I was asked to write about suicide from a Biblical perspective because so many are asking about this online because they are so discouraged and feel hopeless, especially in our present circumstances. This is a difficult topic, and I am not an expert, nor a doctor or psychologist. I would suggest, first of all, that you go online to a Bible believing site which has experience in this and professionals who can help you and direct you on how our God can and will help you.

Here are some sites which I think are very good:
1. https.//answersingenesis.org. Look up Christian answers to suicide. This is a very good site that has many other resources.

2. gotquestions.org gives a list of people in the Bible who killed themselves:
Abimelech – Judges 9:54
Saul – I Samuel 31:4
Saul’s armor bearer – I Samuel 32:4-6
Ahithophel – 2 Samuel 17:23
Zimri – I Kings 16:18
Samson – Judges 16:26-33

3. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK

4. focusonthefamily.com

5. davidjeremiah.org (What Christians must understand about suicide and mental health)

What I do know is that God has all the answers we need in His Word, and He is always there for us to call upon Him for His help. He loves and cares for you. He wants us to experience His love, His mercy, and His peace.

His Word, the Bible, teaches us that each of us is created for a purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” It also shows us how we should live. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17) and the truth will set us free (John 8:32). It can help us with all our anxieties. 2 Peter 1:1-4 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue…Through these He has given us His very good and precious promises, so that through them you might be partakers in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is the world through lust (evil desire).”

God is for life. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that they may have life and they might have it more abundantly.” Ecclesiastes 7:17 says, “Why should you die before your time?” Seek God. Go to God for help. Don’t give up.

We live in a world filled with trouble and evil behavior, not to mention bad circumstances, especially in our present time, and natural catastrophes. John 16:33 says, “I have spoken unto you that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

There are people who are selfish and evil doers and even murderers. When the worlds’ troubles come and cause hopelessness, Scripture says evil and suffering are all the result of sin. Sin is the problem, but God is our hope, our answer and our Savior. We are both the cause and the victims of this. God says all bad stuff is the result of sin and that ALL of us “have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means ALL. It is obvious that many are overwhelmed by the world around them and wish to escape due to desperation and discouragement and see no way to escape nor to change the world around them. All of us suffer the results of sin in this world, but God loves us and gives us hope. God loves us so much He has provided a way to take care of sin and to help us in this life. Read about how much God cares for us in Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke chapter 10. Read also Romans 8:25-32. He cares for you. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

Scripture clearly shows us that the starting point is that God had to take care of the sin problem. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to fix this problem. John 3:16 says this VERY clearly. It says, “For God so loved the world” (all of the persons in it) “that He gave His only begotten Son, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” Galatians 1:4 says, “Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father.” Romans 5:8 says, “But God commends His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

One of the major causes of suicide is guilt from wrong things we have done, which, as God says, all of us have done, but God has taken care of the penalty and the guilt and forgives us for our sin, through Jesus His Son. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus paid the penalty when He died on the cross. I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.” Read Isaiah 53 again and again. I John 3:2 & 4:16 say He is the propitiation for our sins, which means the just payment for our sins. Read also I Corinthians 15:1-4. This means He forgives our sins, all our sins, and the sins of everyone who believes. Colossians 1:13&14 says, “Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Psalm 103:3 says, “Who forgives all your iniquities.” See also Ephesians 1:7; Acts 5:31; 13:35; 26:18; Psalm 86:5 and Matthew 26:28. See John 15:5; Romans 4:7; I Corinthians 6:11; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25 and 44:22. All we need to do is to believe in and accept Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” Revelation 22:17 says, “and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely.” John 6:37 says, “him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out…” See John 5:24 and John 10:25. He gives us eternal life. Then we have a new life, and abundant life. He is also always with us (Matthew 28:20).

The Bible is true. It is about how we feel and who we are. It is about God’s promises of eternal life and abundant life, for whoever believes. (John 10:10; 3:16-18&36 and I John 5:13). It is about God who is faithful, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Read also Hebrews 6:18&19 and 10:23; I John 2:25 and Deuteronomy 7:9. We have passed from death to life. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are forgiven, if we believe.

This takes care of the sin problem, forgiveness and the condemnation and guilt. Now God wants us to live for Him (Ephesians 2:2-10). I Peter 2:24 says, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds you were healed.”

There is a but here. Read John chapter 3 again. Verses 18 & 36 tell us that if we do not believe and accept God’s way of salvation, we will perish (suffer punishment). We are condemned and under God’s wrath because we have rejected His provision for us. Hebrews 9:26&37 says man “is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” If we die without accepting Jesus, we don’t get a second chance. See the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:10-31. John 3:18 says, “but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” and verse 36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” The choice is ours. We have to believe to have life; we have to believe in Jesus and ask Him to save us before this life is over. Romans 10:13 says, “whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This is where hope begins. God is for life. He has a purpose for you and a plan. Don’t give up! Remember Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans (thoughts) that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you hope and a future.” In our world of trouble and sadness, in God we have hope and nothing can separate us from His love. Read Romans 8:35-39. Read Psalm 146:5 and Psalms 42&43. Psalm 43:5 says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Philippians 4:13 tell us that God will give us strength to carry on and bring glory to God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Read Psalm 37:5&6 Proverbs 3:5&6 and James 4:13-17. Proverbs 16:9 says, “Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.”

Our HOPE is also our Provider, Protector, Defender and Deliverer: Check out these verses:
HOPE: Psalm 139; Psalm 33:18-32; Lamentations 3:24; Psalm 42 (“Hope thou in God.”); Jeremiah 17:7; I Timothy 1:1
HELPER: Psalm 30:10; 33:20; 94:17-19
DEFENDER: Psalm 71:4&5
DELIVERER: Colossians 1:13; Psalm 6:4; Psalm 144:2; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 31:13-15
LOVE: Romans 8:38&39
In Philippians 4:6 God tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” Come to God and let Him help you with all your needs and cares because I Peter 5:6&7 says, “Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.” There are many reasons people contemplate suicide. In Scripture God promises to help you with each and every one of them.

Here is a list of reasons people may contemplate suicide and what God’s Word says He will do to help you:

1. Hopelessness: The world is too evil, it will never change, despair over conditions, it will never get better, overwhelmed, life is not worth it, not successful, failures.

Answer: Jeremiah 29:11, God gives hope; Ephesians 6:10, We should trust in the promise of His power and might (John 10:10). God will win. I Corinthians 15:58&59, We have victory. God is in control.Examples: Moses, Job

2. Guilt: From our own sins, wrongs we have done, shame, remorse, failures
Answer: a. For unbelievers, John 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3&4. God saves us and forgives us through Christ. God is not willing that any should perish.
b. For believers, when they confess their sin to Him, I John 1:9; Jude 24. He keeps us forever. He is merciful. He promises to forgive us.

3. Unloved: rejection, no one cares, unwanted.
Answer: Romans 8:38&39 God loves you. He cares about you: Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:7; I Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 10:29-31; Galatians 1:4; God never leaves you. Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20

4. Anxiety: Worry, cares of the world, Covid, home, what people think, money.
Answer: Philippians 4:6; Matthew 6:25-34; 10:29-31. He cares for you. I Peter 5:7 He is our Provider. He will supply all we need. “All these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

5. Unworthy: No value or purpose, not good enough, useless, worthless, can’t do anything, failure.
Answer: God has a purpose and plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). Matthew 6:25-34 and chapter 10, We are valuable to Him. Ephesians 2:8- 10. Jesus gives us life and abundant life (John 10:10). He guides us to His plan for us (Proverbs 16:9); He wants to restore us if we fail (Psalm 51:12). In Him we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). He gives us everything we need
(2 Peter 1:1-4). Everything is new every morning, especially God’s mercy (Lamentations 3:22&23; Psalm 139:16). He is our Helper, Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 121:1&2; Psalm 20:1&2; Psalm 46:1.
Examples: Paul, David, Moses, Esther, Joseph, everyone

6. Enemies: People against us, bullies, no one likes us.
Answer: Romans 8:31&32 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” See also verses 38&39. God is our Defender, Deliverer (Romans 4:2; Galatians 1:4; Psalm 25:22; 18:2&3; 2 Corinthians 1:3-10) and He vindicates us. James 1:2-4 says we need perseverance. Read Psalm 20:1&2
Example: David, He was pursued by Saul, but God was his Defender and Deliverer (Psalm 31:15; 50:15; Psalm 4).

7. Loss: Grief, bad events, loss of home, job, etc.
Answer: Job chapter 1, “God gives and takes away.” We need to give God thanks in all things (I Thessalonians 5:18). Romans 8:28&29 says, “God works all things together for good.”
Example: Job

8. Illness and Pain: John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Answer: I Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks,” Ephesians 5:20. He will sustain you. Romans 8:28, “God works all things together for good.” Job 1:21
Example: Job. God gave Job blessings in the end.

9. Mental Health: emotional pain, depression, a burden to others, sadness, people don’t understand.
Answer: God knows all our thoughts; He understands; He cares, I Peter 5:8. Seek help from Christian, Bible-believing counselors. God can meet all our needs.
Examples: He met the needs of all His children in Scripture.

10. Anger: Vengeance, getting even with those who hurt us. Sometimes people who contemplate suicide imagine that it is a way to get even with those who they think are mistreating them. But ultimately although the people mistreating you may feel guilt, the person who is most hurt is the one who commits suicide. He loses his life and God’s purpose and intended blessings.
Answer: God judges rightly. He tells us to “love our enemies…and to pray for those who despitefully use us” (Matthew chapter 5). God says in Romans 12:19, “Vengeance is mine.” God wants all to be saved.

11. Elderly: want to quit, give up
Answer: James 1:2-4 says we need to persevere. Hebrews 12:1 says we need to run with patience the race set before us. 2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Life And Death (God vs. Satan)

We have seen that God is all about love and life and hope. Satan is the one who wants to destroy life and God’s work. John 10:10 says Satan comes to “steal, kill and destroy,” to prevent people from receiving God’s blessing, forgiveness and love. God wants us to come to Him for life and He wants to help us. Satan wants you to quit, to give up. God wants us to serve Him. Remember Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Satan wants us to die; God wants us to live. Throughout Scripture God shows that His plan for us is to love others, to love our neighbor and help them. If a person ends his or her life, they give up their ability to fulfill God’s plan, to change the lives of others; to bless and change and love others through them, according to His plan. This is for each and every person He has created. When we fail to follow this plan or quit, others will suffer because we have not helped them. Answers in Genesis gives a list of people in the Bible who killed themselves, all of whom were people who turned away from God, sinned against Him and failed to achieve the plan God had for them. Here is the list: Judges 9:54 – Abimelech; Judges 16:30 – Samson; I Samuel 31:4 – Saul; 2 Samuel 17:23 – Ahithophel; I Kings 16:18 – Zimri; Matthew 27:5 – Judas. Guilt is one of the primary reasons people commit suicide.

Other Examples
As we have said in the Old Testament and also throughout the New Testament, God gives examples of His plans for us. Abraham was chosen as the Father of the nation of Israel through whom God would bless and provide salvation to the world. Joseph was sent to Egypt and there he saved his family. David was chosen to be king and then became the ancestor of Jesus. Moses led Israel from Egypt. Esther saves her people (Esther 4:14).

In the New Testament, Mary became Jesus’ mother. Paul spread the Gospel (Acts 26:16&17; 22:14&15). What if he had given up? Peter was chosen to preach to the Jews (Galatians 2:7). John was chosen to write Revelation, God’s message to us about the future.
This is also for all of us, for each person in their generation, each different from another’s. I Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” Read Romans 12:1&2; Hebrews 12:1.

We all face trials (James 1:2-5) but God will be with us and enable us when we persevere. Read Romans 8:28. He will bring our purpose to pass. Read Psalm 37:5&6 and Proverbs 3:5&6 and Psalm 23. He will see us through and Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Gifts

In the New Testament God has given special spiritual gifts to each believer: an ability to be used to help and build up others and to help believers to become mature, and to fulfill God’s purpose for them. Read Romans 12; I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
This is just one more way God demonstrates that there is a purpose and plan for each person.
Psalm 139:16 says, “the days that were fashioned for me” and Hebrews 12:1&2 tells us “to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.” This surely means we shouldn’t quit.

Our gifts are given to us by God. There are about 18 specific gifts, differing from others, specifically chosen according to God’s will (I Corinthians 12:4-11 and 28, Romans 12:6-8 and Ephesians 4:11&12). We should not quit but love God and serve Him. I Corinthians 6:19&20 says, “You are not your own, you were bought with a price” (when Christ died for you) “…therefore glorify God.” Galatians 1:15&16 and Ephesians 3:7-9 both say that Paul was chosen for a purpose from the time of his birth. Similar statements are said of many others in Scripture, such as David and Moses. When we quit, we not only hurt ourselves but others.

God Is Sovereign – It Is His Choice – He Is in ControlEcclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born; a time to die.” Psalm 31:15 says, “My times are in Your hands.” Ecclesiastes 7:17b says, “Why should you die before your time?” Job 1:26 says, “God gives and God takes away.” He is our Creator and Sovereign. It is God’s choice, not ours. In Romans 8:28 He who has all knowledge wants what is good for us. He says, “all things work together for good.” Psalm 37:5&6 says, “Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.” So we should commit our ways to Him.

He will take us to be with Him at the right time and sustain us and give us grace and strength for our journey while we are here on earth. As with Job, Satan cannot touch us unless God allows it. Read I Peter 5:7-11. John 4:4 says, “Greater is He that is in you, that he that is in the world.” I John 5:4 says, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” See also Hebrews 4:16.
Conclusion

2 Timothy 4:6&7 says we should finish the course (purpose) God has given us. Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us our purpose is to love and glorify God. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, “What does the LORD require of you…but to fear the LORD your God…to love Him and to
serve the LORD your God with all your heart. Matthew 22:37-40 tells us to, “Love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself.”

If God allows suffering it is for our good (Romans 8:28; James 1:1-4). He wants us to trust in Him, to trust in His love. I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Job is our example that shows us that when God allows troubles, He does it to test us and make us stronger and in the end, He blesses us and forgives us even when we don’t always trust Him, and we fail and question and challenge Him. He forgives us when we confess our sin to Him (I John 1:9). Remember I Corinthians 10:11 which says, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” God allowed Job to be tested and it made him understand God more and trust God more, and God restored and blessed him.

The Psalmist said, “The dead do not praise the LORD.” Isaiah 38:18 says, “The living man, he shall praise you.” Psalm 88:10 says, “Will you work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise you?” Psalm 18:30 also says, “As for God, His way is perfect,” and Psalm 84:11 says, “He will give grace and glory.” Choose life and choose God. Give Him control. Remember, we do not understand God’s plans, but He promises to be with us, and He wants us to trust Him as Job did. So be steadfast (I Corinthians 15:58) and finish the race “marked out for you,” and let God choose the times and path of your life (Job 1; Hebrews 12:1). Don’t give up (Ephesians 3:20)!

When circumstances like the current situation occur, we as human beings tend to ask questions.  This situation is very difficult, unlike anything we have faced in our lifetime.  It is a world-wide invisible enemy which we cannot fix by ourselves.

We humans like to be in control, to take care of ourselves, to make things work, to change and fix things.  We have heard this a lot lately – we will get through this – we will beat this.  Sadly I haven’t heard of a lot of people seeking God to help us.  Many don’t think they need His help, thinking they can do it themselves.  Perhaps this is the very reason God has allowed this to happen because we have forgotten or rejected our Creator; some even say He doesn’t exist at all.  Nevertheless, He does exist and He is in control, not us.

Usually in such a catastrophe people turn to God for help but we seem to be trusting in people or governments to solve this problem.  We ought to be asking God to rescue us.  Humanity seems to have ignored Him,  and  are leaving Him out of their lives.

God permits circumstances for a reason and it is always and ultimately for our good.  God will work it out either world-wide, nationally or personally for that purpose.  We may or may not know why, but be sure of this, He is with us and He has a purpose.  Here are some possible reasons.

1. God wants us to acknowledge Him.  Humanity has ignored Him.  It is when things are desperate that those who ignore Him begin to call on Him for help.

Our reactions may differ.  We may pray.  Some will turn to Him for help and comfort. Others will blame Him for bringing this upon us.  Often we act like He was created for our benefit, as if He were just here to serve us, not the other way around.  We ask:  “Where is God?”  “Why did God let this happen to me?”  “Why doesn’t He fix this?”  The answer is: He is here.  The answer may be world-wide, national or personal to teach us.  It may be all of the above, or it may have nothing to do with us personally at all, but we can all learn to love God more, come closer to Him, to let Him into our lives, be stronger or perhaps be more concerned about others.

Remember His purpose is always for our good.  Bringing us back to acknowledging Him  and a relationship with Him is good.  It could also be to discipline the world, a nation or us personally for our sins.  After all, all tragedy, whether sickness or other evil is the result of sin in the world.  We will say more about that later, but we must first realize He is the Creator, the SOVERIGN Lord, our Father, and not act like rebellious children as the children of Israel did in the wilderness by grumbling and complaining, when He just wants what is best for us.

God is our Creator.  We were created for HIS pleasure.  We were made to glorify and praise and worship Him.  He created us for fellowship with Him as Adam and Eve did in the beautiful Garden of Eden.  Because He is our Creator, He is worthy of our adoration.  Read  I Chronicles 16:28&29; Romans 16:27  and Psalm 33.  He is entitled to our worship.  Romans 1:21 says, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  We see He is entitled to glory and thanks, but instead we run away from Him.  Read Psalms 95&96.  Psalm 96:4-8 says, “For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens…Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into His courts.”

We spoiled this walk with God by sinning through Adam, and we follow in his footsteps.  We refuse to acknowledge Him and we refuse to acknowledge our sins.

God, because He loves us, still wants our fellowship and He seeks us out. When we ignore Him, and rebel, He still wants to give us good things.  I John 4:8 says, “God is love.”

Psalm 32:10 says His love is unfailing and Psalm 86:5 says it is available to all who call on Him, but sin separates us from God and His love (Isaiah 59:2).  Romans 5:8 says that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”, and John 3:16  says  that  God so loved the world He  sent His Son to die for us – to pay for sin and make it possible to restore us to fellowship with God.

And yet we still wander from Him.  John 3:19-21 tells us why.  Verse 19&20 say, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”   It is because we want to sin and go our own way.  We run from God so that our sins won’t be revealed.  Romans 1:18-32 describes this and lists many specific sins and explains God’s wrath against sin.  In verse 32 it says, “they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”  And so sometimes He will punish sin, world-wide, nationally or personally.  This could be one of those times.  Only God knows if this is some sort of judgment, but God did judge Israel in the Old Testament.

Since we seem to seek Him only when we are in difficulty, He will allow trials to draw (or push) us towards Himself, but it is for our good, so we can know Him.  He wants us to acknowledge His right to be worshiped, but also to share in His love and blessing.

1. God is love, but God is also holy and just.  As such He will punish sin for those who repeatedly rebel against Him.  God had to punish Israel when they continued to rebel and grumbled against Him.  They were stubborn and faithless.  We too are like them and we are arrogant and we fail to trust Him and we continue to love sinning and won’t even acknowledge it is sin.  God knows each of us, even our very thoughts (Hebrews 4:13).  We cannot hide from Him.  He knows who rejects Him and His forgiveness and He will eventually punish sin as He punished Israel many times, with various plagues and eventually with captivity in Babylon.

We all are guilty of sinning.  Not respecting God is sin.  See Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8 and Deuteronomy 6:13.  When Adam sinned he brought a curse on our world which results in sickness, trouble of all kinds and death.  We all sin, just as Adam did (Romans 3:23).  Read Genesis chapter three.  But God is still in control and He has the power to protect us and deliver us, but also the righteous power to inflict justice upon us.  We may blame Him for our misfortune, but this is our doing.

