are you on good terms with Him? These thoughts are worthy of much consideration.
James’ words in James 2:21-24 could very well be an allusion to 2 Chronicles 20:7 which says, “Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” This passage promises to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. Again, Abraham is called God’s friend, but why?
Abraham was God’s friend because he was obedient to God’s commands.
Genesis 22:1-2 says, “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” One would imagine that there was much trepidation that went along with this commandment. After all, this was Abraham’s only son according to the covenant promise of God. Moreover, there was an emotional toil that went along with this commandment from Jehovah. Most parents could not imagine being put in such a situation, but Abraham was.
It is incredible to consider, but Abraham was completely obedient to God’s will.
Genesis 22:9-12 “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” God knew that Abraham was faithful, because he followed through with the commandment of God, knowing God was his friend. By the same token, God knows that we are faithful and are His friend when we follow through with all of His commandments – not just the ones we chose to obey.
Scripture teaches that obedience and faith are inseparably linked.
Hebrews 11:8; 17-19 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going…. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Abraham’s life was characterized by faithful works of obedience. If one wants God to call him His friend, he must be faithfully obedient to His commandments.
All people should want to be counted among God’s friends.
How does one do this?
John 15:14 says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Once again, the importance of obeying God’s commands is underscored in this passage. The disobedient cannot be saved or counted among God’s friends.
Jesus is the Author, Source, Architect, and Originator of our salvation.
Who can be saved?
Only the obedient have the expectation of eternal life. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” That is, Jesus learned the cost of obedience which was death upon a Roman cross at Calvary.
One must be obedient to the gospel in order to have eternal life.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 says, “In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” The obedient will be a friend of God and obey the gospel, but what is the gospel?
Simply stated, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4, teaches, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” How does one obey the gospel?
One obeys the gospel at the point of baptism. Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 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.” Notice from these passages that baptism is likened unto a death, burial, and resurrection.
Would you be a friend of the Father?
If you would be His friend, you need to submit in faithful obedience to His will by observing and practicing all of His commands. All other friendships are worthless if God is not able to call us His friend.
Johnny O. Trail preaches at the Sycamore Chapel Church of Christ
2699 Old Clarksville Pike
Ashland City, TN 37015
615-746-8624
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Obedience Through Suffering
Sometimes it is very hard to do something that somebody else wants you to do.
Parents want their children to make their beds, clean their rooms, take out the trash, or set the table. Teachers want their students to do their homework, study for tests, do book reports, or work long hours to finish a project. Bosses want their employees to be on time every day, complete all tasks, and treat everyone in the office kindly. These things may be very hard to do. Children do not want to obey their parents; students do not want to do study; employees like to goof off at work.
Even God’s own Son learned obedience through suffering.
“Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).” Paul even told the Philippians He “…became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).” Imagine the suffering that Christ went through! Not only as He grew, but also before and during his crucifixion. Did Jesus want to die? No! He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but You will (Matthew 26:39).”
What if we all had an attitude like Christ?
Regardless of what we want to do, we need to do God’s will! This may cause us to suffer, but in the end it will have all been worth it. By learning to obey others, we can learn to obey God. All we have to do is read His Word and do what it says (James 1:22).
Sometimes it may be hard, but God will reward us for our efforts.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Obey – audio
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Mark Twain famously quipped, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me; it is the parts that I do understand.”
I’m not sure exactly how he meant that, but in some ways I agree with him. There’s a lot about the Bible I don’t grasp, but I have plenty to do just to work on the parts I get.
Here is one of the parts I do understand: God wants us to do what he says.
You already knew that, of course, but it doesn’t hurt us to be reminded. It’s easy to get lulled into a sense of complacency and forget some of the basics.
James emphasizes this point here, and his in-your-face approach shows how serious he is about making himself clear:
“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:20-26).
It jumped out at me recently how often God tests people’s faith by telling them to do something that doesn’t make any sense at all.
In Abraham’s case, what God commanded him not only didn’t make sense, but it was also completely contrary to God’s nature. Did Abraham trust him enough to do something sinful? Did he believe in God strongly enough to offer a child sacrifice, a horrible practice he’d turned his back on when he began walking with God? Yes he did. By this point in his life he’d learned just to trust God . . . to do whatever he said.
And that’s a pretty good lesson for all of us – do whatever he says.
It’s not hard to do right when it’s relatively low sacrifice. It’s easy to follow Jesus when the road is smooth. But I think God is interested in something more substantial than that. He wants to know if our faith will lead us to do something more significant than attend church services, smile pretty, and act christianly.
I think he wants to know if we have real faith – genuine, life-changing, God-honoring trust.
He wants us to have the kind of faith that obeys even when what God said does not make sense to us. Even when it’s different from what we want to do. Even when it hurts. James’ major point in this section is that there’s no such thing as a faith that refuses obey. That’s a faith that’s dead, which is not faith at all.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Exodus 17:1-7 Hardened Hearts and Stiff Necks – audio
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Text: Exodus 17:1-7
Introduction
While in college, a Bible professor called me “Dr. Dillon.” I may not be a physical doctor by any means, but can easily identify two common diseases: hardened hearts and stiffened necks. These are very common in the Old Testament.
