Those Left Standing

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Those who speak falsely, or speak falsehoods, have no fear of God.

The record of those who do speak falsely is not good. Jude, (most likely Jesus’ half-brother,) relates the less-than-hopeful future of those who do. To see that more clearly, all we need to do is look to the past to see how God has dealt with those who have brazenly opposed His message, or His messenger.

Sometimes we may think those who oppose God somehow escape His notice. They do not. Jude writes an important reminder of that fact. If nothing else is made clear here – and there is plenty made clear - it is that God is watching men’s hearts, and that He opposes those who oppose Him.

It has often been said, (and it is a true saying,) that you plus God is a majority opinion. It may not seem like it, and it may not feel like it, but it is true and always has been. Pleasing God must be our only motivation, even when, (especially when,) all the world is against us.

Jude speaks to the observable fact the world is a battleground for Christians. Of this world he exhorts we who believe to contend for the faith, which can only mean at some point we have to stand for it.

-Pastor Bill

Discerning Love

2 John 1 The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

What is love? Where is love to be found? Is it only in your family or only among those who know you best, or know you at all?

John wrote in an era of itinerant preachers, when the church of Jesus Christ was in its earliest days. Those traveling preachers and teachers, (such as John himself - who was the last of the apostles who had walked with Jesus Christ - and others who were Spiritual descendants of the original disciples and the apostle Paul,) depended upon the kindness of others as they spread the Gospel throughout the known world.

In a day when there were no motels, or inns to speak of, these traveling itinerant preachers and teachers would stay in local homes, often for extended periods of time. They would be fed and sheltered by those they previously had not known, graciously.

In what Jesus had called the “greatest commandment,” He stated that, “to love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” was the first and greatest commandment, but that the second was like it, “to love your neighbor as yourself.”

At this point in his ministry life, John has personally realized how important Jesus’ commands had been to the spread of the church, and even the very life of the church. Everything the early church accomplished had to be based upon love. Not the emotional kind, but the servant kind.

On the other hand, John warns, there will also be those who will exploit that love in an attempt to undermine the true church. Be careful your love for people is informed by your love for truth, and reject those whose goal is to deceitfully destroy.

-Pastor Bill

Ask and Receive

1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

When I was a child, I was sometimes asked, “If you had three wishes – what would you wish for?”

Another question sometimes asked, (and very much like the first,) “If you could have anything you wanted – what would it be?”

Of course, as a child, those kinds of questions caused my mind to dance. Visions of ‘sugar-plums’ fill the mind. What would it be…what could it be…Oh the flood of the excited thinking! (As a child I could think of a LOT of things I really wanted, most of it from a VERY selfish perspective.)

But what was it that I needed most of all? Was it a new gigantic toy of some kind? Was it my favorite food? (Fried chicken.) Was it a new house, of course a mansion? Was it new friends, or fame, or fortune?

The idea of God as a genie is very popular these days. ‘Ask and you shall receive,’ is a very fortunate doctrine to proclaim.

But what do I need most of all?

This is the confidence I have in Jesus. That He alone is capable of meeting my need.

What I need most is forgiveness of sins.

I ask for forgiveness of sins knowing Jesus has already paid the price for my forgiveness, and so it would be foolish of me NOT to ask Jesus to forgive me. I may be humbled by asking, but there are many things in this world which humble me.

In fact, not asking for forgiveness of sins is THE single sin I will not be forgiven of - should I fail to ask - because I have not asked. Not asking is the sin which leads to death.

Satan may come along and tell me I am not forgiven, but I know that I am forgiven simply because I have asked to be.

-Pastor Bill

The Certainty of Salvation

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

When you hear someone say they are absolutely certain they are saved, what do you think? Do you think they are arrogant – or do you think, “That’s great, me too!”

I’ve always found those who ARE saved love to talk about the gift of salvation by faith in Christ, and those who are not saved do not.

And not only that, those who are not saved think it arrogant of someone who is saved to say they are certain they are saved.

Is it arrogance – or is it trust? To trust in truth is not arrogance, any more than trusting in the sun to rise tomorrow and saying so is. It is not arrogant to say you are certain of gravity. This is because there is more than an assertion involved. There is faith based upon experience which leads to initial trust - followed by absolute trust when the object of trust proves itself, (in this case, Himself,) absolutely worthy of the trust which has been placed.

The sun will rise in the morning. Gravity will hold me to the ground. I know that I am saved by having placed my faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

The reason I know I am saved is the Bible says so, and the Bible has proven itself absolutely trustworthy to me. The reason I know I am saved is because Jesus says so, and Jesus has proven Himself absolutely trustworthy to me. Ultimately, we could say this is the purpose of God’s Word, that we may know that we know that we know…Jesus…and by knowing Jesus we know we are saved. John tells us this is why he writes.