When God judges it is for the purpose of bringing us back to Himself, so we will acknowledge (confess) our sins.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If this  situation is about discipline for sin, all we need to do is come to Him and confess our sins.  I cannot say whether or not this is the reason, but God is our just Judge, and it is a possibility.  He can judge the world, He did in Genesis chapter three and also in Genesis chapters 6-8 when He sent a world-wide flood.  He can judge a nation (He judged Israel – His own people) or He can judge any of us personally.  When He judges us it is to teach us and change us.  As David said, He knows each heart, each motive, each thought.  One sure thing, none of us is guiltless.

I am not saying, nor can I say this is the reason, but look at what is going on. Many people (not all – many are loving and helping) are taking advantage of the circumstances; they are rebelling against authority by not obeying to one degree or another.  People have price gouged, they have deliberately spit and coughed on innocent people, they have hoarded or deliberately stolen supplies and equipment from those who need it and used the situation to impose ideologies on our country or used it in some way for financial gain.

God doesn’t punish arbitrarily like an abusive parent.  He is our loving Father – waiting for the straying child to return to Him, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-31.  He is wanting to bring us back to righteousness.  God will not force us to obey, but He will discipline us to bring us back to Himself.  He is ready to forgive those who return to Him.  We just have to ask Him .  Sin separates us from God, from fellowship with God, but God could be using this to call us back .

III.   A.   Another reason for this might be that God wants His children to change, to learn a lesson. God could be disciplining His own, for even those who profess to have faith in God fall into various sins.   I John 1:9 was specifically written for believers as was Hebrews 12:5-13 which teaches us, “Whom the Lord loves He will discipline.”  God has a special love for His children – those who believe in Him.  I John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  This applies to us because He wants us to walk with Him.  David prayed in Psalm 139:23&24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts.  See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  God will discipline us for our sins and disobedience (Read the Book of Jonah).

1. Also we as believers sometimes get too busy and involved in the world and we forget or ignore Him too.  He wants the praise of His people.  Matthew 6:31 says, “But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”  He wants us to know we need Him, and to put Him first.
2. I Corinthians 15:58 says, “be ye steadfast.” Trials strengthen us and cause us to look to Him and trust Him more.  James 1:2 says, “The testing of your faith develops perseverance.”  It teaches us to trust the fact that He is always with us and He is in control, and that He can protect us  and will do what is best for us as we trust in Him. Romans 8:2 says,” All things work together for good to them that love God…”  God will give us peace and hope.  Matthew 29:20 says, “Lo, I am with you always.”
3. People know the Bible teaches us to love one another, but sometimes we get too wrapped up in our own lives we forget others. Tribulation is often used by God to get us back to putting others ahead of self, especially since the world constantly teaches us to put ourselves first, instead of others as Scripture teaches. This trial is the perfect opportunity to love our neighbor and think about and serve others, even if just by a phone call of encouragement.  We also need to work in unity, not each in his own corner.

There are people committing suicide due to discouragement.  Can you reach out with a word of hope?  We as believers have hope to share, hope in Christ.  We can pray for everyone: leaders, those who are involved in helping the sick, those who are sick.  Don’t bury your head in the sand, do something, if only to obey your leaders and  to stay at home; but get involved somehow.

Someone in our church made us masks.  This is a really great thing which many are doing.  On it were words of hope and a cross.  Now that was love, that is encouraging.  In one of the best sermons I ever heard the preacher said, “Love is something you do.”  Do something.  We need to be like Christ. God always wants us to help others any way we can.

1. Lastly, God may be trying to tell us to get busy, and stop neglecting our “commission,” that is, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” He is telling us to, “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).  Our job is to lead others to Christ.  Loving them will help them to see we are real and may cause them to listen to us, but we must also give them the message.  “He is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).

I have been surprised at how little outreach is being done, especially on television.  I think the world is trying to stop us.  I know Satan is and he is behind it. Thank the Lord for those like Franklin Graham who is preaching the Gospel at every opportunity and is going to the epicenter of the pandemic.  Maybe God is trying to remind us that this is our job.  People are scared, hurting, grieving and calling for help.  We need to point them to the One who can save their souls and “give them help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  We need to pray for those who are working hard to help. We need to be like Philip and tell others how to be saved, and pray for God to raise up preachers to proclaim the word.  We need to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

One reporter asked our President what he would like to ask Billy Graham about what to do in this situation.  I myself wondered what he would do.  Probably he would have a Crusade on television.  I’m sure he would be proclaiming the Gospel, that “Jesus died for you.”  He would likely say, “Jesus is waiting to receive you.”  I did see one television spot with Billy Graham giving an invitation, which was very encouraging. His son Franklin is doing this too, but there has not been enough.  Do your part to bring someone to Jesus.

12.  The last thing I want to share, but the most important, is that God is “not willing that any should perish” and He wants YOU to come to Jesus to be saved.  Above all else He wants you to know Him and His love and  forgiveness..One of the best places in Scripture to show this is John chapter three.    First of all mankind doesn’t even want to acknowledge they are sinners.  Read Psalm 14:1-4; Psalm 53:1-3 and Romans 3:9-12.  Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no not one.”  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 6:23 says, “the wages (penalty) of sin is death.”  This is the wrath of God against man’s sin.  We are lost, but the verse goes on to say, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  The Bible teaches that Jesus took our place; He took our punishment for us.

Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  Verse 8 says, “He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken.”  Verse 5 says, “He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment for our peace was upon Him.”  Verse 10 says, “the Lord made His life a guilt offering.”

When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished,” which literally means “paid in full.”  The meaning of this is that when a prisoner had paid his punishment for a crime he was given a legal document which was stamped, “paid in full,” so no one could ever make him go back to prison to pay for that crime again.  He was free forever because the penalty was “paid in full.”  This is what Jesus did for us when He died in our place on the cross.  He said our punishment is “paid in full” and we are forever free.

John chapter 3:14&15 gives the perfect picture of salvation, It recounts the historical event  of the serpent on the pole in the wilderness in Numbers 21:4-8.  Read both passages.  God had delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, but then they rebelled against Him and Moses over and over; they grumbled and complained.  So God sent snakes to punish them.  When they confessed they had sinned, God provided a way to rescue them.  He told Moses to make a serpent and put it on a pole and that everyone who “looked” at it would live.  John 3:14 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness even so must  the Son of Man  be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”  Jesus was lifted up to die on a cross to pay for our sins ,and if we  LOOK to {believe on}  Him, we will be saved.

Today, if you don’t know Him, if you do not believe, the call is clear.  I Timothy 2:3 says, “He wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  He wants you to believe and be saved; to stop rejecting Him and receive Him and believe He died to pay for your sin.  John 1:12 says,   “But as many as received  Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of   the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ”John 3:16&17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  As Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved.”  All you need to do is ask.  John 6:40 says, “For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

In this time, remember God is here.  He is in control.  He is our Help.  He has a purpose. He may have more than one purpose, but it will apply to each of us differently.  You alone can discern that.  We all can seek Him.  We can all learn something to change us and make us better.  We can and should all love others more.  I do know one thing for sure, if you are not a believer, He is reaching out to you with love and hope and Salvation.   He is not willing that any should perish eternally.  Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me all you are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

To have assurance of a future with God in heaven all you have to do is believe in His Son. John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” You have to be His child and the Word of God says in John 1:12 “as many as received Him to them gave He right to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

1 Corinthians 15:3&4 tells us what Jesus did for us. He died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day. Other Scriptures to read are Isaiah 53:1-12, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 26:28&29, Hebrews chapter 10:1-25 and John 3:16&30.

In John 3:14-16&30 and John 5:24 God says if we believe we have eternal life and simply put, if it ends it wouldn’t be eternal; but to emphasize His promise God also says those who believe shall not perish.

God also says in Romans 8:1 that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”

The Bible says that God cannot lie; it is in His innate character (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18&19).

He uses many words to make the promise of eternal life easy for us to understand: Romans 10:13 (call), John 1:12 (believe & receive), John 3:14&15 (look – Numbers 21:5-9), Revelation 22:17 (take) and Revelation 3:20 (open the door).

Romans 6:23 says eternal life is a gift through Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:17 says “And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” It is a gift, all we need to do is take it. It cost Jesus everything. It costs us nothing. It is not a result of our doing works. We cannot get it or keep it by doing good deeds. God is just. If it were by works it would not be just and we would have something to brag about. Ephesians 2:8&9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Galatians 3:1-6 teaches us that not only can we not earn it by doing good works, but we can’t keep it that way either.

It says “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith… are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh.”

I Corinthians 1:29-31 says, “that no man should boast before God… that Christ is made unto us sanctification and redemption and… let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

If we could earn salvation Jesus would not have had to die (Galatians 2:21). Other passages which give us assurance of salvation are:

1. John 6:25-40 especially verse 37 which tells us that “him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out,” that is, you don’t have to beg or earn it.

If you believe and come He will not reject you but welcome you, receive you and make you His child. You only have to ask Him.

2. 2 Timothy 1:12 says “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”

Jude24&25 say “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen.”

3. Philippians 1:6 says “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

4. Remember the thief on the cross. All he said to Jesus was “Remember me when You come in your kingdom.”

Jesus saw his heart and honored his faith.
He said, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42&43).

5. When Jesus died He finished the work God gave Him to do.

John 4:34 says, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work.” On the cross, just before He died, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

The phrase “It is finished” means paid in full.

It is a legal term that refers to what was written over the list of crimes someone was being punished for when his punishment was completely finished, when he was set free. It signifies that his debt or punishment was “paid in full.”

When we accept Jesus’ death on the cross for us, our sin debt is paid in full. No one can change this.

6. Two wonderful verses, John 3:16 and John 3:28-40

both say that when you believe you will not perish.

John 10:28 says never perish.

God’s Word is true. We just have to trust what God says. Never means never.

7. God says many times in the New Testament that He imputes or credits Christ’s righteousness to us when we put our faith in Jesus, that is, He credits or gives to us Jesus’ righteousness.

Ephesians 1:6 says we are accepted in Christ. See also Philippians 3:9 and Romans 4:3&22.

8. God’s Word says in Psalm 103:12 that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

He also says in Jeremiah 31:34 that “He will remember our sins no more.”

9. Hebrews 10:10-14 teaches us that Jesus death on the cross was sufficient to pay for all sin for all time – past, present and future.

Jesus died “once for all.” Jesus’ work (being complete and perfect) never needs to be repeated. This passage teaches that “he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Maturity and purity in our lives is a process but He has perfected us forever. Because of this we are to “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:25).

10. Ephesians 1:13&14 says the Holy Spirit seals us.

God seals us with the Holy Spirit as with a signet ring, putting on us an irreversible seal, not able to be broken.

It’s like a king sealing an irreversible law with his signet ring. Many Christians doubt their salvation. These and many other verses show us God is both Savior and Keeper. We are, according to Ephesians 6 in a battle with Satan.

He is our enemy and “as a roaring lion seeks to devour us” (I Peter 5:8).

I believe that causing us to doubt our salvation is one of his greatest fiery darts used to defeat us.
I believe that the various parts of the armor of God referred to here are the Scripture verses which teach us what God promises and the power He gives us to have victory; for example, His righteousness. It is not ours but His.

Philippians 3:9 says “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”

When Satan tries to convince you that you are “too bad to go to heaven,” respond that you are righteous “in Christ” and claim His righteousness. To use the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) you need to memorize or at least know where to find this and other Scriptures. To use these weapons we need to know that His Word is truth (John 17:17).

Remember, you have to trust God’s Word. Study God’s Word and keep on studying it because the more you know the stronger you will become. You must trust these verse and others like them to have assurance.

His Word is truth and “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

You must fill your mind with it until it changes you. The Word of God says to “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” like doubting God. Ephesians 6 says to use that sword and then it says to stand; don’t quit and run (retreat). God has given us everything we need for life and godliness “thorough the true knowledge of Him Who called us” (2 Peter 1:3).

Just keep on believing.

            We are not quite sure what you are asking or why you would pray that a “spirit” against you would die, so we can only tell you what Scripture, God’s true Word, says about this topic.

First of all, we have not found either a command or an example in God’s Word telling us to pray for a spirit to die.  Actually, Scripture indicates that “spirits” do not die, human or angels.

It does, however, have much to say on the topic of how to fight against “evil spirits” (who are fallen angels) who are against us.  For instance, James 4:7 says, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

To start with, Jesus our Savior encountered evil spirits many times.  He did not destroy (kill) them but cast them out of people.  Read Mark 9:17-25 for an example.  Here are other examples:  Mark 5; Mark 4:36; Matthew 10:11; Matthew 8:16; John 12:31; Mark 16:5; Mark 1:34&35; Luke 11:24-26 and Matthew 25:41. Jesus also sent out His disciples and gave them power to cast out demons.  See Matthew 1:5-8; Mark 3:15; 6:7, 12&13.

Jesus followers today also have power to cast out evil spirits; just as they did in Acts 5:16 and 8:7. See also Mark 16:17.

In the last days Jesus will carry out judgment upon these evil spirits: He will cast Satan and his angels, who have rebelled against God, into the lake of fire prepared for them to be tormented forever.

Angels are spirit beings created by God to serve Him.  Hebrews 1:13&14; Nehemiah 9:6.

Psalm 103:20&21 says, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, that do His pleasure.’  Hebrews 1:13&14 says, “Are they all not ministering spirits.”  Read also Psalm 104:4; 144:2-5; Colossians 1:6 and Ephesians 6:12. It appears that angels are like an army with ranks, positions and authority.  Ephesians refers to fallen angels as principalities and powers (rulers).  Michael is called the archangel and Gabriel appears to have a very special position in God’s presence.  There are cherubim and seraphim, but most are simply called the hosts of God.  It also appears that there are angels designated for different places.  Daniel 10:12&20

Satan, who is also called the Devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub and the serpent was once called a cherub (angel) in Ezekiel 28:11-15 and Isaiah 14:12-15.  Matthew 9:34 calls him the prince of demons.  (See also John 14:30.)

The demons are fallen angels who followed Satan when he rebelled against God. They no longer live in heaven, but have access to heaven (Revelation 12:3-5; Job 1:6; I Kings 22: 19-23). God will eventually cast them out of heaven for all time.  Revelation 12:7-9 says, “Then war broke out in heaven.  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”  God will judge them (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10-15).

Demons are also called Satan’s kingdom (Luke 11:14-17).  In Luke 9:42 the terms demons and evil spirits are used interchangeably. 2 Peter 2:4 says hell (the lake of fire) is their fate prepared for them as punishment.  Jude 6 says, “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great Day.”    Read Matthew 8:28-30 in which the evil spirits (demons) said, “Will you torment us before the time?” indicating this punishment and identifying demons as fallen angels for whom this punishment was given.  They knew they were already condemned to this fate.  Demons are Satan’s “angels.”  They fight in his army against us and against God (Ephesians 6).

Angels do not understand nor can they experience redemption as we can.  I Peter 1:12b says, “Even angels long to look into these things.”

In all of this Jesus is in complete control over them and has power over them to command them (I Peter 3:22; Matthew 8 and Matthew 4).  As believers, Christ is in us and we are in Him and God gives us power to have victory over them.

As stated, Scripture does give us many instructions about how to fight Satan and evil spirits.

To really understand this topic we have to understand how the word death is used in Scripture.  It is used in several ways.  1) First, we need to understand physical death.  Most people understand death as ceasing to exist, but Scripture clearly teaches that the spirit of man and also spirits don’t cease to exist and that our spirits and spirit beings continue to live.  Genesis 2:7 tells us that God breathed into us the breath of life.  Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”  Genesis 3:19 says, “You are dust and unto dust you shall return.”  When we die the “breath” leaves our body, the spirit leaves and our body decays.

In Acts 7:59 Stephen said, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”  The spirit will go to be with God or be judged and go to Hades – a temporary place of torment until the final judgment.  2 Corinthians 5:8 says that when believers are “absent from the body we are present with the Lord.”  Hebrews 9:25 says, “it is appointed unto man, once to die and after this the judgment.”  Ecclesiastes 3:20 also says our bodies go back to dust.  Our spirit does not cease to exist.

Luke 16:22-31 tells us about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus who both died.  One is in a place of torment and one is in Abraham’s bosom (Paradise).  They could not exchange places.  This tells us there is “life” after death.  Also Scripture teaches that on the last day God will raise our mortal bodies and judge us and we will either go to the “new heavens and earth” or to Hell, the Lake of Fire, (which is also called the second death) the place prepared for the devil and his angels – also showing spirits, including evil spirits, don’t die as in ceasing to exist.  Read Revelation 20:10-15 and also Matthew 25:31-46 again.  God is in control here.  God gives us life and is in control of death.  Other verses are Zechariah 12:11 and Job 34:15&16.  God gives life and He takes life (Job 1:21).  We are not in control.  See also Ecclesiastes 11:5. So we should, as Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

2) Scripture also describes a “spiritual death.”  Ephesians 2:1 says, “we were dead in trespasses and sins.”  This means we are dead to God because of our sins.  Picture this as when a person says to another person who has grievously offended them, “you are dead to me,” meaning alienated as if physically dead or separated from them forever.  God is holy, He cannot allow sin in heaven. Read Revelation 21:27 and 22:14&15. I Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

God’s word says that until we accept Christ our sins have separated us from God and we have no relationship with Him (Isaiah 59:2).  This includes all of us.  Isaiah 64:6 says, “…we are ALL as an unclean thing and ALL our righteousnesses (righteous deeds) are as filthy rags…and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away.”  Romans 3:23 says, “For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Read Romans 3:10-12.  It says, “There is none righteous, no not one.”  Romans 6:23 says, “The payment (wages) for sin is death.”  In the Old Testament sin had to be paid for by a sacrifice.

Those who are “dead” in their sins will perish with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire unless they are saved and are forgiven.  John3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:18 says, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Note that Isaiah 64:6 indicates even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags in God’s eyes and God’s Word is clear that we cannot be saved by good works.  (Read the Book of Romans chapters 3&4, especially verse 3:27; 4:2&6 and also 11:6.) Titus 3:5&6 says, “…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Christ Jesus our Savior.”  So how do we get God’s mercy:  How can we be saved and how is sin paid for?  Since Romans says we are unrighteous and Matthew 25:46 says “the unrighteous will go to everlasting punishment and the righteous go into everlasting life, how can we ever get to Heaven? How can we be washed and be clean?

The good news is that God is not willing that we should perish but that “all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  God loves us so much that He made a way back to Himself, but there is only one way.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Romans 5:6&8 say “while we were ungodly” and “yet sinners – Christ died for us.”  I Timothy 2:5 says, “There is ONE God and ONE Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”  I Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Christ died for our sins.”  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).  Jesus said He came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).  He died on the cross to pay the debt of our sin so we could be forgiven.  Matthew 26:28 says, “This is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (See also Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20 and Romans 4:25&26.)  I John 2:2; 4:10 and Romans 3:25 say Jesus was the propitiation for sins, which means He met God’s just and righteous requirement for the payment or penalty of sins, since the wages or penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree…”

Romans 6:23 says something very special.  Salvation is a free gift.  We only have to believe and accept it.  See John 3:36; John 5:24; 10:28 and John 1:12. When we believe John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.”  Read Romans 4:25 also.  Read Romans chapters 3&4 again for further understanding of this.  The Word says only the righteous will enter into heaven and have eternal life.  God says, “the just shall live by faith” and when we believe, God says we are counted (reckoned) as righteous. Romans 4:5 says, “However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”  Romans 4:7 also says our sins are covered.. Verses 23&24 say, “It was not written for his (Abraham’s) sake alone…but for us also to whom it shall be imputed.”  We are righteous in Him and declared righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He has made him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”  Scripture teaches us that His blood washes us so we are clean and Ephesians 1:6 says, “Wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved,” who is identified as Jesus in Matthew 3:17 where God called Jesus His “beloved Son.”  Read also Job 29:14. Isaiah 61:10a says, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.”  Scripture says we must believe in Him to be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:13).  We have to choose.  We determine whether we will spend eternity in Heaven.  Romans 3:24&25a says, “..all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith.” Ephesians 2:8&9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  John 5:24 says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”  Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We should also clarify words such as perish and destroy.  They need to be understood in context and in light of all Scripture.  These words do not mean ceasing to exist or the annihilation of a spirit or of our spirit but refer to eternal punishment. Take for example John 3:16 which says we will have eternal life, contrasted with perish. Remember that other Scriptures are clear that the unsaved spirit perishes in the “lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41&46).  Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  Revelation 20:12-15 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.  The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death.  Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Jesus taught us in the Scriptures (the Bible) in John 14:6 that He is the way to heaven. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” The Bible teaches us that Jesus died for our sins. It teaches us that we must believe in Him to have eternal life.