Body
I. Hardened hearts
A. The children of Israel had hardened hearts as they wondered in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4; 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13).
B. The LORD told Ezekiel about Israel’s hardened hearts (Ezekiel 3:7-9).
C. Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar were removed from their kingdoms because of hardened hearts (Daniel 5:18-23).
D. The priests questioned the Philistines regarding their hardness of hearts, just as Pharaoh and the Egyptians (1 Samuel 6:6; Exodus 7-14).
1) Pharaoh at times hardened his heart.
2) The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart other times. “God hardens the heart when He withdraws influences of His Spirit from men, and leaves them to pursue their own corrupt inclinations (Webster).”
II. Stiffened necks
A. Israel and Judah had stiffened necks, and the LORD led them captive to Assyria (2 Kings 17:13-17).
B. King Hezekiah encouraged some not to be stiff-necked as their fathers were (2 Chronicles 30:8).
C. King Zedekiah stiffened his neck before the LORD (2 Chronicles 36:11-13).
III. Applications
A. Calamity befalls those who harden their hearts and stiffen their necks before the LORD (Proverbs 28:14; 29:1).
B. Great wrath from the LORD will come upon them (Zechariah 7:11-14; Romans 2:5-6).
C. They will not enter into the LORD’s eternal rest (Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:7-15).
Conclusion
God shows us the Remedy, but we have to apply it.
Do you have a hardened heart?
Soften, or humble, it before God. Humble yourself, and God will lift you up (James 4:7-10).
Do you have a stiff neck?
Loosen it so as to encourage your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (Luke 15:20; Acts 20:37-38; Romans 16:3-4).
Content by Richard Dillon
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2 Kings 05:08-15 Naaman and his Leprosy – audio
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Text: 2 Kings 5:8-15
Introduction
It is important to review the events found in the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul told the Romans, “for whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).”
Let us now review the story of Naaman, and how he received hope from his leprosy (2 Kings 5:8-15).
Body
I. Background.
Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Syria, a mighty man of valor—a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master because the LORD had given the Syrians victory through him (2 Kings 5:1).
While on raids, the Syrians took captive a young Israelite girl who would wait on Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:2). Through her, Naaman told his master that he could be healed of his leprosy.
The king of Syria then sent a letter to the king of Israel asking him to heal him. Naturally, the king was upset because he knew he could not do that which God alone could do (2 Kings 5:3-7).
II. Elisha wanted everyone to know there is a prophet in Israel.
Naaman needed assurance that he could be healed of his leprosy, and the kings of Israel and Syria needed to know that they did not have the power to heal him, but rather a man of God did (2 Kings 5:8).
A. Having a prophet in Israel assures them that God is in Israel. The LORD told Aaron and Miriam that He reveals Himself to His prophet, who would then speak His word to the people (Numbers 12:6). Moses was excepted because He spoke to him face to face (Numbers 12:7-8).
B. The people would be blessed by heeding the words of the prophet, and thus the words of the LORD. Jehoshaphat said, “…Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper (2 Chronicles 20:20).”
C. As God spoke to the people through His prophets, He speaks to us through His Son and His Word (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16). We too will be blessed when we heed God’s Word!
III. Naaman had a perception of Elisha.
A. He eagerly went to Elisha’s house and waited at the door expecting Elisha to come to him. Instead, he sent a messenger (2 Kings 5:9-11). Similarly, God sent us His messenger, and we must to go Him through faith (Hebrews 11:6).
B. He expected him to call on the name of the LORD his God (2 Kings 5:11), as Elijah called upon God at Mount Carmel in front of the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:24).
C. He expected to be healed with just a wave of the hand (2 Kings 5:11). Today many Jews, scribes, and Pharisees also want to see a sign from Jesus (Matthew 12:38; 1 Corinthians 1:22).
D. He was disappointed to be commanded to dip in the Jordan River when the Abanah and Pharpar were better (2 Kings 5:12).
1) The Abanah River is often called the “stony river, “and is purported to have healing qualities. In the Anti-Lebanon range, it originates 23 miles northwest of Damascus and flows south into Damascus, splitting into 3 rivers. The chief river of Damascus flows right through the middle of the city.
2) The Pharpar River is often called “that which produces fruit,” and is a small, lively river on the east side of Damascus.
E. After his leprosy was removed, his perception changed (verse 15). It was then he realized “…there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15)…” Nebuchadnezzar confessed, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings (Daniel 2:47)…” after Daniel interpreted his dream with His help.
Later, he made a decree that “any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this (Daniel 3:29)” after they were saved from the fiery furnace.
King Darius also wrote: “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions (Daniel 6:26-27).”
Conclusion
Three applications from the story of Naaman.