-Pastor Bill

The CONFIDENCE of God

1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

The Son of God has come in the flesh to make Himself the price paid to redeem your immortal soul. His death on the cross satisfied the total debt owed for your sin, which has kept you separated from God.

This is why Jesus had to come in the flesh. The debt for the sin of flesh had to be paid by the sacrifice of flesh, and Jesus came to offer Himself in your place, that this sacrifice be accomplished. No one else could perform this substitutionary role on your behalf. Only Jesus was without sin. The debt of that which is imperfect can only be paid by that which is perfect.

All other solutions fall short. You cannot earn your salvation by works, no matter how numerous or how wonderful they may be. Salvation is by grace alone, it is the gift of God, in the Person of Jesus Christ.

By His entry into the world He created.

To think about God entering into His creation is about the most wonderful thought a person could think. (Why it is GOOD to think of it often, and why those who choose not to think of it at all seem the most miserable of all.)

God has created man in His image, capable of love. Man is capable of giving love, and capable of receiving love. On a strictly physical plane - in which observable matter is all there is – and there is no God - how can love be explained?

Love exists because God IS love. Love is the most precious commodity in God’s creation, because God IS love. We are at our greatest point of weakness when we are separated from love. Alternately, our greatest sense of strength is found in the knowledge of His love.

It is interesting that on a human level we ‘feel’ love. It is an emotion. When it comes to the love of God, we know it. God’s love is received by the knowledge of God, through His Word, and by His Spirit. That the loving sacrifice of Jesus has been accepted by The Father, (as proven by Jesus’ resurrection,) is the greatest source of confidence any man can have because it places all confidence in the knowledge of the love of God.

-Pastor Bill

The SPIRIT of God

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

It should come as no surprise to us there would be and will be deceptive spirits in this world. As John has told us in chapter 2 of his epistle, the world is filled with the spirit of anti-Christ, and all the world stands for is in opposition to Christ.

More surprising is to find the spirit of anti-Christ in me.

Every time I become involved in an argument, and my flesh becomes fully engaged in the battle of proving itself right, I am evidencing the spirit of anti-Christ. Every time I tell a lie or shade of the truth under the pressure of self-preservation, I am evidencing the spirit of anti-Christ. Every time I allow myself to be led by emotion rather than the truth of God’s Word, I am evidencing the spirit of anti-Christ.

Every time I fall prey to temptation, I sense the spirit of anti-Christ in me. This would be more than troublesome – it would be ruinous – if I could not also likewise sense the presence of the Spirit of God in me.

I am still apt to fall victim to the spirit of anti-Christ, because yielding to that spirit takes place so fast, and sometimes so unexpectedly. I may be attempting to witness the Gospel in one moment, and in the next find myself engaged in a heated discussion about Who Jesus is!

Guess who prompted the heat of the discussion? Guess what the basis of the heat was?

If the spirit of anti-Christ can make me appear hateful, (even when I AM right,) he has won the battle. The battle however, is being waged in me, not in the world. I must learn to yield the flesh to the Spirit of God and not the spirit of anti-Christ.

I find this to be a prayerful, pre-meditated process. Allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me about myself through His Word is critical. Practicing His presence is powerful. Learning to yield the flesh rather than allowing it to bow-up is immense. Even if I lose the argument, I win.  I find He Who is in me to be greater than he who is in the world, but I must allow this to be.

-Pastor Bill

Have You Seen Him?

1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

What are we to think of a ruler who rules without rules? Is this what grace does?

For some, this is the case. Grace is an allowance rather than a conformance - or better yet – a transformance.

John continues to vehemently argue against the construct of grace as an allowance because Jesus was so… graceful. Grace. Full.

After all, the Bible says there is NO sin which will not be forgiven by Christ. There is NO sin which Jesus did not die for and pay the price of. (Excepting the sin of unbelief that Jesus forgives sin.)

“Okay, I believe Jesus forgives all sin. What am I to do with this sense of forgiveness, so freely given?”

Now we come to the issue of conformance/transformance rather than allowance. Certainly, I remain a free moral agent, capable of making decisions for sin and away from righteousness. I remain capable of sin. I can even deceive myself into thinking I am allowed to sin on the basis of the anticipated forgiveness I will receive from Christ.

But John says this is not the way I will choose to live IF I am in Christ, because this is not the way Christ lives. The question is: Do I see Him? Have I seen Him? And the amazing statement John makes is that when I see Him, (when He has been revealed,) I will be like Him – because I will see Him as He IS.

I like most agree this primarily speaks of literally seeing Christ in heaven. But there is something to seeing Christ in our hearts as well, and ‘seeing’ Christ in our hearts transforms us. The “How?” question is answered by the simple statement, “If you have seen Him, you already know.” Have you seen Jesus?

-Pastor Bill