I Peter 2:24 says, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” and John 3:14-18 (NASB) says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up (verse14), so that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life (verse 15).

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (verse 16).

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge (condemn) the world; but that the world should be saved through Him (verse 17).

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the only begotten Son of God (verse 18).”

See also verse 36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life…”

This is our blessed promise.

Romans 10:9-13 ends by saying, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 16:30&31 says, “He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’

They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.'”

If your loved one believed he or she is in heaven.

There is very little in Scripture which talks about what occurs in heaven before the Lord’s return, except that we will be with Jesus.

Jesus told the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, “Today you shall be with me in Paradise.”

Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that, “if we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord.”

The only clues I see which indicate that our loved ones in heaven are able to see us are in Hebrews and Luke.

The first is Hebrews 12:1 which says, “Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses” (the author is speaking of those who died before us – past believers) “surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” This would indicate they can see us. They witness what we are doing.

The second is in Luke 16:19-31, the account of the rich man and Lazarus.

They could see each other and the rich man was aware of his relatives on earth. (Read the entire account.) This passage also shows us God’s response to sending “one from the dead to speak to them.”

God strictly forbids us from trying to contact the dead as in going to mediums or going to séances.
One should stay away from such things and trust in God’s Word, given to us in the Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 says, “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out these nations before you.”

The whole Bible is about Jesus, about His coming to die for us, so that we might have forgiveness of sins and have eternal life in heaven by believing in Him.

Acts 10:48 says, “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His Name everyone who believes in Him has received forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 13:38 says, “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Colossians 1:14 says, “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Read Hebrews chapter 9. Verse 22 says, “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

In Romans 4:5-8 it says the one who “believes, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,” and in verse 7 it says, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.”

Romans 10:13&14 says,” Whoever will call upon the Name of the Lord wills be saved.

How shall they call upon Him in Whom they have not believed?”

In John 10:28 Jesus says of His believers, “and I give eternal life to them and they shall never perish.”

I hope you have believed.

Although Samuel’s body died, the spirit and soul of someone who has died do not cease to exist, that is, die.

The Scriptures (the Bible) demonstrate this over and over again. The best way I can think of to explain death in Scripture is to use the word separation. The soul and spirit are separated from the body when the body dies and begins to decay.

An example of this would be the Scriptural phrase “you are dead in your sins” which equates to “your sins have separated you from your God.” To be separated from God is spiritual death. The soul and spirit do not die in the same way as the body does.

In Luke 18 the rich man was in a place of punishment and the poor man was at Abraham’s side after their physical death. There is life after death.

On the cross, Jesus told the thief who was repentant, “today you will be with me in paradise.” On the third day after Jesus died He was physically raised. Scripture teaches that someday even our bodies will be raised as Jesus’ body was.

In John 14:1-4, 12 &28 Jesus told the disciples that He was going to be with the Father.
In John 14:19 Jesus said, “because I live, you shall live also.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-9 says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Scripture teaches clearly (see Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 9:21; 21:8 and 22:15) that consulting with spirits of the dead or mediums or psychics or any other form of magic is sin and grievous to God.

Some believe this may be because those who consult the dead are actually consulting demons.
In Luke 16 the rich man was told that: “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

In 2 Samuel 12:23 David said of his son who had died: “But now that he is dead, why should I fast?

Can I bring him back again?

I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Isaiah 8:19 says, “When men tell you to consult mediums and psychics, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God?

Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”

This verse tells us we should seek God for wisdom and understanding, not wizards, mediums, psychics or witches.

In I Corinthians 15:1-4 we see that “Christ died for our sins…that He was buried… and that He was raised on the third day.

It says this is the gospel.

John 6:40 says, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Many people believe that if a person commits suicide that they automatically go to Hell.

This idea is usually based on the fact that killing yourself is murder, an extremely serious sin, and that when a person kills himself there obviously is not time after the event to repent and ask God to forgive him.

There are several problems with this idea. The first is that there is absolutely no indication in the Bible that if a person commits suicide that they go to Hell.

The second problem is that it makes salvation be by faith plus not doing something. Once you start down that road, what other conditions are you going to add to faith alone?

Romans 4:5 says, “However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”

The third issue is that it almost puts murder into a separate category and makes it far worse than any other sin.

Murder is extremely serious, but so are many other sins. A final problem is that it assumes that the individual did not change his mind and cry out to God after it was too late.

According to people who have survived a suicide attempt, at least some of them regretted whatever they did to take their life almost as soon as they did it.

None of what I have just said should be taken to mean that suicide is not sin, and a very serious one at that.

People who take their own life often feel their friends and family would be better off without them, but that is almost never so. Suicide is a tragedy, not only because an individual dies, but also because of the emotional pain that all who knew the individual will feel, often for an entire lifetime.

Suicide is the ultimate rejection of all the people who cared about the one who took their own life, and often leads to all sorts of emotional problems in those affected by it, including others taking their own life also.

To sum up, suicide is an extremely serious sin, but it will not automatically send someone to Hell.

Any sin is serious enough to send a person to Hell if that person does not ask the Lord Jesus Christ to be his Savior and forgive all his sins.

The first mention of the Sabbath is in Genesis 2:2&3, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

The Sabbath is not mentioned again until somewhere around 2,500 years later when the children of Israel had left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and were headed to the promised land. The account of what happened is in Exodus chapter 16. When the Israelites complained about not having enough food, God promised them “bread from heaven” for six days but said there would be none on the seventh day, the Sabbath. The Israelites had manna from heaven for six days and none on the Sabbath until they reached the border of Canaan.

In the ten commandments in Exodus 20:8-11 God commanded the Israelites: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,”

Exodus 31:12&13 says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, “You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”’”

Exodus 31:16&17 says, “’The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

From this passage, most Christians believe the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant God made with Israel, not something He was commanding everyone to obey for all time.

John 5:17&18 says, “In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

When the Pharisees complained about His disciples “doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus said to them in Mark 2:27&28, “’The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’”

Romans 14:5&6a says, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards the day as special does so to the Lord.”

Colossians 2:16&17 says, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

Since Jesus and His disciples broke the Sabbath, at least the way the Pharisees understood it, and since Romans chapter 14 says people “should be fully convinced in their own mind” whether “one day is more sacred than another,” and since Colossians chapter 2 says not to let anyone judge you regarding the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was only “a shadow of the things that were to come,” most Christians believe they are not obligated to keep the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week.

Some people believe Sunday is the “Christian Sabbath,” but the Bible never calls it that. Every meeting of the followers of Jesus after the Resurrection where the day of the week is indicated was on a Sunday, John 20:19, 26; Acts 2:1 (Leviticus 23:15-21); 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2, and early church and secular historians record that Christians met on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. For instance Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, written before his death in 165AD, writes,  “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read…But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter; made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead.”

It is not wrong to keep the Sabbath as a day of rest, but neither is it commanded, but since Jesus says “the Sabbath was made for man,” observing a day of rest one day a week may be good for a person.

The answer to this question is that God is omnipotent and omniscient, which means He is all powerful and all knowing. Scripture says He knows all our thoughts and nothing is hidden from Him.

The answer to this question is that He is our Father and that He cares for us. It also depends on who we are, because we do not become His children until we believe in His Son and His death for us to pay for our sin.

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. To His children God gives many, many promises of His care and protection.

Romans 8:28 says, “all things work together for good to those who love God.”

This is because He loves us as a Father. As such He allows things to come into our lives to teach us to be mature or even to discipline us, or even to punish us if we sin or disobey.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “whom the Father loves, He chastens.”

As a Father He wants to bless us with many blessings and give us good things, but it doesn’t mean nothing “bad” ever happens, but it is all for our good.

I Peter 5:7 says “cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you.”

If you read the book of Job you will see that nothing can come into our life that God does not allow for our own good.”

In the case of those who disobey by not believing, God does not make these promises, but God says He allows His “rain” and blessings to fall on the just and the unjust. God wishes for them to come to Him, becoming part of His family. He will use different means to do this. God may also punish people for their sins, here and now.

Matthew 10:30 says, “the very hairs of our head are all numbered” and Matthew 6:28 says we are of more value than the “lilies of the field.”

We know the Bible says God loves us (John 3:16), so we can be sure of His care, love and protection from “bad” things unless it is to make us better, stronger and more like His Son.

            Scripture clearly recognizes the existence of the spirit world.  First of all, God is Spirit.  John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”  God is a trinity, there are three Persons, but one God.  All are mentioned over and over in Scripture.  In Genesis chapter one Elohim, the word translated God, is plural, a unity, and God said “Let us make man in our image.”  Read Isaiah 48.  God the Creator (Jesus) is speaking and says in verse 16, “From the time it took place I was there.  And now the LORD God has sent me and His Spirit.”  In the Gospel of John chapter one, John says the Word was (a person) God, Who created the world (verse 3) and is identified as Jesus in verses 29&30.

Everything that was created was created by Him.  Revelation 4:11 says, and it is clearly taught throughout Scripture, that God created everything.  The verse says, “You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power.  You created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Colossians 1:16 is even more specific, saying He created the invisible spirit world as well as what we can see.  It says, “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him.”  The context shows that Jesus is the Creator.  It also implies

these invisible beings were created to serve and worship Him.  That would include angels, and even Satan, a cherub, even those angels who subsequently rebelled against Him and followed Satan in his rebellion.  (See Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4)  They were good when God created them.

Please take particular note of the language and descriptive terms used: invisible, powers, authorities, and rulers, which are used over and over of the “spirit world.”  (See Ephesians 6; I Peter 3:22; Colossians 1:16; I Corinthians 15:24)  The rebellious angels will be brought under Jesus’ rule.

So the Spirit world consists of God, angels, and Satan (and his followers) and all were created by God and for God –to serve and worship Him.  Matthew 4:10 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan!’  For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” ‘ ”

Hebrews chapters one and two speak of the spirit world and also confirms Jesus as God and Creator.  It speaks of God’s dealings with His creation which includes another group – mankind – and shows the complex relationship between God, angels and man in His most important work for mankind, our salvation.  In short: Jesus is God and Creator (Hebrews 1:1-3). He is greater than angels and worshiped by them (verse 6) and was made (became) lower than angels when He became man in order to save us (Hebrews 2:7). This implies angels rank higher than man, at least in power and might (2 Peter 2:11).

When Jesus finished His work and was raised from the dead, He was raised above all, to

reign forever and ever (Hebrews 1:13; 2:8&9).  Ephesians 1:20-22 says, “He raised Him from

the dead and seated Him at His right side in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and

authority and power and dominion, and every title that can be given…”  (See also Isaiah 53; Revelation 3:14; Hebrews 2:3&4 and multitudes of other Scriptures.)

The angels are seen serving and worshiping God throughout Scriptures, especially in the Book of Revelation.  (Isaiah 6:1-6; Revelation 5:11-14).  Revelation 4:11 states that God is worthy of worship and praise because He is our Creator.  In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 5:7and Exodus 20:3) it says we are to worship Him and have no other gods before Him.  We are to serve only God.  See also Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13&14; Exodus 34:1; 23:13 and Deuteronomy 11:27&28; 28:14.

This is very important, as we shall see, that both angels and demons are not to be worshiped by anyone.  Only God deserves worship (Revelation 9:20; 19:10).

 

Angels

Colossians 1:16 tells us that God has created angels; He has created everything in heaven.  “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and For Him.”  Revelation 10:6 says, “And he swore by Him Who lives for ever and ever, Who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it…”   (See also Nehemiah 9:6.)  Hebrews 1:7 says, “In speaking of angels He says, ‘He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.’ ”  They are His possession and His servants.  2 Thessalonians 1:7 calls them “His mighty angels.”  Read Psalm 103:20&21 which says, “Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word.  Praise the Lord, all His heavenly host, you His servants, who do His will.”  They were created to do His will and obey His wishes.

They were not only created for the purpose of serving God but Hebrews 1:14 also says He created them to minister to the children of God, His church.  It says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”  This passage also says that angels are spirits.

Most theologians believe the cherubim, seen in Ezekiel 1:4-25 and 10:1-22, and seraphim, seen in Isaiah 6:1-6, are angels.  They are the only ones described, aside from Lucifer (Satan) who is called a cherub.

Colossians 2:18 indicates that any worship of angels is not permitted, calling it, “the inflated idea of a fleshly mind.”  We are not to worship any created being.  We should not have any god(s) besides Him.

So how do angels serve God and us according to His will?

1). They are sent to give people messages from God.  Read Isaiah 6:1-13, where God called Isaiah to minister as a prophet.  God sent Gabriel to tell Mary (Luke 1:26-38) that she

would give birth to the Messiah.  God sent Gabriel to speak to Zechariah with the promise of

John’s birth (Luke 1:8-20).  See also Acts 27:23

2).        They are sent as guardians and protectors.  In Matthew 18:10 Jesus says, in speaking of children, “their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”  Jesus says children have guardian angels.

Michael, the archangel, is spoken of in Daniel 12:1 as the “great prince who protects your people” Israel.

Psalm 91 is all about God our protector and is prophetic concerning angels who will protect and minister to the Messiah, Jesus, but probably also refers to His people.  They are guardians of children, adults and nations.  Read 2 Kings 6:17; Daniel 10:10&11, 20&21.

3).        They rescue us: 2 Kings 8:17; Numbers 22:22; Acts 5:19.  They rescued both Peter and all the Apostles from prison (Acts 12:6-10; Acts 5:19).

4).        God uses them to warn us of danger (Matthew 2:13).

5).        They ministered to Jesus (Matthew 4:11) and in the Garden of Gethsemane they strengthened Him (Luke 22:43).

6).        They give directions from God to God’s children (Acts 8:26).

7).        God sent angels to fight for His people and for Him in the past.  He continues to do so now and in the future Michael and his army of angels will fight against Satan and his angels and Michael and his angels will win (2 Kings 6:8-17; Revelation 12:7-10).

8).        Angels will come with Jesus when He returns (I Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7&8).

9).        They minister to God’s children, those who believe (Hebrews 1:14).

10).      They worship and praise God (Psalm 148:2; Isaiah 6:1-6; Revelation 4:6-8; 5:11&12).  Psalm 103:20 says, “Praise the Lord, you his angels.”

11).      They rejoice at God’s workings.  For example, the angels announced with rejoicing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:14).  In Job 38:4&7 they rejoiced at creation. They sing in joyful assembly (Hebrews 12:20-23).  They rejoice whenever a sinner becomes one of God’s children (Luke 15:7&10).

12).      They carry out God’s acts of judgment (Revelation 8:3-8; Matthew 13:39-42).

13).      Angels minister to believers (Hebrews 1:14) at God’s direction, but demons and fallen angels try to lure people from God as Satan did to Eve in the Garden of Eden and also to try to harm people.

 

 

 

 

 

Satan

Satan, also called “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14:12 (KJV), “The great dragon…that ancient serpent…the devil or Satan (Revelation 12: 9), “the evil one” (I John 5:18&19), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), “the prince of this world” (John 14:30) and “prince of demons (Matthew 6:13:13:6) is a part of the spirit world.

Ezekiel 28:13-17 describes the creation and fall of Satan.  He was created perfect and was in the garden.  He is described as a cherub, created by God and beautiful, with special position and power, until he rebelled against God.  Isaiah 14:12-14 along with Ezekiel describes his fall from grace.  In Isaiah Satan said, “I will make myself like the Most High.” Therefore he was cast out of heaven and down to earth.  See also Luke 10:18

Thus Satan became God’s enemy and ours.  He is our adversary (I Peter 5:8) who wants to destroy and devour us.  He is a wiley enemy who constantly tries to defeat God’s children, Christians.  He wants to stop us from trusting God and keep us from following Him (Ephesians 6:11&12).  If you read the Book of Job, he has the power to harm and hurt us, but only if God allows him to, in order to test us.  He deceives us by lying about God as he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-15).  He tempts us to sin as he did to Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; 6:13; I Thessalonians 3:5).  He can put evil thoughts into men’s hearts and minds as he did to Judas (John 13:2).  In Ephesians 6 we see that these enemies, including Satan, are “not flesh and blood” but of the spirit world.

There are many other devices he uses to tempt and deceive us into following him instead of God our Father.  He appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and he causes divisions among believers (Ephesians 4:25-27).  He can perform signs and wonders to deceive us (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13&14).  He oppresses people (Acts 10:38).  He blinds unbelievers to the truths about Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4), and snatches away the truth from those who hear it so that they will forget it and not believe (Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).

There are many other schemes (Ephesians 6:11) which Satan uses to fight against us.  Luke 22:31 says Satan will “sift you as wheat” and I Peter 5:8 says he seeks to devour us. He tries to torment us with confusion and accusation, trying to keep us from serving our God. This is an extremely short and incomplete account of what Satan is capable of.  His end is the lake of fire forever (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).  Everything evil has come from the devil and his angels and demons; but Satan and demons are a defeated enemy (Colossians 2:15).

In this life we are told: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  We are told to pray so that we will be delivered from the evil one and from temptation (Matthew 6:13), and to “pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:40).  We are told to use the whole armor of God to stand and fight against Satan (Ephesians 6:18). We will cover this in depth later.  God says in I John 4:4: “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

 

Demons

First let me say that Scripture speaks of both fallen angels and demons.  Some will say that they are different, but most theologians think they are the same beings.  Both are called spirits and are real.  We know that they are created beings because Colossians 1:16&17a says, “For by Him ALL THINGS were created in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things…”  This obviously speaks of all spirit beings.

The fall of a significant group of angels is described in Jude verse 6 and in 2 Peter 2:4 which says, “they did not keep their own domain,” and “they sinned” respectively.  Revelation 12:4 describes what most believe is Satan sweeping away 1/3 of the angels (described as stars) with him in his fall from heaven.  In Luke 10:18 Jesus says, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”  They were perfect and good when God created them.  We saw earlier that Satan was perfect when God created him, but they and Satan all rebelled against God.

We also see that these demons/fallen angels are evil.  Revelation 12:7-9 describes the relationship between Satan and his angels as the “dragon and his angels” waging war with Michael (called the archangel in Jude 9) and his angels.  Verse 9 says “he was thrown down to earth and his angels with him.”

Mark 5:1-15; Matthew 17:14-20 and Mark 9:14-29 and other New Testament Scriptures refer to demons as “evil” or “unclean” spirits.  This proves both that they are spirits and that they are evil.  We know angels are spirits from Hebrews 1:14 for God says He made them to be “ministering spirits.”

Now read Ephesians 6:11&12 which specifically connects these spirits with Satan’s schemes and calls them: “rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  It says they are not “flesh and blood” and we must “struggle” with them using “armor.”  Sounds like an enemy to me.  Note the description is nearly identical to the spirit world created by God in Colossians 1:16.  This sounds to me like these are fallen angels.  Read also I Peter 3:21&22 which says, “Who (Jesus Christ) has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.”

Since all creation was created good and there is no verse regarding another created group which became evil and because Colossians 1:16 refers to all invisible created beings and uses the same descriptive terms as Ephesians 6:10&11 and because Ephesians 6:10&11 certainly refers to our enemies and groups later put under Jesus’ rule and under His feet,   I would conclude that fallen angels and demons are the same.

As stated before, the connection between Satan and fallen angels/demons is very clear.

They are both described as belonging to him.  Matthew 25:41 calls them “his angels” and in

Matthew 12:24-27 demons are referred to as “his kingdom.” Verse 26 says, “he is divided

against himself.”  Demons and Fallen angels have the same master.  Matthew 25:41; Matthew 8:29 and Luke 4:25 indicate they will suffer the same judgment – torment in hell because of their rebellion.