A. It matters not who we are, we must all be subject to the will of God.
Naaman may have been a commander of an army, a mighty man of valor, and considered great and honorable by some, but he still had to do what Elisha commanded him. Thus, God is no respecter of persons. Peter learned this as he was sent to Cornelius (Acts 10:34). Moses said that God does not show partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17). Jehoshaphat taught the judges of Judah there is no iniquity, partiality, or taking of bribes with the LORD (2 Chronicles 19:7). Paul taught this very lesson (Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9), and thus showed the gospel is for all (Romans 1:16).
B. Naaman could not be healed by the king of Syria, nor the king of Israel. He could only be healed by God.
The LORD taught Moses, “…There is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand (Deuteronomy 32:39).” As the king of Israel recognized he is a man and not God, so are we. When Cornelius tried to worship Peter, he replied “Stand up; I myself also am a man (Acts 10:26).”
C. Naaman was cleansed only after completing the task commanded by God of him through Elisha.
He had to dip, or wash in the Jordan River! Interestingly, Jesus also dipped (was baptized) in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17). He commands us to be baptized and wash away our sins in order to be saved (Luke 4:27; Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21).
Content by Richard Dillon
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The Love of God
The poet wrote: “Could we with ink the ocean fill; were every blade of grass a quill. Were all the world of parchment made, and every made a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.”
Jesus said, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
It is impossible to measure the extent of His love.
Perhaps no writer of the New Testament had a better grasp of God’s love than John. He simply said, “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Three times in his first epistle he sought to describe the nature of God’s love as it relates to us.
- First, he wrote: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
God’s love was demonstrated in the sending of His Son. This was done, not because man loved Him, but because He loved us (1 John 4:10). - Second, he observed: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
The love of God is clearly seen on the cross. It was God’s love that sent Jesus into this world. It was our sins which took Him to the cross, but it was His love for us which kept Him there. - Third, he exclaimed: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 John 3:1).
Because He loves us, He has invited us to be a part of His family. There is no greater honor in this world than to be a child of God!
There is no doubt about God’s love.
We never have to ask, “Does He love me?”
He has proven His love for us!
The important question is, “Do we love Him?“
How do you respond? Remember, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What is the “Sin Unto Death”?
Many times, in the more than 20 years I have been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been approached by people who were genuinely distraught, because they believed that they had committed a “sin unto death,” and that they could not possibly be forgiven for it.
They have convinced themselves that they have committed a sin so heinous… so perverse… so offensive to God that He will not possibly forgive them for it. They are beside themselves with grief over their spiritual situation, and they are looking to a preacher for answers. Is there a sin for which God will not forgive us?
What is the “sin unto death?” The Bible has the answers!
The Bible indicates that there is only one sin, which the Lord will not forgive. In Matthew 12, Jesus’ enemies whispered to others that He had the power to cast out demons only because He was in league with the Devil (Matthew 12:22-24). Christ responded to this accusation with a firm denial, and then pointed out that His enemies were putting their own souls in jeopardy by attributing the power of God to the Devil (Matthew 12:25-30).
Then, the Savior said this: “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31).
According to Thayer, the Greek word rendered, “blasphemy” in the text is one that literally refers to “speech injurious to another’s good name.” In the very next verse, Jesus added: “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:32).
The Lord’s enemies had been slandering the Holy Spirit by attributing Jesus’ power to the Devil and not to divinity. We must be careful not to do the same thing today, lest we find ourselves in a similar position.
It is important to note that Jesus said, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” that means that God will forgive us for even the sins that we consider the most serious.
Sexual sins… violent sins… deviant sins can all be forgiven, if only we will repent and obey the Lord’s instructions in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 1:15).
But if our contempt for the Holy Spirit is so great that we are willing to verbally slander Him, then we will not repent, we will not obey, and there remains no hope for us (Hebrews 6:4-6).
As for the “sin unto death,” that is a fairly simple concept. Such a sin is one that we take with us to our graves.
By definition, it is a sin of which we will not repent and for which we do not receive forgiveness; so we take it with us to our death beds (1 John 1:9). A classic example of a “sin unto death” is suicide. By definition, suicide is the murder of oneself. It renders the one who commits it incapable of repenting and being forgiven for his sins. Judas, for example, could have repented and gone back to the other apostles and been forgiven for his betrayal of the Son of God, but he sealed his own eternal destiny when he chose to end his own life (Acts 1:16-20).
That is why it is so important for Christians to keep sin out of their lives and to immediately repent and ask God for forgiveness when sin does get into their lives.
Christians who languish in unfaithfulness run the risk of being unprepared, when the hour of their departure from this world arrives (Matthew 25:1-13). We may not know the day or the hour in which the Lord shall return, or how much time is left until we reach the end of our own lives on Earth, but we cannot afford to assume that there is plenty of time for us to repent. We must make our hearts right with God right now—for we may not have another chance in
the future!
As long as we are alive, we can make things right with God.
Let us make our peace with Him while we still can, and carry none of our sins with us, when we enter into eternity!
“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” – 1 John 5:16
Content by Russell Kline
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