I had an interesting thought as I was pondering this.  In Hebrews chapters one and two God is speaking of the supremacy of Jesus in His dealings with mankind, namely, His working in the universe to complete His most important objective, the salvation of mankind.  He mentions only three entities of importance in His dealing with man through His Son: 1) The Trinity, the three persons of the Godhead – the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit; 2) the angels and 3) mankind.  He explains their order of rank and relationship in detail.  Simply put, the “characters” are God, angels and man.  Coupled with the fact that He mentions the creation of both man and angels and their respective rank but again no mention is made of creating demons as such and also the fact that all angels and Satan were created good and Satan was a cherub, leads me to think demons are angels which “fell from God,” even though it is not specifically stated.  Again most theologians take this point of view.  Sometimes God does not tell us everything.  Let me sum up: What we do know is that demons were created, that they are evil, that Satan is their master, that they are a part of the spirit world and that they will be judged.

No matter what you conclude about this, we must accept what Scripture says: they are God’s and our enemies.  We need to resist Satan and his forces (fallen angels/demons), and avoid what God warns us about, or forbids because of the connection to Satan.  We must believe and submit to God or we may fall under Satan’s power and control (James 4:7).  The intent of demons is to defeat God and His children.

Jesus cast out demons many times during His earthly ministry and His disciples were

given power, in His Name, to do the same (Luke 10:7).

In the Old Testament God forbids His people to have anything to do with the spirit world.  It is very specific.  Leviticus 19:31 says, “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them…  I am the Lord your God.”  God wants our worship and He wants to be our God, the One we come to with our needs and desires, not spirits and angels.  Isaiah 8:18 says, “When they tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God.”

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 says, “Let no one be found among you… who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or who casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”  A more modern translation of “spiritist” would be “psychic.”  See also 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; I Chronicles 10:13; 33:6 and I Samuel 29:3, 7-9.

 

 

There is a reason that God is so insistent about this and there is an example which illustrates this for us.  The occult world is the domain of demons.  Acts 16:16-20 tells of a slave girl who told fortunes through the demon which possessed her, and when the spirit was cast out she could no longer tell the future.  To dabble with the occult is to dabble with demons.

Also, when God told His people not to worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, or any other idol, He was doing so because demons are behind the idols which are worshiped.  Deuteronomy 32:16-18 says, “They made Him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols…they sacrificed to demons which are not God…”  I Corinthians 10:20 says, “the things the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons.  Read also Psalm 106:36&37 and Revelation 9:20&21.

When God tells people to obey Him, to do or not do something, it is for a very good reason and for our good.  In this case it is to protect us from Satan and his forces.  Make no mistake: to worship other gods is to worship demons.  Demons, idols and Spiritism are all connected, they all involve demons.  They are the domain (kingdom) of Satan who is called the ruler of darkness, the prince of the power of the air.  Read Ephesians 6:10-17 again.  Satan’s kingdom is a dangerous world belonging to our adversary whose intent is to lead us away from God.  People today are fascinated and even obsessed with spirits. Some even worship Satan.  Stay away from any of this.  We should not dabble in the occult world in any way.

 

What Demons Can Do to Us

Here are things demons can do to harm, trouble or defeat God’s children.  Great Doctrines of the Bible by Dr. W. Evans on page 219 aptly describes it this way, “they hinder the spiritual life of God’s people.” Referring to Ephesians 6:12.

1). They can tempt us to sin as Satan did with Jesus: see Matthew 4:1-11; 6:13; 26:41 and Mark 9:22.

2). They try to keep people from believing in Jesus, by any means possible (2 Corinthians 4:4 and Matthew 13:19).

3). Demons inflict pain and misery, illness, blindness and deafness, crippling and dumbness.  They can also affect people mentally.  This can be seen throughout the Gospels.

4). They can possess people causing diseases, hysteria and super-human strength and terror to others.  They can control these people.  See the Gospels and the Book of Acts.

5). They deceive people with false doctrine (I Timothy 4:1; Revelation 12:8&9).

6). They place false teachers in churches to deceive us.  They are called “tares” and also called the “sons of the evil one” in Matthew 13:34-41.

7). They can deceive us with signs and wonders (Revelation 16:18).

8). They will join with Satan to fight against God and His angels (Revelation 12:8&9; 16:18).

9). They can hinder our physical ability to go somewhere (I Thessalonians 2:18).

*          Notice, these are the things Satan, their prince, does to us.

 

What Jesus Did

When Jesus died on the cross He defeated the enemy, Satan.  Genesis 3:15 foretold this when God said that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.  John 16:11 says that the ruler (prince) of this world has been judged (or stands condemned).  Colossians 2:15 says, “and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  For us this means “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Colossians 1:13).  See also John 12:31.

Ephesians 1:20-22 tells us because Jesus died for us the Father raised Him up and “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…and God placed all things under His feet.”  Hebrews 2:9-14 says, “But we see Him Who has been made a little lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death, was crowned with glory and honor…that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil.”  Verse 17 says, “to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  To make propitiation is to make a just payment.

Hebrews 4:8 says, “(You) have put all things under His feet.  For in subjecting all things under His feet He left nothing that is not subject to Him.  But now we do not yet see all things subject to Him.”  You see Satan is our defeated foe but you could say God “has not yet” taken him into custody.  I Corinthians 15:24-25 says He will abolish “all rule and authority and power for He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”  Part of this is future as seen in the Book of Revelation.

Then Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and tormented for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41).  His fate is already determined and God has defeated him and has set us free from his power and dominion (Hebrews 2:14), and has given us the Holy Spirit and the power to be victorious over him.  Until then I Peter 5:8 says, “your adversary the devil prowls around seeking whom he may devour,” and in Luke 22:37 Jesus told Peter, “Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat.”

 

I Corinthians 15:56 says, “He has given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord,” and Romans 8:37 says, “we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.”  I John 4:4 says,

“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”  I John 3:8 says, “the Son of God

appeared for this purpose that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  We have power through Jesus (see Galatians 2:20).

Your question was what goes on in the Spirit world: to sum it up: Satan and the fallen angels rebelled against God, and Satan led man to sin.  Jesus saved man and defeated Satan and sealed his fate and rendered him powerless and also gave us who believe His Holy Spirit and the power and tools to defeat Satan and demons until he is subjected to his judgment.  Until then Satan accuses us and tempts us to sin and to stop following God.

 

Tools (Ways to Resist Satan)

Scripture does not leave us without solutions for our struggles.  God gives us weapons with which to fight the fight which exists in our life as a Christian.  Our weapons must be used in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within each believer.

1). First, and of primary importance, is submission to God, to the Holy Spirit, because it is only through Him and His power that victory in the battle is possible.  James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God, and I Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.”  We must submit to His will and obey His word. We must allow God through the Word and the Holy Spirit to rule and control our lives.  Read Galatian 2:20.

2). Abide in the Word.  To do this we must know the Word of God.  Abide means to know, understand and obey the Word on a continual basis.  We must study it.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show yourself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 3:16&17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  The Word helps us grow in our spiritual life, in

strength and wisdom and knowledge.  I Peter 2:2 says, “desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.”  Read also Hebrews 5:11-14.  I John 2:14 says, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the Word of God ABIDES in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.  (See Ephesians chapter six.)

3). Going along with this, and note that much of this requires the previous point, being able to properly understand and being able to properly use the Word of God.  (We will also see this again, especially in our study of Ephesians chapter 6.)

4). Vigilance: I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant (alert), because your adversary the devil prowls around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  We must be ready.  Vigilance and readiness are like “soldier training” and I think the first step is knowing the Word of God as stated before and “knowing the tactics of the enemy.”  Thus I have mentioned

Ephesians chapter 6 (read it again and again).  It teaches us about Satan’s schemes.  Jesus understood Satan’s schemes which included lies, taking Scripture out of context or misusing it

to cause us to stumble and cause us to sin.  He misleads us and lies to us, using and twisting Scripture to accuse us, to cause guilt or misunderstanding or legalism.  2 Corinthians 2:11 says, “Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.”

5). Don’t give Satan an opportunity, a place or a foothold, by sinning.  We do this by continuing in sin instead of confessing it to God (I John 1:9).  And I mean confessing our sin to God as often as we sin.  Sin gives Satan a “foot in the door.”  Read Ephesians 4:20-27, it speaks of this especially with regard to our relationships with other believers, with regard to things like lying instead of telling the truth, anger and stealing.  Instead we should love one another and share with one another.

6). Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”  Jesus made victory possible through His death, defeating Satan and giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and giving us His power to resist.  We need to use this power and the weapons He has given us, trusting His power to give us the victory. And as Revelation 12:11 says, “by the word of their testimony.”  I think this means that giving our testimony, whether in the form of giving the gospel to an unbeliever or giving verbal testimony of what the Lord is doing for us in our daily life will strengthen other believers or bring a person to salvation, but also in some way it aids and strengthens us in our overcoming and resisting Satan.

7). Resist the devil: All of these tools and using the Word properly are ways to actively resist the devil, while trusting the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Rebuke Satan with the Word of God like Jesus did.

8). Prayer: Ephesians 6 will give us a look at many of Satan’s schemes and the armor God gives us, but first let me mention that Ephesians 6 ends with another weapon, prayer.  Verse 18 says, “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”  Matthew 6:13 says to pray that God will “not lead us into temptation but will deliver us from evil (some translations say evil one).”  When Christ prayed in the garden He asked His disciples to “watch and pray” so that they would “not enter into temptation,” because, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

9). Lastly, let’s look at Ephesians 6 and see Satan’s schemes and devices and God’s armor; ways to fight against Satan; methods to defeat him; ways to resist or act in faith.

 

More Tools to Resist (Ephesians 6)

Ephesians 6:11-13 says to put on the whole armor of God to “resist” the schemes of the devil and his forces of wickedness in the heavenly places: rulers, powers and forces of darkness.  From Ephesians 6 we can understand some of the devil’s schemes.  The pieces of armor suggest

areas of our life that Satan attacks and what to do to defeat him.  It shows us the attacks

and the torments (arrows) Satan throws at us, the things believers wrestle with which he uses to get us to give up and abandon the conflict (or our duties as soldiers of God).  Picture the armor and what it represents in order to understand what areas of attack it defends against.

1). Ephesians 6:14 says: “having your loins girded with truth.”  In the armor the girdle holds everything together and protects the vital organs: heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, that which keeps us alive and well.  In scripture it is described as truth.  In John 17:17 God’s Word is called truth, and indeed it is our source of all we know of God and truth.  Read 2 Peter 1:3 (NASB) which says, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him…”  Truth refutes Satan’s lies and false teaching.

Satan causes us to doubt and mistrust God by lies, twisting Scripture and false doctrine to discredit God and His teaching, just as he did to Eve (Genesis 3:1-6) and Jesus (Matthew 4:1-10).  Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan.  He had a proper understanding of it when Satan misused it.  Read 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Timothy 2:15.  The first says, “Scripture is profitable for training in righteousness” and the second speaks of “rightly handling” the Scripture, that is, rightly understanding it and using it correctly.  David also used the Word saying in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”

It is very important to study and know God’s Word for it is the basis of all we know about God and our spiritual life and our conflict with the enemy.  Paul commended the Berean people who heard him preach, saying they were noble because “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

2). Second is the breastplate of righteousness, which covers the heart.  Satan attacks us with guilt, or making us feel we are not “good enough” or we are too bad a person for God to use, or perhaps he has tempted us and we have fallen into some sin.  God says we are forgiven if we confess our sin (I John 1:9).  HE MAY SAY WE ARE UNACCEPTABLE TO God.  Read Romans chapters 3&4 which tell us we are declared righteous when we accept Jesus by faith and that our sins are forgiven.  Satan is a master of accusation and condemnation.  Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) says we are accepted in the Beloved (Christ).  Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:9 (NKJV) says, “and be found in  Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

He can also cause us to be self-righteous or proud which can make us fail.  We need to be students of the Scriptures’ teaching on righteousness, forgiveness, justification, works and salvation.

3). Ephesians 6:15 says, “Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel.  Probably more than anything else God wants believers to spread the Gospel to everyone.  This

is our job (Acts 1:8).  I Peter 3:15 tells us to “be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is within you.”

One way we help fight for God is to win over those who follow the enemy.  In order to

do that we need to know how to present the Gospel in a clear and understandable way.  We also need to answer their questions about God.  I have this thought frequently that I should never be caught twice with a question I don’t know the answer to – I should study to find it out.  Be ready.  Be prepared.

Anyone can learn the basics of the Gospel and if you are like me – forgetting easily – write it down or us a Gospel tract, a printed presentation; there are many available.  Then pray.  Don’t be unprepared.  Study Scriptures like the Gospel of John, Romans chapters 3-5 and 10, I Corinthians 15:1-5 and Hebrews 10:1-14 to understand what the Gospel means.  Study also so you are not deceived by false doctrines of the Gospel, like good works.  The books of Galatians, Colossians and Jude deal with Satan’s lies which can be corrected with Romans chapters 3-5.

4). Our shield is our faith.  Faith is our belief in God and what He says – the truth – the Word of God.  With faith we use Scripture to defend against any arrow or weapon Satan attacks us with, as Jesus did, thus “resisting the devil” (the Evil One).  See James 4:7.  Thus again, we need to know the Word, more and more every day, and never be unprepared.  We can’t “resist” and “use” and act in faith if we don’t know God’s Word.  Faith in God is based on the true knowledge of God which comes through the truth of God, the Word.  Remember 2 Peter 1:1-5 says that the truth gives us everything we need to know God and for our relationship to Him.  Remember: “the truth sets us free” (John 8:32) from many of the enemy’s darts and the Word is profitable for instruction in righteousness.

The Word, I believe, is vitally involved in all parts of our armor.  God’s Word is the truth, but we must use it, acting in faith and using the Word to refute Satan, as Jesus did.

5). The next piece of armor is the helmet of salvation.  Satan can fill your mind with doubts concerning whether you are saved.  Here again learn the way of salvation well – from Scripture and believe God, Who does not lie, that “you have passed from death to life” (John 5:24).  Satan will accuse you saying, “Did you do it right?”  I love that Scripture uses so many words to describe what we must do to be saved: believe (John 3:16), call (Romans 10:12, receive (John 1:12), come (John 6:37), take (Revelation 22:17) and look (John 3:13&14; Numbers 21:8&9) are a few.  The thief on the cross believed but had only these words to call to Jesus, “Remember me.”  See and trust that God is true and “stand” firm (Ephesians 6:11,13,14).

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Faithful is He that promised.”  God cannot lie.  He says if we believe, we have everlasting life (John 3:16).  2Timothy 1:12 says, “He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  Jude 25 says, “Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before His presence with exceeding joy.”

 

Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) says “we are accepted in the beloved.”  I John 5:13 says, “These things are written unto you that 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.”  Oh, God knows us so well and He loves us and understands our struggle.

6). The concluding piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit.  Interestingly it is called the Word of God, the very thing I keep repeating; the very thing Jesus used to defeat Satan.  Memorize it, learn and study it, check out whatever you hear by it and use it rightly.  It is our weapon against all Satan’s lies.  Remember 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says, “and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Read Psalm 1:1-6 and Joshua 1:8.  Both speak to the power of the Scripture.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Finally in Ephesians 6:13 it says, “having done all to stand.”  No matter how hard the struggle is, remember “greater is He that is with us than he that is in the world,” and having done everything, “stand in your faith.”

 

Conclusion

God does not always give us an answer to everything we wonder about but He does give us the answer to everything we need for life and godliness and an abundant Christian life (2 Peter 1:2-4 and John 10:10).  What God requires of us is faith – faith to trust in and believe God,

Faith to trust what God shows us in Ephesians 6 and other Scriptures on how to resist the enemy, whatever Satan throws at us.  This is faith.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  Without faith it is impossible to be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16 & Acts 16:31).  Abraham was justified by faith (Romans 4:1-5).

It is also impossible to live a fulfilling Christian life without faith.  Galatians 2:20 says, “the life I now live in the body I live by the faith of the Son of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “we walk by faith, not by sight.”  Hebrews chapter 11 gives many examples of those who lived by faith.  Faith helps us resist Satan and resist temptation.  Faith helps us follow God as Joshua and Caleb did (Numbers 32:12).

Jesus says if we are not with Him we are against Him (Matthew 12:3).  We must choose to follow God.  Ephesians 6:13 says, “having done all to stand.”  We saw that Jesus defeated Satan and his forces on the cross, and gave us His Spirit so we could conquer in His strength (Romans 8:37).  So we can choose to serve God and have victory as Joshua and Caleb did

(Joshua 24:14&15).

The more we know the Word of God and use it as Jesus did, the stronger we will be.  God will keep us (Jude 24) and nothing can separate us from God (John 10:28-30; Romans 8:38).  Joshua 24:15 says “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”  I John 5:18 says, “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

I know I have repeated some things over and over, but these things are involved in every aspect of this question.  Even God repeats them over and over.  They are that important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you been considering whether or not there is a higher power?

A power that formed the Universe and all that’s in it. A power that took nothing and created the earth, the sky, water, and living things?

Where did the simplest plant come from?

The most complicated creature… man?

I struggled with the question for years. I sought the answer in science. Surely the answer can be found through the study of these things all around that amaze and mystify us. The answer had to be in the most minute part of every creature and thing.

The atom!

The essence of life must be found there. It wasn’t. It wasn’t found in the nuclear material or in the electrons spinning around it. It wasn’t in the empty space that makes up most of everything we can touch and see.

All these thousands of years of looking and no one has found the essence of life inside the common things around us. I knew there must be a force, a power, that was doing all this around me.

Was it God? Okay, why doesn’t He just reveal Himself to me? Why not?

If this force is a living God why all the mystery?

Wouldn’t it be more logical for Him to say, “Okay, here I am. I did all this. Now go about your business.”

Not until I met a special woman who I reluctantly went to a Bible study with did I start to understand any of this.

The people there were studying the Scriptures and I thought they must be searching for the same thing I was, but just haven’t found it yet.

The leader of the group read a passage from the Bible written by a man who used to hate Christians but was changed.

Changed in an amazing way.

His name was Paul and he wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Those words “grace” and “faith” fascinated me.

What did they really mean? Later that night she asked me to go see a movie, of course she tricked me into going to a Christian movie.

At the end of the show there was a short message by Billy Graham.

Here he was, a farm boy from North Carolina, explaining to me the very thing that I had been struggling with all along.

He said, “You can’t explain God scientifically, philosophically, or in any other intellectual way.”

You simply have to believe God is real. You have to have faith that what He said He did as it is written in the Bible. That He created the heavens and the earth, that He created the plants and animals, that He spoke all this into existence as it is written in the book of Genesis in the Bible. That He breathed life into a lifeless form and it became man. That He wanted to have a closer relationship with the people He created so He took on the form of a man who was God’s Son and came to the earth and lived among us.

This Man, Jesus, paid the debt of sin for those who will believe by being crucified on the cross.

How could it be so simple? Just believe? Have faith that all this was the truth? I went home that night and got little sleep. I struggled with the issue of God giving me grace – through faith to believe. That He was that force, that essence of life and creation of all that ever was and is. Then He came to me. I knew that I simply had to believe. It was by God’s grace that He showed me His love.

That He was the answer and that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for me so that I could believe. That I could have a relationship with Him. He revealed Himself to me in that moment. I called her to tell her that I now understand. That now I believe and want to give my life to Christ. She told me that she prayed that I would not sleep until I took that leap of faith and believed in God.

My life was changed forever.

Yes, forever, because now I can look forward to spending eternity in a wonderful place called heaven.
No longer do I concern myself with needing evidence to prove that Jesus could actually walk on water,
or that the Red Sea could have parted to allow the Israelites to pass through, or any of the dozen other seemingly impossible events written in the Bible.

God has proven Himself over and over in my life. He can reveal Himself to you also. If you find yourself seeking proof of His existence ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Take that leap of faith as a child, and truly believe in Him.

Open yourself up to His love by faith, not evidence.

The first priority is being a good pastor or preacher or a spiritual leader of any kind is to not neglect your own spiritual health.  Paul, an experience spiritual leader, wrote to Timothy, whom he was mentoring in I Timothy 4:16 (NASB) Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching.”  Anyone in spiritual leadership must constantly guard against spending so much time doing “ministry” that his own personal time with the Lord suffers.  Jesus taught his disciples in John 15:1-8 that fruit bearing was totally dependent upon their “remaining in Him,” because “apart from me you can do nothing.”  Make sure you spend time reading the Word of God for personal growth every day.  (Studying the Bible to get ready to preach or teach does not count.)  Maintain an honest and open prayer life and be quick to confess when you sin.  You will probably spend a lot of time encouraging others.  Make sure you have Christian friends that you meet with regularly who will encourage you.  Spiritual leadership is the job of a limited number of people in the body of Christ, but it does not make you more valuable or important than anyone else serving in the body.  Guard against pride.

Probably the three best books ever written on how to be a spiritual leader are I&2 Timothy and Titus.  Study them thoroughly.  The best book ever written on how to understand and deal with people is the Book of Proverbs.  Read it frequently.  Commentaries and books about the Bible can be helpful, but spend more time studying the Bible itself than you do reading books about it.  There are excellent study helps online such as Bible Hub and Bible Gateway.  Learn to use them to help you understand what individual verses actually mean.  You can also find Bible Dictionaries on line that will help you understand the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew words.  The Apostles in Acts 6:4 (NASB) said, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  You will notice they put prayer first.  You will also notice they delegated other responsibilities to stay focused on their primary responsibilities.  And finally, when teaching about the qualifications of spiritual leaders in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, Paul puts great emphasis on the leader’s children.  Make sure not to neglect your wife or children because you are so busy doing ministry.

            The Word of God says, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).  In order to have any relationship with God a person must come to God by faith through His Son, Jesus Christ.  We must believe in Jesus as our Savior, Whom God sent to die, to pay the punishment for our sins.  We are all sinners (Romans 3:23).  Both I John 2:2 and 4:10 talk about Jesus being the propitiation (which means just payment) for our sins.  I John 4:10 says, “He (God) loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by Me.”  I Corinthians 15:3&4 tells us the good news…”Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”  This is the Gospel which we must believe and we must receive.  John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”  John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.”

So our relationship to God can only begin by faith, by becoming a child of God through Jesus Christ.  Not only do we become His child, but He sends His Holy Spirit to dwell within us (John 14:16&17).  Colossians 1:27 says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Jesus also refers to us as His brothers.  He certainly wants us to know that our relationship with Him is family, but He wants us to be a close family, not just a family in name, but a family of close fellowship.  Revelation 3:20 describes our becoming a Christian as entering a relationship of fellowship.  It says, “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and dine with him, and he with Me.”

John chapter 3:1-16 says that when we become a Christian we are “born again” as newborn babies into His family.  As His new child, and just as when a human is born, we as Christian babies must grow in our relationship with Him.  As a baby grows, he learns more and more about his parent and becomes closer to his parent.

This is how it is for Christians, in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  As we learn about Him and grow our relationship becomes closer.  Scripture speaks a lot about growing and maturity, and it teaches us how to do this.  It is a process, not a one-time event, thus the term growing.  It is also called abiding.

1). First, I think, we do need to start with a decision.  We must decide to submit to God, to commit to following Him.  It is an act of our will to submit to God’s will if we want to be close to Him, but it is not just one-time, it is an abiding (continuous) commitment.  James 4:7 says, “submit yourselves to God.”  Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you, therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  This must start with a one-time choice but it is also a moment by moment choice just as it is in any relationship.

2). Secondly, and I think of utmost importance, is that we need to read and study the Word of God.  I Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.”  Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night…”  (Read also Psalm 1:2.)  Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV) tells us that we must get beyond babyhood and become mature by “constant use” of the Word of God.

This does not mean reading some book about the Word, which is usually someone’s opinion, no matter how smart they are reported to be, but reading and studying the Bible itself.  Acts 17:11 speaks about the Bereans saying, “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  We need to test everything anyone says by the Word of God not just take someone’s word for it because of their “credentials.”  We need to trust the Holy Spirit in us to teach us and really search the Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (NIV correctly handling) the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 3:16&17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete (mature)…”

This study and growing is daily and never ends till we are with Him in heaven, because our knowledge of “Him” leads to being more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Being close to God requires a daily walk of faith.  It is not a feeling.  There is no “quick fix” which we experience which gives us close fellowship with God.  Scripture teaches that we walk with God by faith, not by sight.  However, I believe that when we consistently walk by faith God makes Himself known to us in unexpected and precious ways.

Read 2 Peter 1:1-5.  It tells us that we grow in character as we spend time in the Word of God.  It says here that we are to add to faith goodness, then knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.  By spending time in study of the Word and in obedience to it we add to or build character in our lives.  Isaiah 28:10&13 tells us we learn precept upon precept, line upon line.  We do not know it all at once.  John 1:16 says “grace upon grace.”  We do not learn all at once as Christians in our spiritual life anymore than babies grow up all at once.  Just remember this is a process, growing, a walk of faith, not an event.  As I mentioned it is also called abiding in John chapter 15, abiding in Him and in His Word. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

3). The Book of I John talks about a relationship, our fellowship with God.  Fellowship with another person can be broken or interrupted by sinning against them and this is true of our relationship with God also.  I John 1:3 says, “Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  Verse 6 says, “If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness (sin), we lie and do not live by the truth.”  Verse 7 says, “If we walk in the light…we have fellowship with one another…”  In verse 9 we see that if sin disrupts our fellowship we need only to confess our sin to Him.  It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Please read this entire chapter.

We do not lose our relationship as His child, but we must maintain our fellowship with God by confessing any and all sins whenever we fail, as often as necessary.  We must also allow the Holy Spirit to give us victory over sins we tend to repeat; any sin.

4). We must not only read and study God’s Word but we must obey it, which I mentioned.  James 1:22-24 (NIV) states, “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the Word, but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”  Verse 25 says, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.”  This is so similar to Joshua 1:7-9 and Psalm 1:1-3.  Read also Luke 6:46-49.

5). Another part of this is that we need to become part of a local church, where we can hear and learn God’s Word and have fellowship with other believers.  This is a way in which we are helped to grow.  This is because each believer is given a special gift from the Holy Spirit, as a part of the church, also called “the body of Christ.”  These gifts are listed in various passages in Scripture such as Ephesians 4:7-12, I Corinthians 12:6-11, 28 and Romans 12:1-8.  The purpose for these gifts is to “build up the body (the church) for the work of the ministry(Ephesians 4:12).  The church will help us to grow and we in turn can help other believers to grow up and become mature and minister in God’s kingdom and lead other people to Christ.  Hebrews 10:25 says we should not forsake our assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another.

6). Another thing we should do is pray – pray for our needs and the needs of other believers and for the unsaved.  Read Matthew 6:1-10.  Philippians 4:6 says, “let your requests be made known unto God.”

7). Add to this that we should, as part of obedience, love one another (Read I Corinthians 13 and I John) and do good works. Good works cannot save us, but one cannot read Scripture without determining that we are to do good works and be kind to others.  Galatians 5:13 says, “by love serve one another.”  God says we are created to do good works.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

All of these things work together, to draw us closer to God and make us more like Christ. We become more mature ourselves and so do other believers.  They help us to grow.  Read 2 Peter 1 again.  The end of being closer to God is being trained and mature and loving one another.  In doing these things we are His disciples and disciples when mature are like their Master (Luke 6:40).

Pornography is an especially difficult addiction to overcome. The first step in overcoming being enslaved to any particular sin is to know God and have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life.

For that reason, let me go through the plan of salvation. You must admit you have sinned against God.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

You must believe the Gospel as given in I Corinthians 15:3&4, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

And finally, you must ask God to forgive you and ask Christ to come into your life. The Scriptures use many verses to express this concept. One of the simplest is Romans 10:13, “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” If you have honestly done these three things, you are a child of God. The next step in finding victory is knowing and believing what God did for you when you accepted Christ as your Savior.

You were a slave to sin. Romans 6:17b says, “you used to be slaves to sin.” Jesus said in John 8:34b, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” But the good news is that He also said in John 8:31&32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” He adds in verse 36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

2 Peter 1:3&4 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” God has given us everything we need to be godly, but it comes through our knowledge of Him and our understanding of His very great and precious promises.

First we need to know what God has done. In Romans chapter 5 we learn that what Adam did when he deliberately sinned against God has affected all of his descendants, every human being. Because of Adam, we are all born with a sinful nature.

But in Romans 5:10 we learn, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Forgiveness of sins comes through what Jesus did for us on the cross, power for overcoming sin comes through Jesus living His life through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul says in Romans 5:10 that what God did for us that saves us from the power of sin is even greater than what He did for us in reconciling us to Himself.

Notice the phrase “much more” in Romans 5:9, 10, 15 and 17. Paul puts it this way in Romans 6:6 (I’m using the translation in the margin of the NIV & NASB), “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

I John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Putting the two verses together, our sin nature is still there, but it’s power to control us has been broken.

Secondly, we need to believe what God says about the power of sin being broken in our lives. Romans 6:11 says, “In the same way, count yourselves as dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” A man who was a slave and has been set free, if he does not know he has been set free, will still obey his old master and for all practical purposes still be a slave.

Thirdly, we need to recognize that the power to live in victory does not come through determination or will power but through the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us once we have been saved. Galatians 5:16&17 says, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”

Notice verse 17 does not say that the Spirit cannot do what He wants or that the sinful nature cannot do what it wants, it says, “that you do not do what you want.”

God is infinitely more powerful than any sinful habit or addiction. But God will not force you to obey Him. You can choose to surrender your will to the will of the Holy Spirit and give Him complete control of your life, or you can pick and choose which sins you want to fight and end up fighting them on your own and losing. God is under no obligation to help you fight one sin if you are still holding on to other sins. Does the phrase, “you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” apply to an addiction to pornography?

Yes, it does. In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul lists the acts of the sinful nature. The first three are “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.” “Sexual immorality” is any sexual act between individuals other than a sexual act between a man and a woman who are married to each other. It also includes bestiality.

“Impurity” most literally means uncleanness.

“Dirty-minded” is a modern day expression that means the same thing.

“Debauchery” is shameless sexual conduct, a total absence of restraint in seeking sexual gratification.

Again, Galatians 5:16&17 says, “live by the Spirit.”

It has to be a way of life, not just asking God to help you with this particular problem. Romans 6:12 says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”

If you do not choose to give the Holy Spirit control of your life, you are choosing to let sin control you.

Romans 6:13 puts the concept of living by the Holy Spirit this way, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”

Fourthly, we need to recognize the difference between living under law and living under grace.

Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
The concept of living under law is relatively simple: if I keep all of God’s rules then God will be happy with me and accept me.

That is not how a person is saved. We are saved by grace through faith.

Colossians 2:6 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.”

Just as we could not keep God’s rules well enough to have Him accept us, so we cannot keep God’s rules well enough after we are saved to make Him be happy with us on that basis.

To get saved, we asked God to do something for us we could not do based on what Jesus did on the cross for us; to find victory over sin we ask the Holy Spirit to do something for us that we cannot do ourselves, defeat our sinful habits and addictions, knowing that we are accepted by God in spite of our failures.

Romans 8:3&4 puts it this way: “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”

If you are really serious about finding victory, here are some practical suggestions: First, spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God every day.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Second, spend time praying every day. Prayer is you talking to God and listening to God talk to you. If you are going to live in the Spirit, you are going to need to clearly hear His voice.

Third, make good Christian friends who will encourage you to walk with God.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Fourth, find a good church and a small group Bible Study if you can and participate regularly.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

There are two more things I would suggest for anyone struggling with an especially difficult sin issue like a pornography addiction.

James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

This passage does not mean talking about your sins in a public church meeting, although it might be appropriate in a small men’s meeting for people struggling with the same problem, but it seems to mean finding a man you can totally trust and giving him permission to ask you at least weekly how you are doing in your struggle against pornography.

Knowing that not only are you going to have to confess your sin to God but also to a man you trust and admire can be a powerful deterrent.

The other thing I would suggest for anyone struggling with an especially difficult sin issue is found in Romans 13:12b (NASB), “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

A man trying to quit smoking would be extremely stupid to keep a supply of his favorite cigarettes in the house.

A man struggling with an alcohol addiction has to avoid bars and places where alcohol is served. You don’t say where you view pornography, but you must absolutely cut off your access to it.

If it is magazines, burn them. If it is something you watch on television, get rid of the television.
If you watch it on your computer, get rid of your computer, or at least any pornography stored in it and get rid of your internet access. Just like a man with a craving for a cigarette at 3 am will probably not get up, get dressed, and go out and buy one, so making it extremely hard to view pornography will make it less likely you will fail.

If you don’t eliminate your access, you’re not really serious about quitting.

What if you do slip up and view pornography again? Immediately accept full responsibility for what you have done and confess it immediately to God.

I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

When we confess sin, not only does God forgive us, He promises to purify us. Always confess any sin immediately. Pornography is a very powerful addiction. Half-hearted measures will not work.

But God is infinitely powerful and if you know and believe what He has done for you, accept full responsibility for your actions, rely on the Holy Spirit and not your own strength and follow the practical suggestions I have made, victory is certainly possible.

If victory over sin is a great step in our walk with the Lord, we might say that victory over temptation takes it a step closer: that of victory before we sin.

First let me say this: a thought which enters your mind is not in itself sin.
It becomes sin when you consider it, entertain the thought and act on it.
As discussed in the question about victory over sin, we as believers in Christ, have been given power for victory over sin.

We also have the power to resist temptation: the power to flee from sin. Read I John 2:14-17.
Temptation can come from several places:
1) Satan or his demons can tempt us,
2) other people can draw us into sin and, as Scripture says in James 1:14&15, we can be 3) drawn away by our own lusts (desires) and enticed.

Please read the following Scriptures concerning temptation:
Genesis 3:1-15; I John 2:14-17; Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:12-15; I Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 6:13 and 26:41.

James 1:13 tells us an important fact.
It says, “Let no one say when he is tempted ‘I am tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” God does not tempt us but He does allow us to be tempted.

Temptation comes from Satan, others or ourselves, not God.
The end of James 2:14 says that when we are enticed and sin, the result is death; separation from God and eventual physical death,

I John 2:16 tells us that there are three major areas of temptation:

1) the lusts of the flesh: wrong actions or things that satisfy our physical desires;
2) the lusts of the eyes, things which look appealing, wrong things that appeal to us and lead us away from God, wanting things which are not ours to have and
3) the pride of life, wrong ways to exalt ourselves or our arrogant pride.

Let’s look at Genesis 3:1-15 and also at Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4.
Both of these passages of Scripture teach us what to look out for when we are tempted and how to overcome those temptations.

Read Genesis 3:1-15 It was Satan who tempted Eve, so he could lead her away from God into sin.

She was tempted in all these areas:
She saw the fruit as something appealing to her eyes, something to satisfy her hunger and Satan said it would make her like God, knowing good and evil.
Instead of obeying and trusting God and turning to God for help, her mistake was to listen to Satan’s insinuations, lies and subtle suggestions that God was keeping ‘something good’ from her.

Satan also enticed her by questioning what God had said.
“Has God indeed said?” he questioned.
Satan’s temptations are deceptive and he misquoted God’s words.
Satan’s questions cause her to mistrust God’s love and His character.
“You will not die,” he lied; “God knows your eyes will be opened” and “you will be like God,” appealing to her ego.

Instead of being thankful for all God had given her, she took the only thing God had forbidden and “gave it also to her husband.”
The lesson here is to listen to and to trust God.
God does not keep things from us that are good for us.
The resulting sin led to death (which is to be understood as separation from God) and eventual physical death. That moment they began to die physically.

Knowing that yielding to temptation leads down this road, causing us to lose fellowship with God, and leading also to guilt, (Read 1 John 1) should certainly help us to say no.
Adam and Eve did not seem to understand Satan’s tactics. We have their example, and we ought to learn from them. Satan uses the same tricks on us. He lies about God. He portrays God as deceptive, a liar and unloving.
We need to trust in God’s love and say no to Satan’s lies.
Resisting Satan and temptation is done in large part as an act of faith in God.
We need to know that this deception is Satan’s trick and that he is the liar.
John 8:44 says Satan “is a liar and the father of lies.”
God’s word says, “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Philippians 2:9&10 says “be anxious for nothing.. for He cares for you.”
Be watchful of anything which adds to, subtracts from or distorts God’s word.
Anything which questions or changes Scriptures or God’s character has Satan’s stamp on it.
In order to know these things, we need to know and understand Scripture.
If you do not know the truth it is easy to be misled and deceived.
Deceived is the operative word here.
I believe that knowing and using Scripture correctly is the most valuable weapon God has given to us to use in resisting temptation.

It enters into almost every aspect of avoiding Satan’s lies.
The best example of this is the Lord Jesus Himself. (Read Matthew 4:1-12.) Christ’s temptation was related to His relationship to His Father and the Father’s will for Him.

Satan used Jesus’ own needs when tempting Him.
Jesus was tempted to satisfy His own desires and pride instead of doing God’s will.
As we read in I John, He also was tempted with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

Jesus is tempted after forty days of fasting. He is tired and hungry.
We are often tempted when we are tired or weak and our temptations are often about our relationship to God.
Let’s look at Jesus’ example. Jesus said He came to do the Father’s will, that He and the Father were one. He knew why He was sent to earth. (Read Philippians chapter 2.

Jesus came to be like us and to be our Savior.
Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, and being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” Satan enticed Jesus to follow his suggestions and desires rather than God’s.

(He tried to get Jesus to meet a legitimate need by doing what he said instead of waiting for God to meet His need, thus following Satan rather than God.

These temptations were about doing things Satan’s way, rather than God’s.
If we follow Satan’s lies and suggestions we cease to follow God and are following Satan.
It’s either one or the other. We then fall into a downward spiral of sin and death.
First Satan tempted Him to demonstrate (prove) His power and deity.
He said, since you are hungry, use your power to satisfy your hunger.
Jesus was tempted so He could be our perfect mediator and intercessor.
God allows Satan to test us to help us become mature.
Scripture says in Hebrews 5:8 that Christ learned obedience “from what he suffered.”
The name devil means slanderer and the devil is subtle.
Jesus resists Satan’s subtle trick to do his bidding by using Scripture.
He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
(Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus brings it back to the subject, doing God’s will, putting this above His own needs.

I found Wycliffe’s Bible Commentary very helpful on page 935 commenting on Matthew chapter 4, “Jesus refused to work a miracle to avoid personal suffering when such suffering was part of God’s will for Him.”

The commentary emphasized the Scripture which said Jesus was “‘led up of the Spirit’ to the wilderness for the specific purpose of allowing Jesus to be tested.”
Jesus was successful because He knew, He understood and He used Scripture.
God gives us Scripture as a weapon to defend ourselves against Satan’s fiery darts.
All Scripture is inspired by God; the better we know it the better we are prepared to battle Satan’s schemes.

The devil tempts Jesus a second time.
Here Satan actually uses Scripture to try and trick Him.
(Yes, Satan does know Scripture and uses it against us, but he misquotes it and uses it out of context, that is, not for its proper use or purpose or not in the way it was intended.) 2 Timothy 2:15 says to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God,…rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The NASB translation says “accurately handling the word of truth.”
Satan takes a verse from its intended use (and leaves part of it out) and tempts Jesus to exalt and display His Deity and God’s care of Him.

I think he was trying to appeal to pride here.
The devil takes Him to a pinnacle of the temple and says “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down for it is written ‘He will give his angels charge concerning you; and on their hands they will bear you up.'” Jesus, understanding the Scripture, and Satan’s trickery, again used Scripture to defeat Satan saying, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

We are not to be presumptuous or test God, expecting God to protect foolish behavior.
We can’t just randomly quote Scripture, but must use it correctly and properly.
In the third temptation the devil is bold. Satan offers Him the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will bow down and worship him. Many believe that the significance of this temptation is that Jesus could bypass the suffering of the cross which was the will of the Father.

Jesus knew that the kingdoms would be His in the end. Jesus uses Scripture again and says, “You will worship God alone and serve only Him.” Remember Philippians chapter 2 says Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient to the cross.”

I like what the Wycliffe bible Commentary has to say of Jesus reply: “It is written, again pointing to the totality of Scripture as the guide for conduct and basis for faith” (and may I add, for victory over temptation), “Jesus repulsed the mightiest blows by Satan, not by a thunderbolt from heaven, but by the written Word of God, employed in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, a means available to every Christian.” God’s word says in James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Remember, Jesus knew the Word and used it properly, correctly and accurately.
We must do the same. We can’t understand Satan’s tricks, schemes and lies unless we know and understand the truth and Jesus said in John 17:17 “Thy word is truth.”

Other passages that teach us the use of Scripture in this area of temptation are: 1). Hebrews 5:14 which says we need to be mature and be “accustomed” to the Word, so our senses are trained to discern good and evil.”

2). Jesus taught His disciples that when He left them the Spirit would bring all the things He taught them to their remembrance. He taught them in Luke 21:12-15 that they should not worry about what to say when brought before accusers.

In much the same way, I believe, He causes us to remember His Word when we need it in our battle against Satan and his followers, but first we have to know it.

3). Psalm 119:11 says “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”
In conjunction with the previous thought, the working of the Spirit and the Word, the memorized Scripture remembered can both forewarn us and give us a weapon when we are tempted.

Another aspect of Scripture’s importance is that it teaches us actions to take to help us resist temptation.

One of these Scriptures is Ephesians 6:10-15. Please read this passage.
It says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age; against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The NASB translation says “stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
The NKJB says “put on the full armor of God that you may be able to resist (withstand) Satan’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6 describes the pieces of armor as follows: (And they are there to help us stand firm against temptation.)

1. “gird yourself with truth.” Remember Jesus said, “Thy word is truth.”

It says “gird” – we need to bind ourselves with God’s word, see the similarity to hiding God’s word in our hearts.

2. “put on the breastplate of righteousness.
We protect ourselves from Satan’s accusations and doubts (similar to him questioning Jesus’ deity).
We must have Christ’s righteousness, not some form of our own good deeds.
Romans 13:14 says “put on Christ.” Philippians 3:9 says “not having my own righteousness, but the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

According to Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27 says “we are clothed in His righteousness.”

3. Verse 15 says to have “your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel.”
When we study to prepare to share the gospel with others, it strengthens us and reminds us of all Christ has done for us and encourages us as we share it and see God using it in the lives of others who come to know Him as we share.

4. Use the Word of God as a shield to protect yourself from Satan’s fiery darts, his accusations, just as Jesus did.

5. Protect your mind with the helmet of salvation.
Knowing the Word of God assures us of our salvation and gives us peace and faith in God.
Our security in Him strengthens us and helps us lean on Him when we are attacked and tempted.
The more we saturate ourselves with Scripture the stronger we become.

6. Verse 17 says to use Scripture as a sword to fight Satan’s attacks and His lies.
I believe all of the pieces of armor relate to Scripture either as a shield or sword to defend ourselves, resisting Satan as Jesus did; or because of its teaching us as in righteousness or salvation making us strong.
I believe as we use Scripture accurately God also gives us His power and strength.
A final command in Ephesians says to “add prayer” to our armor and to “be watchful.”
If we look also at the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6 we will see that Jesus taught us what an important weapon prayer is in resisting temptation.
It says we should pray that God will “lead us not into temptation,” and will “deliver us from evil.”
(Some translations say “deliver us from the evil one.”)
Jesus gave us this prayer as our example of how to pray and what to pray for.
These two phrases show us that praying for deliverance from temptation and the evil one are very important and should become a part of our prayer life and our weaponry against Satan’s schemes, that is,

1) keeping us away from temptation and
2) delivering us when Satan tempts us.

It shows us we need God’s help and power and that He is willing and able to give them.
In Matthew 26:41 Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray so they would not enter into temptation.
2 Peter 2:9 says “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly (righteous) from temptation.”
Pray that God will rescue before and when you are tempted.
I think a lot of us miss this vital part of the Lord’s prayer.
I Corinthians 10:13 says that the temptations we face are common to all of us, and that God will make a way of escape for us. We need to look for this.

Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus was tempted in all points just as we are (i.e. the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life).

Since He faced all areas of temptation, He is able to be our advocate, mediator and our intercessor.
We can come to Him as our Helper in all areas of temptation.
If we come to Him, He intercedes on our behalf before the Father and gives us His power and help.
Ephesians 4:27 says “neither give place to the devil,” in other words, don’t give Satan opportunities to tempt you.

Here again Scripture is there to help us by teaching us principles to follow.
One of those teachings is to flee or avoid sins, and to stay away from people and situations which might lead to temptation and sin. Both the Old Testament, especially Proverbs and Psalms, and also many New Testament epistles tell us about things to avoid and flee.

I believe a good place to start is with a “besetting sin,” a sin you find difficult to overcome.
(Read Hebrews 12:1-4.)
As we said in our lessons on overcoming sin, the first step is to confess such sins to God (I John 1:9) and work on it by resisting when Satan tempts you.
If you fail again, start over and confess it again and ask the Spirit of God to give you victory.
(Repeat as often as necessary.)
When you are confronted with such a sin it is a good idea to use a concordance and look up and study as many verses as you can on what God has to teach on the subject so you can obey what God says. Some examples follow:
I Timothy 4:11-15 tells us that women who are idle may become busybodies and gossips and slanderers because they have too much time on their hands.

Paul encourages them to marry and be workers in their own homes in order to avoid such sin.
Titus 2:1-5 tells women not to slander, to be discrete.
Proverbs 20:19 shows us that slander and gossip go together.

It says “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.”

Proverbs 16:28 says “a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs says “a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who has a faithful spirit conceals a matter.”
2 Corinthians 12:20 and Romans 1:29 show us whisperers are not pleasing to god.
As another example, take drunkenness. Read Galatians 5:21 and Romans 13:13.
I Corinthians 5:11 tells us “not to associate with any so called brother who is immoral, covetous, an idolater, a reviler or a drunkard or a swindler, not even to eat with such a one.”

Proverbs 23:20 says “don’t mix with drunkards.”
I Corinthians 15:33 says “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Are you tempted to be lazy or look for easy money by stealing or robbery?
Remember Ephesians 4:27 says “give no place to the devil.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10&11 (NASB) says “we used to give you this order: “if anyone will not work, neither let him eat…some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all but acting like busybodies.”

It goes on to say in verse 14 “if anyone does not obey our instructions… do not associate with him.”
I Thessalonians 4:11 says “let him labor working with his own hands.”
Simply put, get a job and avoid idle people.
This is a great example for sluggards and anyone who tries to get rich through any illegitimate means such as fraud, stealing, swindling, etc..

Read also I Timothy 6:6-10; Philippians 4:11; Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 30:8&9; Matthew 6:11 and many other verses. Idleness is a danger zone.

Learn what God says in the Scripture, walk in its light and don’t be tempted by evil, on this or any other topic which tempts you to sin.

Jesus is our example, He had nothing.
Scripture says He had no place to lay His head. He sought only His Father’s will.
He gave it all up to die – for us.

I Timothy 6:8 says “if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.”
In verse 9 he relates this to temptation by saying, “people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

It says more, read it. What a good example of how knowing and understanding and conforming to Scripture helps us overcome temptation.

Obedience to the Word is the key to overcoming any temptation.
Another example is anger. Do you easily become angry.
Proverbs 20:19-25 says don’t associate with a man given to anger.
Proverbs 22:24 says don’t “go with a hot tempered man.” Read also Ephesians 4:26.
Other warnings of situations to flee or avoid (actually run from) are:

1. Youthful lusts – 2 Timothy 2:22
2. Lust for money – I Timothy 6:4
3. Immorality and adulterers or adulteresses – I Corinthians 6:18 (Proverbs repeats this over and over.)
4. Idolatry – I Corinthians 10:14
5. Sorcery and Witchcraft – Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Galatians 5:20 2 Timothy 2:22 gives us further instruction by telling us to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

Doing this will help us resist temptation.
Remember 2 Peter 3:18. It tells us to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That will help us discern good and evil, including helping us discern Satan’s schemes and keeping us from stumbling.

Another aspect is taught from Ephesians 4:11-15. Verse 15 says to grow up in Him. The context of this is that this is accomplished as we are part of the body of Christ, i.e. the church.

We are to help one another by teaching, loving and encouraging one another.
Verse 14 says that one result is that we won’t be tossed about by craftiness and deceitful schemes.
(Now who would be the crafty deceiver who would by himself and through others use such trickery?) As a part of the body, the church, we are also helped by giving and accepting correction from one another.

We must be careful and gentle in how we do this, and know the facts so we are not judging.
Proverbs and Matthew give instructions on this subject. Look them up and study them.
As an example, Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a fault (or caught in any trespass), you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Tempted to what, you ask. Tempted to pride, arrogance, haughtiness, or any sin, even the same sin.
Be careful. Remember Ephesians 4:26. Don’t give Satan an opportunity, a place. As you can see, Scripture plays the crucial role in all of this.

We should read it, memorize it, understand its teachings, directions and power, and quote it, using it as our sword, obeying and following its message and teachings. Read 2 Peter 1:1-10. Knowledge of Him, found in Scripture, gives us everything we need for life and godliness. This includes resisting temptation. The context here is the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ which comes from Scripture. Verse 9 says we are partakers of the divine nature and the NIV concludes “so we may… escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Once again we see the connection between Scripture and overcoming or escaping the temptations of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life.
So in Scripture (if we look and understand it) we have the promise of being partakers of His nature (with all His Power) to escape temptation. We have the Holy Spirit’s power to gain victory.
I just received an Easter card in which this verse is quoted, “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” 2 Corinthians 2:16.

How timely.

Galatians and other New Testament Scriptures have lists of sins we are to avoid. Read Galatians 5:16-19 They are “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these.”

Following this in verses 22&23 is the fruit of the Spirit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

This passage of Scripture is very interesting in that it gives us a promise in verse 16.
“Walk in the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
If we do it God’s way, we won’t do it our way, by God’s power, intervention and change.
Remember the Lord’s prayer. We can ask Him to keep us from temptation and deliver us from the evil one.
Verse 24 says “those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.”
Note how often the term lusts is repeated.
Romans 13:14 puts it this way. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” This sums it up.
The key is to resist the former (lusts) and put on the latter (fruit of the Spirit), or put on the latter and you won’t fulfill the former.
This is a promise. If we walk in love, patience and self-control, how can we hate, murder, steal, be angry or slander.
Just as Jesus put His Father first and did the Father’s will, so should we.
Ephesians 4:31&32 says let bitterness, wrath and anger and slander be put away; and be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. Correctly translated, Ephesians 5:18 says “be ye being filled with the Spirit. This is a continuous effort.

A preacher I once heard said, “Love is something you do.”
A good example of putting on love would be if there is someone you don’t like, whom you are angry with, do something loving and kind for them instead of venting your anger.
Pray for them.
Actually the principle is in Matthew 5:44 where it says “pray for those who despitefully use you.”
With God’s power and help, love will replace and displace your sinful anger.
Try it, God says if we walk in the light, in love and in the Spirit (these are inseparable) it will happen.
Galatians 5:16. God is able.

2 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober, be vigilant (on the alert), your adversary the devil prowls around, seeking whom he may devour.”
James 4:7 says “resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Verse 10 says God Himself will perfect, strengthen, confirm, establish and settle you.”
James 1:2-4 says to “consider it all joy when you encounter trials (KJV divers temptations) knowing it produces endurance (patience) and let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

God allows us to be tempted, tried and tested to create patience and endurance and completeness in us, but we must resist it and let it work God’s purpose in our life.

Ephesians 5:1-3 says “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
James 1:12&13 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”

IS TEMPTATION SIN?

Someone has asked, “Is temptation in and of itself sin.” The short answer is “no.”

The best example is Jesus.

Scripture tells us that Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, completely without sin. I Peter 1:19 speaks of Him as “a lamb without blemish or defect.”

Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.”

In the Genesis account of the sin of Adam and Eve, we see Eve was deceived and tempted to disobey God, but even though she listened and thought about it, neither she nor Adam actually sinned until they ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

I Timothy 2:14 (NKJB) says, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.”

James 1:14&15 says “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

So, no, being tempted is not sin, sin occurs when you act on the temptation.

I am not exactly sure what you are looking for, so I will try to add to the subject, but if you would answer back and be more specific, maybe we can help.  My answers will be from a Scriptural (Biblical) view unless otherwise stated.

Words in any language such as “life” or “death” can have different meanings and usages in both language and Scripture.  Understanding the meaning depends on the context and how it is used.

For example, as I related previously, “death” in Scripture can mean separation from God, as shown in the account in Luke 16:19-31 of the unrighteous man who was separated from the righteous man by a great gulf, one going to eternal life with God, the other to a place of torment.  John 10:28 explains by saying, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”  The body is buried and decays.  Life can also mean just physical life.

In John chapter three we have Jesus’ visit with Nicodemus, discussing life as being born and eternal life as being born again.  He contrasts physical life as being “born of water” or “born of the flesh” with spiritual/eternal life as being “born of the Spirit.”   Here in verse 16 is where it speaks of perishing as opposed to eternal life.  Perishing is connected to judgment and condemnation as opposed to eternal life.  In verses 16&18 we see the deciding factor that determines these consequences is whether or not you believe in God’s Son, Jesus.  Notice the present tense.   The believer has eternal life.  Read also John 5:39; 6:68 and 10:28.

Modern day examples of the use of a word, in this case “life,” might be phrases such as “this is the life,” or “get a life” or the “good life,” just to illustrate how words can be used.  We understand their meaning by their use.  These are just a few examples of the use of the word “life.”

Jesus did this when He said in John 10:10, “I came that they might have life and might have it more abundantly.”  What did He mean? It means more than being saved from sin and perishing in hell.  This verse refers to how “here and now” eternal life should be – abundant, amazing!  Does that mean a “perfect life,” with everything we want?  Obviously not!  What does it mean?  To understand this and other puzzling questions we all have about “life” or “death” or any other question we must be willing to study all of Scripture, and that requires effort.  I mean really working on our part.

This is what the Psalmist (Psalm 1:2) recommended and what God commanded Joshua to do (Joshua 1:8).  God wants us to meditate on the Word of God.  That means study it and think about it.

John chapter three teaches us that we are “born again” of the “spirit.”  Scripture teaches us that God’s Spirit comes to live within us (John 14:16&17; Romans 8:9).  It is interesting that in I Peter 2:2 it says, “as sincere babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.”  As baby Christians we don’t know everything and God is telling us that the only way to grow is to know the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I would caution you that this does not mean getting answers about God’s word by listening to others or reading books “about” the Bible.  A lot of these are people’s opinions and while they may be good, what if their opinions are wrong?  Acts 17:11 gives us a very important, God given guideline: Compare all opinions with the book that is totally true, the Bible itself.  IN Acts 17:10-12 Luke complements the Bereans because they tested Paul’s message saying they “searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so.”  This is exactly what we should always do and the more we search the more we will know what is true and the more we will know the answers to our questions and know God Himself.  The Bereans tested even the Apostle Paul.

Here are a couple interesting verses relating to life and knowing God’s Word.  John 17:3 says, “This is eternal life that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.”  What is the importance of knowing Him.  Scripture teaches that God wants us to be like Him, so we need to know what He is like.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Here is a study in itself since several ideas are mentioned in other Scriptures also, such as “mirror” and “glory to glory” and the idea of being “transformed into His image.”

There are tools we can use (many of which are easily and freely available on line) to search out words and Scriptural facts in the Bible.  There are also things God’s Word teaches that we need to do to grow into mature Christians and be more like Him.  Here is a list of things to do and following that are some on line helps that will help in finding answers to questions you may have.

Steps to Growth:

1. Fellowship with believers in church or a small group (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24&25).
2. Pray: read Matthew 6:5-15 for a pattern of and teaching about prayer.
3. Study Scriptures as I have shared here.
4. Obey the Scriptures. “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only,” (James 1:22-25).
5. Confess sin: Read 1 John 1:9 (confess means to acknowledge or admit). I like to say, “as often as necessary.”

I like to do word studies.  A Bible Concordance of Bible Words helps, but you can find most, if not all, of what you need on the internet.  The internet has Bible Concordances, Greek and Hebrew interlinear Bibles (the Bible in the original languages with a word for word translation underneath), Bible Dictionaries (such as Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Greek Words) and Greek and Hebrew word studies.  Two of the best sites are www.biblegateway.com and www.biblehub.com.  I hope this helps.  Short of learning Greek and Hebrew, these are the best ways to find out what the Bible is really saying.

The first question to answer in regard to your question is what is a true Christian, because many people can call themselves Christians who have no idea what the Bible says a Christian is. Opinions differ as to how one becomes a Christian according to churches, denominations or even the world. Are you a Christian as defined by God or a “so-called” Christian. We have only one authority, God, and He speaks to us through the Scripture, because it is the truth. John 17:17 says, “Thy Word is truth!” What did Jesus say we must do to become a Christian (to be a part of God’s family – to be saved).

First, becoming a true Christian is not about joining a church or religious group or keeping some rules or sacraments or other requirements. It is not about where you were born as in a “Christian” nation or to a Christian family, nor by doing some ritual such as being baptized either as a child or as an adult. It is not about doing good works to earn it. Ephesians 2:8&9 says,” For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works…” Titus 3:5 says, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus said in John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Let’s look at what the Word says about becoming a Christian. The Bible says “they” were first called Christians in Antioch. Who were “they.” Read Acts 17:26. “They” were the disciples (the twelve) but also all those who believed in and followed Jesus and what He taught. They were also called believers, God’s children, the church and other descriptive names. According to Scripture, the Church is His “body,” not an organization or building, but the people who believe in His name.

So let’s see what Jesus taught about becoming a Christian; what it takes to enter His Kingdom and His family. Read John 3:1-20 and also verses 33-36. Nicodemus came to Jesus one night. It is apparent that Jesus knew his thoughts and what his heart needed. He told him, “You must be born again” in order to enter the Kingdom of God. He told him an Old Testament story of the “serpent on a pole”; that if the sinning Children of Israel went out to look at it, they would be “healed.” This was a picture of Jesus, that He must be lifted up on the cross to pay for our sins, for our forgiveness. Then Jesus said those who believed in Him (in His punishment in our place for our sins) would have everlasting life. Read John 3:4-18 again. These believers are “born again” by God’s Spirit. John 1:12&13 says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name,” and using the same language as John 3, “who were born not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” These are “they” that are “Christians,” who receive what Jesus taught. It’s all about what you believe Jesus did. I Corinthians 15:3&4 says, “the gospel which I preached to you…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day…”

This is the way, the only way to become and be called a Christian. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me.” Read also Acts 4:12 and Romans 10:13. You must be born again into God’s family. You must believe. Many twist the meaning of being born again. They create their own interpretation and “re-write” Scripture to force it to include themselves, saying it means some spiritual awakening or life renewing experience, but Scripture clearly says we are born again and become God’s children by believing in what Jesus has done for us. We must understand God’s way by knowing and comparing Scriptures and giving up our ideas for the truth. We cannot substitute our ideas for God’s word, God’s plan, God’s way. John 3:19&20 says men don’t come to the light “lest their deeds should be reproved.”

The second part of this discussion must be to see things as God does. We must accept what God says in His Word, the Scriptures. Remember, all of us have sinned, doing what is wrong in God’s sight. Scripture is clear about your life style but mankind chooses either to just say, “that’s not what it means,” ignore it, or say, “God made me this way, it’s normal.” You must remember that God’s world has been corrupted and cursed when sin entered the world. It is no longer as God intended. James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has been guilty of all.” It doesn’t matter what our sin may be.

I have heard many definitions of sin. Sin goes beyond what is detestable or displeasing to God; it is what is not good for us or for others. Sin causes our thinking to be turned upside down. What is sin is seen as good and justice becomes perverted (see Habakkuk 1:4). We see good as evil and evil as good. Bad people become victims and good people become evil: haters, unloving, unforgiving or intolerant .
Here is a list of Scripture verses on the subject you are asking about. They tell us what God thinks. If you choose to explain them away and continue to do what displeases God we can’t tell you it is OK. You are subject to God; He alone can judge. No argument of ours will convince you. God gives us free will to choose to follow Him or not to, but we pay the consequences. We believe Scripture is explicit on the subject. Read these verses: Romans 1:18-32, especially verses 26&27. Read also Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; I Corinthians 6:9&10; I Timothy 1:8-10; Genesis 19:4-8 (and Judges 19:22-26 where the men of Gibeah said the same thing as the men of Sodom); Jude 6&7 and Revelation 21:8 and 22:15.

The good news is that when we accepted Christ Jesus as our Savior, we were forgiven for all our sin. Micah 7:19 says, “Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” We don’t want to condemn anyone but to point them to the One Who loves and forgives, because we all sin. Read John 8:1-11. Jesus says, “Whoever is without sin let him cast the first stone.” I Corinthians 6:11 says, “Such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” We are “accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). If we are true believers we must overcome sin by walking in the light and acknowledging our sin, any sin we commit. Read I John 1:4-10. I John 1:9 was written to believers. It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If you are not a true believer, you can be (Revelation 22:17). Jesus wants you to come to Him and He will not cast you out (John 6:37).
As seen in I John 1:9 if we are God’s children He wants us to walk with Him and grow in grace and “be holy as He is holy” (I Peter 1:16). We must overcome our failures.

God does not abandon or disown His children, unlike human fathers can. John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.” John 3:15 says, “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This promise is repeated three times in John 3 alone. See also John 6:39 and Hebrews 10:14. Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 10:17 says, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.” See also Romans 5:9 and Jude 24. 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” I Thessalonians 5:9-11 says, “we are not appointed to wrath but to receive salvation…so that…we may live together with Him.”

If you read and study Scripture you will learn that God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness does not give us a license or freedom to continue to sin or live in a way which displeases God. Grace is not like a “get out of jail free card.” Romans 6:1&2 says, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” God is a good and perfect Father and as such if we disobey and rebel and do what He hates, He will correct and discipline us. Please read Hebrews 12:4-11. It says He will chasten and scourge His children (verse 6). Hebrews 12:10 says, “God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness.” In verse 11 it says of discipline, “It produces a harvest of holiness and peace to those who have been trained by it.”
When David sinned against God, he was forgiven when he acknowledged his sin, but he suffered the consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. When Saul sinned he lost his kingdom. God punished Israel by captivity for their sin. Sometimes God allows us to pay the consequences of our sin to discipline us. See also Galatians 5:1.

Since we are answering your question, we are giving an opinion based on what we believe the Scripture teaches. This is not a dispute about opinions. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” God does not hate the sinner. Just as the Son did with the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, we want them to come to Him for forgiveness. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We have had another question that we feel is related: The question is, “How do I escape Hell?”  The reason the questions are related is because God has told us in the Bible that He has provided the way to escape the death penalty of our sin and that is through a Savior – Jesus Christ our Lord, because a PERFECT MAN  had to take our place.   First we must consider who deserves Hell and why we deserve it.  The answer is, as Scripture clearly teaches,  that all people are sinners.  Romans 3:23 says, “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  That means you and me  and everyone else.  Isaiah 53:6 says “all we like sheep have gone astray.”

Read Romans 1:18-31, read it carefully, to understand the sinful downfall of man and his depravity.  Many specific sins are listed here ,but these are not even all of them.  It also explains that the start of our sin is about rebellion against God, just as it was with Satan.

Romans 1:21 says, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  Verse 25 says, “They exchanged the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” and verse 26 says, “They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God” and verse 29 says, “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.”  Verse 30 says, “They invent ways of doing evil,” and verse 32 says, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”  Read Romans 3:10-18, parts of which I quote here, “ There is none righteous, no not one … no one seeks God …all have turned away … no one who does good … and  there is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Isaiah 64:6 says, “ all our righteous acts are as filthy rags.”  Even our good deeds are soiled with bad motives etc.  Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”  Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.”  We deserve God’s punishment.

Revelation 20:13-15 clearly teaches us that death means Hell when it says, “Each person was judged according to what he had done…the lake of fire is the second death…if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

How do we escape?  Praise the Lord!  God loves us and made a way of escape.  John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

First we must make one thing very clear.  There is only one God.  He sent one Savior, God the Son.  In the Old Testament Scripture God shows us through His dealings with Israel that He alone is God, and that they (and us) are not to worship any other God.  Deuteronomy 32:38 says, “See now, I am He.  There is no god beside me.”  Deuteronomy 4:35 says, “The Lord is God, besides Him there is no other.”  Verse 38 says, “The Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  There is no other.”  Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13 when He said in Matthew 4:10, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”  Isaiah 43:10-12 says, “ ‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.  Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.  I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no Savior…You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am God.’ “

God exists in three Persons, a concept we can neither fully understand nor explain, which we call the Trinity.  This fact is understood throughout Scripture, but not explained.  The plurality of God is understood from the very first verse of Genesis where it says God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.  Elohim is a plural noun.  Echad, a Hebrew word used to describe God, which is usually translated “one,” can also mean a single unit or more than one acting or being as one.  Thus the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God.  Genesis 1:26 makes this clearer than anything else in Scripture, and since all three persons are referred to in Scripture as God, we know that all  three persons are part of the Trinity.  In  Genesis 1:26  it says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,” showing plurality.  As clear as we can possibly understand who God is, Whom we are to worship, He is a plural unity.

So God has a Son who is equally God.  Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us He is equal to the Father, His exact image.  In  verse 8 , where God the Father is speaking, it says, “about the Son He said, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever.’ “   God here calls His Son God.  Hebrews 1:2 speaks of Him as the “acting creator” saying, “through Him He made the universe.”  This is made even stronger in John chapter 1:1-3 when John speaks of the “Word” (later identified as the man Jesus) saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. ”  This person – the Son – was the Creator (verse 3): “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”  Then in verse 29-34 (which describes Jesus’ baptism) John identifies Jesus as the Son of God.  In verse 34 he (John) says of Jesus, “I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God.”  The four Gospel writers all testify that Jesus is God’s Son.  Luke’s account (in Luke 3:21&22) says, “Now when all the people were being baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove, and a voice came from heaven saying, ‘You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.’ “  See also Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:10 and John 1:31-34.

Both Joseph and Mary identified Him as God.  Joseph was told to name Him Jesus “for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).  The name Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) means Savior or  ‘the Lord saves’.  In Luke 2:30-35 Mary is told to name her Son Jesus and the angel told her, “the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.” In Matthew 1:21 Joseph is told, “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”   This clearly puts the third Person of the Trinity into the picture.  Luke records that this also was told to Mary.  Thus God has a Son (Who is equally God) and thus God sent His Son (Jesus) to be a person to save us from Hell, from God’s wrath and punishment. John 3:16a says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

Galatians 4:4&5a says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.”  I John 4:14 says, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  God tells us Jesus is the only way to escape eternal torment in Hell.  I Timothy 2:5 says,” For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for us all, the testimony given at the proper time.”  Acts 4:12 says, “nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.”

If you read the Gospel of John, Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, sent by the Father, to do His Father’s will and give His life for us.  He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me (John 14:6).    Romans 5:9 (NKJV) says, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him…we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.”  Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”  John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment but is passed from death to life.”

John 3:16 says, “he that believes on Him will not perish.”  John 3:17 says, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him,” but verse 36 says, “whoever rejects the Son will not see life for God’s wrath remains on him.”  I Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God has provided a way to escape His wrath in Hell, but He provided only ONE WAY and we must do it His way.  So how did this come to pass?  How does this work? To understand this we must go back to the very beginning where God promised to send us a Savior.

From the time man sinned, even from creation, God planned a way and promised His salvation from sin’s consequences.  2 Timothy 1:9&10 says, “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus.  See also Revelation 13:8.  In Genesis 3:15 God promised that the “seed of the woman” would “crush Satan’s head.”  Israel was God’s instrument (vehicle) through whom God brought to all the world His eternal salvation, given in such a way everyone could recognize Him, so all people could believe and be saved.  Israel would be the keeper of God’s Covenant Promise and the heritage through whom the Messiah – Jesus – would come.

God gave this promise first to Abraham when He promised He would bless the world through Abraham (Genesis 12:23; 17:1-8) through whom He formed the nation – Israel – the Jews.  God then passed this promise down to Isaac (Genesis 21:12), then to Jacob (Genesis 28:13&14) who was renamed Israel – the father of the Jewish nation.  Paul referred to and confirmed this in Galatians 3:8 and 9 where he said: “The Scriptures forsaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’  So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham. ”   Paul recognized Jesus as the person through whom this came.

Hal Lindsey in his book, The Promise, put it this way,  “this was to be the ethnic people through which the Messiah, the Savior of the world, would be born.” Lindsey gave four reasons for God choosing Israel through whom the Messiah would come.  I have another: through this people came all the prophetic statements which describe Him and His life and death which enable us to recognize Jesus as this person, so that all nations may believe in Him, receive Him – receiving the ultimate blessing of salvation: forgiveness and rescue from God’s wrath.

God then made a covenant (treaty) with Israel which instructed them how they could approach God through priests (mediators) and sacrifices which would cover their sins.  As we have seen (Romans 3:23 & Isaiah 64:6), we all sin and those sins separate and alienate us from God.

Please read Hebrews chapters 9&10 which are important in understanding what God did in the Old Testament system of sacrifices and in the New Testaments’ fulfillment. .  The Old Testament system was only a temporary “covering” until the real redemption was accomplished – until the promised Savior would come and secure our eternal salvation.  It was also a foreshadowing (a picture or image) of the real Savior, Jesus (Matthew1:21, Romans3:24-25. and 4:25).  So in the Old Testament, everyone had to come God’s way – the way God had set up. So we must also come to God His Way, through His Son.

It is clear that God said sin must be paid for by death and that a substitute, a sacrifice (usually a lamb) was necessary so the sinner could escape the penalty, because,  ” the wages {penalty} of sin is death.” Romans 6:23).  Hebrews 9:22 says, “without shedding of blood there is no remission.”  Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”   God, through His goodness, sent us the promised fulfillment, the real thing, the Redeemer.   This is what the Old Testament is about, but God promised a New Covenant with Israel – His people – in Jeremiah 31:38, a covenant that would be fulfilled  by the Chosen One, the Savior.  This is the New Covenant – the New Testament, the promises, fulfilled in Jesus.  He would  do away with sin and death and Satan once and for all.  (As I said, you must read Hebrews chapters 9&10.)  Jesus said, (see Matthew 26:28; Luke 23:20 and Mark 12:24), “This is the New Testament (Covenant) in My blood which is shed for you for the remission of sins.”

Continuing on through history, the promised Messiah would also come through King David.  He would be David’s descendant.  Nathan the prophet said this in I Chronicles 17:11-15, declaring that the Messiah King would come through David, that He would be eternal and the King would be God, the Son of God.   (Read Hebrews chapter 1; Isaiah 9:6&7 and Jeremiah 23:5&6).  In Matthew 22:41&42 the Pharisees asked of what line of ancestry the Messiah would come, whose Son He would be, and the answer was, from David.

The Savior is identified in the New Testament by Paul. In Acts 13:22, in a sermon, Paul explains this when he speaks of David and the Messiah saying, “from this man’s descendant (David son of Jesse), according to the promise, God raised up a Savior – Jesus, as promised.”  Again, He is identified in the New Testament in Acts 13:38&39 which says, “I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,” and “through Him everyone who believes is justified.”  The Anointed One, promised and sent by God is identified as Jesus.

Hebrews 12:23&24 also tell us Who the Messiah is when it says, “You have come to God…to Jesus the Mediator of a New Covenant and to sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”  Through Israel’s prophets God gave us many prophecies, promises and pictures describing the Messiah and what He would be like and what He would do so that we would recognize  Him when He came.  These were acknowledged by Jewish leaders as authentic pictures of the Anointed One ( they refer to them as Messianic prophecies }. Here are a few of them:

1).        Psalm 2 says He would be called the Anointed One, the Son of God (See Matthew 1:21-23).  He was conceived through the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14 & Isaiah 9:6&7).  He is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:1&2).

2).        He would be a real man, born of a woman (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14 and Galatians 4:4).  He would be the descendant of Abraham and David and be born of a Virgin, Mary  (I Chronicles 17:13-15 and Matthew 1:23, “she will bear a son.”).  He will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

3).        Deuteronomy 18:18&19 says He would be a great prophet and do great miracles like Moses did (a real person – a prophet).  (Please compare this to the question of whether Jesus was real – an  historical figure }.  He was real, sent by God. He is God – Immanuel.   See Hebrews chapter one, and  the Gospel of John, chapter one. How could He die for us as our substitute, if He were not a real man?

4).         There are prophecies of very specific things which occurred during the crucifixion, such as the lots being cast for His garments, His pierced  hands and feet and none of His  bones being broken.  Read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and other Scriptures which describe very specific events in His life.

5).         The reason for His death is clearly described and explained in Scripture in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 . (a)  As a Substitute :  Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…the punishment for our peace was upon Him.”  Verse 6 continues, (b)  He took our sin : “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all  “ and (c) He died :  Verse 8 says, “He was cut off from the land of the living.  For the transgression of My people was He stricken.”  Verse 10 says, “The Lord makes His life a guilt offering.”  Verse12 says,”He poured out His life unto death … He bore the sins of many.” (d) And finally He rose again : Verse 11 describes the resurrection when it says, “after the suffering of His soul He will see the light of life.”  See I Corinthians 15: 1- 4, this is the GOSPEL.

Isaiah 53 is a passage that is never read in the synagogues.  Once Jews read it they often

admit that this refers to Jesus , although Jews in general have rejected Jesus as their Messiah.  Isaiah 53: 3 says, “He was despised and rejected by mankind “.   See Zechariah 12:10.  Someday they will recognize Him.  Isaiah 60:16 says, “then you will know that I the Lord am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob”.   In John 4:2 Jesus told the woman at the well, “Salvation is of the Jews.”

As we have seen, it was through Israel that He brought the promises, the prophecies, which identify Jesus as the Savior and the heritage through which He would appear (be born).  See Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 3.

In John 4:42 it says the woman at the well, after hearing Jesus, ran to her friends saying “Could this be the Christ?”  After this they came to Him and then they said, “We no longer believe just because of what you said: now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this MAN really is the Savior of the world.”

Jesus is the Chosen One, the son of Abraham, Son of  David, the Savior and King forever, Who reconciled and redeemed us by His death, giving us forgiveness, sent by God to  rescue us from Hell and give us life forever (John 3:16; I John 4:14; John 5:9&24 and 2 Thessalonians 5:9).  This is how it came to be, how God  made a Way so we can be free of judgment and wrath. Now let us see more closely  How Jesus fulfilled  this promise.

As a Christian, you are born into God’s family. Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:3-5) that he must be born of the Spirit. John 1:12&13 makes it very clear, as does John 3:16, how we are born again, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the children of God, to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 3:16 says He gives us eternal life and Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” This is our miraculous new birth, a truth, a reality to be believed. Just as a new baby needs nourishment to grow, so Scripture shows us how to grow spiritually as God’s child. It is abundantly clear for it says in I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.” This precept is not just here but in the Old Testament as well. Isaiah 28 says it in verses 9&10, “Whom shall I teach knowledge and whom shall I make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts; for precept must be upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.”

This is how babies grow, by repetition, not all at once, and so it is with us. Everything which enters a child’s life affects his growth and everything God brings into our lives affects our spiritual growth as well. Growing in Christ is a process, not an event, though events can cause growth “spurts” in our progress just as they do in life, but daily nourishment is what builds our spiritual lives and minds. Don’t ever forget this. Scripture indicates this when it uses phrases like “grow in grace;” “add to your faith” (2 Peter 1); “glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18); “grace upon grace” (John 1) and “line upon line and precept upon precept” (Isaiah 28:10). I Peter 2:2 does more than show us that we are to grow; it shows us how to grow. It shows us what is the nutritious food that makes us grow – THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Read 2 Peter 1:1-5 which tells us very specifically what we need to grow. It says, “Grace and peace be unto you through the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, according as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue… that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature…giving all diligence, add to your faith…” This is growing in Christ. It says we grow by the knowledge of Him and the only place to find that true knowledge about Christ is in the Word of God, the Bible.

Isn’t this what we do with children; feed them and teach them, one day at a time till they grow up to be mature adults. Our goal is to be like Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Children copy other people. We often hear people say, “He is just like his father” or “she’s just like her mother.” I believe this principle plays out in 2 Corinthians 3:18. As we watch or “behold” our teacher, Jesus, we become like Him. The hymn writer caught this principle in the hymn “Take Time To Be Holy” when he said, “By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be.” The only way to understand Him is to know Him through the Word – so keep studying it. We copy our Savior and become like our Master (Luke 6:40; Matthew 10:24&25). This is a promise that if we behold Him we will become like Him. Growing means we will become like Him.

God even taught the importance of God’s Word as our food in the Old Testament. Probably the most well-known Scriptures which teach us what is important in our lives to be a mature and effective person in the body of Christ, are Psalm 1, Joshua 1 and 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 3:15&16. David (Psalm 1) and Joshua (Joshua 1) are told to make the Word of God their priority: to desire, meditate on and study it “daily.” In the New Testament Paul tells Timothy to do the same in 2 Timothy 3:15&16. It gives us knowledge for salvation, correction, doctrine and instruction in righteousness, to thoroughly equip us. (Read 2 Timothy 2:15).

Joshua is told to meditate on the Word day and night and to do all that is in it to make his way prosperous and successful. Matthew 28:19&20 say we are to make disciples, teaching people to obey what they are taught. Growing can also be described as being a disciple. James 1 teaches us to be doers of the Word. You cannot read Psalms and not realize that David obeyed this precept and it permeated his entire life. He speaks of the Word constantly. Read Psalm 119. Psalm 1:2&3(Amplified) says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law (His precepts and teachings) he (habitually) meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted (and fed) by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers (and comes to maturity).”

The Word is so important that in the Old Testament God told the Israelites to teach it to their children over and over (Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19 and 32:46). Deuteronomy 32:46 (NKJV) says, “…set your hearts on all the Words I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this law.” It worked for Timothy. He was taught it from childhood (2 Timothy 3:15&16). It is so important we should know it for ourselves, teach it to others and especially pass it on to our children.

So the key to being like Christ and growing is to really know Him through the Word of God. Everything we learn in the Word will help us know Him and reach this goal. Scripture is our food from babyhood to maturity. Hopefully you will grow beyond being a baby, grow from milk to meat (Hebrews 5:12-14). We do not outgrow our need of the Word; growing doesn’t end till we see Him (I John 3:2-5). The disciples did not achieve maturity instantly. God doesn’t want us to remain babies, to be bottle fed, but to grow to maturity. The disciples spent a lot of time with Jesus, and so should we. Remember this is a process.

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO HELP US GROW

When you consider it, anything we read, study and obey in Scripture is a part of our spiritual growth just as everything we experience in life influences our growth as a human being. 2 Timothy 3:15&16 says Scripture is, “profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work,” so the next two points work together to bring about that growth. They are 1) obedience to the Scripture and 2) dealing with the sins which we commit. I think probably the latter comes first because if we sin and don’t deal with it our fellowship with God is hindered and we will remain babies and act like babies and not grow. Scripture teaches that carnal (fleshly, worldly) Christians (those who keep sinning and living for themselves) are immature. Read I Corinthians 3:1-3. Paul says he could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual, but as “carnal, even as unto babies,” because of their sin.

1. Confessing Our Sins to God

I think this is one of the most important steps for believers, God’s children, to achieve maturity. Read I John 1:1-10. It tells us in verses 8&10 that if we say we don’t have sin in our life that we are self-deceived and we make Him a liar and His truth is not in us. Verse 6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”

It is easy to see sin in other peoples’ lives but hard to admit our own failures and we excuse them by saying things like, “It’s not that big a deal,” or “I’m just human,” or “everyone’s doing it,” or “I can’t help it,” or “I’m like this because of how I was raised,” or the current favorite excuse, “It’s because of what I’ve been through, I have a right to react like this.” You have to love this one, “Everyone has to have one fault.” The list goes on and on, but sin is sin and we all sin, more often than we care to admit. Sin is sin no matter how trivial we think it is. I John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not.” This is God’s will regarding sin. I John 2:1 also says, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” I John 1:9 tells us exactly how to deal with sin in our lives: admit (acknowledge) it to God. This is what confession means. It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is our obligation: to confess our sin to God, and this is God’s promise: He will forgive us. First we have to recognize our sin and then admit it to God.

David did this. In Psalm 51:1-17, he said, “I acknowledge my transgression” … and, “against Thee, Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.” You can’t read the Psalms without seeing the anguish of David in recognizing his sinfulness, but he also recognized God’s love and forgiveness. Read Psalm 32. Psalm 103:3, 4, 10-12 & 17 (NASB) say, “Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion…He has not dealt with us according to our sin, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us…But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.”

Jesus illustrated this cleansing with Peter in John 13:4-10, where He washed the disciples’ feet. When Peter objected, He said, “He that is washed needs not to wash save to wash his feet.” Figuratively, we need to wash our feet every time that they are dirty, every day or more often if necessary, as often as necessary. God’s Word reveals sin in our lives, but we must acknowledge it. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” James also teaches this, saying the Word is like a mirror, which, when we read it, shows us what we are like. When we see “dirt,” we need to be washed and be cleansed, obeying I John 1:1-9, confessing our sins to God as David did. Read James 1:22-25. Psalm 51:7 says, “wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Scripture assures us that Jesus sacrifice makes those who believe “righteous” in God’s sight; that His sacrifice was “once for all,” making us perfect forever, this is our position in Christ. But Jesus also said we need to, as we say, keep short accounts with God by confessing every sin revealed in the mirror of God’s Word, so our fellowship and peace are not hindered. God will judge His people who continue to sin just as He did Israel. Read Hebrews 10. Verse 14 (NASB) says, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Disobedience grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-32). See the section on this site about, if we keep on sinning, for examples.

This is the first step of obedience. God is longsuffering, and no matter how many times we fail, if we come back to Him, He will forgive and restore us to fellowship with Himself. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2. Obeying/Doing What the Word Teaches

From this point, we must ask the Lord to change us. Just as I John instructs us to “clean” up what we see is wrong, it also instructs us to change what is wrong and do what is right and obey the many things God’s Word shows us to DO. It says, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” When we read Scripture, we need to ask questions, such as: “Was God correcting or instructing someone?” “How are you like the person or people?” “What can you do to correct something or do it better?” Ask God to help you do what He teaches you. This is how we grow, by seeing ourselves in God’s mirror. Don’t look for something complicated; take God’s Word at face value and obey it. If you don’t understand something, pray and keep studying the part you don’t understand, but obey what you do understand.

We need to ask God to change us because it clearly says in the Word that we can’t change ourselves. It clearly says in John 15:5, “without Me (Christ) you can do nothing.” If you try and try and don’t change and keep failing, guess what, you are not alone. You may ask, “How do I make change happen in my life?” Though it starts with recognizing and confessing sin, how can I change and grow? Why do I keep doing the same sin over and over and why can’t I do what God wants me to do? The Apostle Paul faced this same exact struggle and explains it and what to do about it in Romans chapters 5-8. This is how we grow – through God’s power, not our own.

Paul’s Journey – Romans chapters 5-8

Colossians 1:27&28 says, “teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:29 says, “whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.” So maturity and growth is being like Christ, our Master and Savior.

Paul struggled with the same problems we do. Read Romans chapter 7. He wanted to do what was right but could not. He wanted to stop doing what was wrong but could not. Romans 6 tells us not to “let sin reign in your mortal life,” and that we should not let sin be our “master,” but Paul could not make it happen. So how did he gain victory over this struggle and how can we. How can we, like Paul, change and grow? Romans 7:24&25a says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” John 15:1-5, especially verses 4&5 says this another way. When Jesus talked to His disciples, He said, “Abide in Me and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” If you are abiding you will grow, because He will change you. You cannot change yourself.

To abide we must understand a few facts: 1) We are crucified with Christ. God says this is a fact, just as it is a fact that God laid our sins upon Jesus and that He died for us. In God’s eyes we died with Him. 2) God says we died to sin (Romans 6:6). We must accept these facts as true and trust and count on them. 3) The third fact is that Christ lives in us. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When God says in the Word that we should walk by faith it means that when we confess sin and step out to obey God, we count on (trust) and consider, or as Romans says we “reckon” these facts to be true, especially that we died to sin and that He lives in us (Romans 6:11). God wants us to live for Him, trusting in the fact that He lives in us and wants to live through us. Because of these facts, God can empower us to be victorious. To understand our struggle and Paul’s read and study Romans chapters 5-8 over and over again: from sin to victory. Chapter 6 shows us our position in Christ, we are in Him and He is in us. Chapter 7 describes Paul’s inability to do good instead of evil; how he could do nothing to change it himself. Verses 15, 18&19(NKJV) sum it up: “For what I am doing, I do not understand…For to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I find not…For the good that I will to do I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice,” and verse 24, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Sound familiar? The answer is in Christ. Verse 25 says, “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

We become believers by inviting Jesus into our lives. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him and he with Me.” He lives in us, but He wants to rule and reign in our lives and change us. Another way to put it is Romans 12:1&2 which says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 6:11 says the same thing, “reckon (consider) yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and verse 13 says, “do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” We need to yield ourselves to God for Him to live through us. At a yield sign we yield or give the right of way to another. When we yield to the Holy Spirit, the Christ who lives in us, we are yielding the right to Him to live through us (Romans 6:11). Note how often terms like present, offer and yield are used. Do it. Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in you.” We must present or give ourselves – yield – to Him – allow Him to LIVE in us. God does not ask us to do something that is impossible, but He asks us to yield to Christ, who makes it possible by living in and through us. When we yield, give Him permission to, and allow Him to live through us, He gives us the ability to do His will. When we ask Him and give Him the “right of way,” and step out in faith, He does it – He living in and through us will change us from within. We must offer ourselves to Him, this will give us the power of Christ for victory. I Corinthians 15:57 says, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He alone gives us power for victory and to do God’s will. This is God’s will for us (I Thessalonians 4:3) “even your sanctification,” to serve in newness of Spirit (Romans 7:6), to walk by faith, and “bring forth fruit to God” (Romans 7:4), which is the purpose of abiding in John 15:1-5. This is the process of change – of growth and our goal – becoming mature and more like Christ. You can see how God explains this process in different terms and many ways so we are sure to understand – whatever way Scripture describes it. This is growing: walking in faith, walking in the light or walking in the Spirit, abiding, living an abundant life, discipleship, becoming like Christ, the fulness of Christ. We are adding to our faith, and becoming like Him, and obeying His Word. Matthew 28:19&20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Walking in the Spirit produces fruit and is the same as “letting the Word of God dwell in you richly.” Compare Galatians 5:16-22 and Colossians 3:10-15. The fruit is love, mercy, meekness, longsuffering, forgiveness, peace and faith, just to mention a few. These are Christ’s characteristics. Compare this also to 2 Peter 1:1-8. This is growing in Christ – in Christlikeness. Romans 5:17 says, “much more then, they which receive abundance of grace shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.”

Remember this word – ADD – this is a process. You may have times or experiences which give you growth spurts, but it is line upon line, precept upon precept, and remember we will not be perfectly like Him (I John 3:2) until we see Him as He is. Some good verses to memorize are Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and any others which help you personally. This is a lifelong process- as is our physical life. We can and do continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge as humans, so it is in our Christian (spiritual) lives.

The Holy Spirit Is Our Teacher

We have mentioned several things about the Holy Spirit, such as: yield yourself to Him and walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also our teacher. I John 2:27 says, “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” This is because the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell within us. In John 14:16&17 Jesus told the disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever, that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” All persons of the Godhead are One.

This concept (or truth) was promised in the Old Testament where the Holy Spirit did not indwell people but rather came upon them. In Jeremiah 31:33&34a God said, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel…I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it. They will not teach again each man his neighbor…they will all know Me.” When we become a believer the Lord gives us His Spirit to dwell within us. Romans 8:9 makes this clear: “However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” I Corinthians 6:19 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have from God.” See also John 16:5-10. He is in us and He has written His law in our hearts, forever. (See also Hebrews 10:16; 8:7-13.) Ezekiel also says this in 11:19, “I will…put a new spirit within them,” and in 36:26&27, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.” God, the Holy Spirt, is our Helper and Teacher; shouldn’t we seek His help to understand His Word.

Other Ways to Help Us Grow

Here are other things we need to do to grow in Christ: 1) Attend church regularly. In a church setting you can learn from other believers, hear the Word preached, ask questions, encourage one another by using your spiritual gifts which God gives to each believer when they are saved. Ephesians 4:11&12 says, “And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…” See Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:1-11, 28-31 and Ephesians 4:11-16. You grow yourself by faithfully recognizing and using your own spiritual gifts as listed in these passages, which differ from talents we are born with. Go to a fundamental, Bible-believing church (Acts 2:42 and Hebrews 10:25).

2) We must pray (Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 1:18 and Philippians 4:6). It is vital to talk to God, to fellowship with God in prayer. Prayer makes us be a part of God’s work.

3). We should worship, praise God and be thankful (Philippians 4:6&7). Ephesians 5:19&29 and Colossians 3:16 both say, “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Think how often David praised God in the Psalms and worshiped Him. Worship could be a whole study by itself.

4). We should share our faith and witness to others and also build up other believers (see Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19&20; Ephesians 6:15 and I Peter 3:15 which says we need to be “ready always…to give a reason the for the hope that is in you.” This requires considerable study and time. I would say, “Never get caught twice without an answer.”

5). We should learn to fight the good fight of faith – to refute false doctrine (see Jude 3 and the other epistles) and to fight our enemy Satan (See Matthew 4:1-11 and Ephesians 6:10-20).

6). Lastly, we should strive to “love our neighbor” and our brothers and sisters in Christ and even our enemies (I Corinthians 13; I Thessalonians 4:9&10; 3:11-13; John 13:34 and Romans 12:10 which says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love”).

7) And whatever else you learn that the Scripture tells us To Do, DO. Remember James 1:22-25. We need to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

All these things work together (precept upon precept), to cause us to grow just as all the experiences in life change us and make us mature. You won’t finish growing until your life is finished.

 

One of the most perplexing questions for new Christians and even many who have been Christians for a long time is, “How do I hear from God?” To put it another way, how do I know if the thoughts that enter my mind are from God, from the devil, from myself or just something I have heard somewhere that just sticks in my mind? There are many examples of God speaking to people in the Bible, but there are also lots of warnings about following false prophets who claim God spoke to them when God says definitely that He did not. So how are we to know?

The first and most basic issue is that God is the ultimate Author of Scripture and He never contradicts Himself. 2 Timothy 3:16&17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So any thought that enters your mind must first be examined on the basis of its agreement with Scripture. A soldier who had written orders from his commander and disobeyed them because he thought he heard someone tell him something different would be in serious trouble. So the first step in hearing from God is to study the Scriptures to see what they say on any given issue. It is amazing how many issues are dealt with in the Bible, and reading the Bible on a daily basis and studying what it says when an issue comes up is the obvious first step in knowing what God is saying.

Probably the second thing to look at is: “What is my conscience telling me?” Romans 2:14&15 says, “(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)” Now that does not mean that our conscience is always right. Paul talks about a weak conscience in Romans 14 and a seared conscience in I Timothy 4:2. But he says in I Timothy 1:5, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” He says in Acts 23:16, “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” He wrote to Timothy in I Timothy 1:18&19 “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.” If your conscience is telling you something is wrong, then it is probably wrong, at least for you. Feelings of guilt, coming from our conscience, is one of the ways God speaks to us and ignoring our conscience is, in the vast majority of cases, choosing to not listen to God. (For more information on this topic read all of Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8 and I Corinthians 10:14-33.)

The third thing to be considered is: “What am I asking God to tell me?” As a teenager I was frequently encouraged to ask God to show me His will for my life. I was rather surprised later to find out that God never tells us to pray that He would show us His will. What we are encouraged to pray for is wisdom. James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” God promises to give us wisdom if we ask, and if we do the wise thing, we are doing the Lord’s will.

Proverbs 1:1-7 says, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to give us wisdom. It is one of the best places to go when you are asking God what the wise thing to do is in any situation.

The one other thing that helped me the most in learning to hear what God was saying to me was learning the difference between guilt and condemnation. When we sin, God, usually speaking through our conscience, makes us feel guilty. When we confess our sin to God, God removes the feelings of guilt, helps us change and restores fellowship. I John 1:5-10 says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” To hear from God, we must be honest with God and confess our sin when it happens. If we have sinned and not confessed our sin, we are not in fellowship with God, and hearing Him will be difficult if not impossible. To rephrase: guilt is specific and when we confess it to God, God forgives us and our fellowship with God is restored.

Condemnation is something else entirely. Paul asks and answers a question in Romans 8:34, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” He began chapter 8, after talking about his miserable failure when he tried to please God by keeping the law, by saying, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Guilt is specific, condemnation is vague and general. It says things like, “You always mess up,” or, “You’ll never amount to anything,” or, “You’re so messed up God will never be able to use you.” When we confess the sin that makes us feel guilty to God, the guilt disappears and we feel the joy of forgiveness. When we “confess” our feelings of condemnation to God they only get stronger. “Confessing” our feelings of condemnation to God is actually just agreeing with what the devil is saying to us about us. Guilt needs to be confessed. Condemnation must be rejected if we are going to discern what God is truly saying to us.

Of course, the first thing God is saying to us is what Jesus said to Nicodemus: “You must be born again”(John 3:7). Until we have acknowledged that we have sinned against God, told God we believe Jesus paid for our sins when He died on the cross, and was buried and then rose again, and have asked God to come into our life as our Savior, God is under no obligation to speak to us about anything other than our need to be saved, and most probably He will not. If we have received Jesus as our Savior, then we need to examine everything we think God is telling us with Scripture, listen to our conscience, ask for wisdom in all situations and confess sin and reject condemnation. Knowing what God is saying to us may still be difficult at times, but doing these four things will certainly help make hearing His voice easier.

In answer to this question, the Bible clearly teaches that God is everywhere present, so He is always with us.  He is omnipresent.  He sees all and hears all.  Psalm 139 says that we cannot escape His presence.  I suggest reading this whole Psalm which says in verse 7, “where can I go from Your presence?”   The answer is nowhere, for He is everywhere.

2 Chronicles 6:18 and I Kings 8:27 and Acts 17:24-28 show us that Solomon, who built the temple for God Who promised to dwell in it, realized that God could not be contained in a specific place.  Paul put it this way in Acts when he said, “The Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in temples made with hands.”  Jeremiah 23:23&24 says “He fills heaven and earth.”  Ephesians 1:23 says He fills “all in all.”

Yet for the believer, those who have chosen to receive and believe in His Son (see John 3:16 and John 1:12), He promises to be with us in an even more special way as our Father, our Friend, our Protector and Provider.  Matthew 28:20 says, “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.”

This is an unconditional promise, we cannot or do not cause it to happen.  This is a fact because God said it.

It also says that where two or three (believers) are gathered together, “there am I in the midst of them.”  (Matthew 18:20 KJV)  We do not call down, beg or otherwise invoke His Presence.  He says He is with us, so He is.  It is a promise, a truth, a fact.  We just have to believe it and count on it.  Though God is not restricted to a building, He is with us in a very special way, whether we sense it or not.  What a wonderful promise.

For believers He is with us in another very special way.  John chapter one says that God would give us the gift of His Spirit.  In Acts chapters 1&2 and John 14:17, God tells us that when Jesus died, rose from the dead and ascended to the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell within our hearts.  In John 14:17 He said, “the Spirit of truth…who abides with you, and will be in you.”  I Corinthians 6:19 says, “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, whom you have from God…”  So for believers God the Spirit dwells within us.

We see that God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:5, and it is repeated in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Count on it.  Romans 8:38&39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ.

Though God is always with us, that does not mean He will always listen to us.  Isaiah 59:2 says that sin will separate us from God in the sense that He will not hear (listen) to us, but because He is always with us, He will always hear us if we acknowledge (confess) our sin, and will forgive us of that sin.  That is a promise.  (I John 1:9; 2 Chronicles 7:14)

Also if you are not a believer, God’s presence is important because He sees everyone and because He “is not willing that any should perish.” (2 Peter 3:9)  He will always hear the cry of those who believe and call upon Him to be their Savior, believing the Gospel.  (I Corinthians 15:1-3)  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  John 6:37 says that He will not turn anyone away, and whosoever will may come.  (Revelation 22:17; John 1:12)

God’s word says, “There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus”(I Timothy 2:5). The reason we don’t have peace with God is we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says,” For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “We are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses (good deeds) are as filthy rags…and our iniquities (sins), like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”

But God made a way for us to be redeemed (rescued) from our sin and be reconciled (or made right) with God. Sin had to be punished and the just penalty (payment) for our sin is death. Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” John 3:17 says, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 10:28 says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” There is only ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes unto the Father, but by Me.” Read Isaiah chapter 53. Note especially verses 5&6. They say: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Continue to verse 8b: “For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people was He stricken.” And verse 10 says, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief; when You shall make His soul and offering for sin…” And verse 11 says, “By His knowledge (the knowledge of Him) shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquity.” Verse 12 says, “He has poured out His soul unto death.” I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree…”

The punishment for our sin was death, but God placed our sin upon Him (Jesus) and He paid for our sin instead of us; He took our place and was punished for us. Please go to this site for more about this on the topic of how to be saved. Colossians 1:20&21 and Isaiah 53 make it clear that this is how God makes peace between man and Himself. It says, “And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself… and you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now He has reconciled.” Verse 22 says, “In the body of His flesh through death.” Read also Ephesians 2:13-17 which says that by His blood, He is our peace which breaks down the partition or enmity between us and God, created by our sin, bringing us peace with God. Please read it. Read John chapter 3 where Jesus told Nicodemus how to be born into God’s family (born again); that Jesus must be lifted up on the cross as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and that to be forgiven we “look to Jesus” as our Savior. He explains this by telling him that he must believe, verse 16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.“ I Corinthians 15:1&2 says this is the Gospel, “by which you are saved.” Verses 3&4 say, “For I delivered unto you…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again according to the Scriptures.” In Matthew 26:28 Jesus said, “For this is the new testament in my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” You must believe this to be saved and have peace with God. John 20:31 says, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.” Acts 16:31 says, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.”

See Romans 3:22-25 and Romans 4:22-5:2. Please read all these verses which are so beautiful a message of our salvation that these things are not written for these people alone, but for all of us to bring us peace with God. It shows how Abraham and we are justified by faith. Verses 4:23-5:1 say it clearly. “But these words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” See also Acts 10:36.

There is another aspect to this question. If you are already a believer in Jesus, one of God’s family and you sin, your fellowship with the Father is hindered and you will not experience God’s peace. You do not lose your relationship with the Father, you are still His child and God’s promise is yours – you have peace as in a treaty or covenant with Him, but you may not sense the emotion of peace with Him. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-31), but God’s Word has a promise for you, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous” (I John 2:1). He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). His death for us was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). I John 1:9 gives us His promise, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The passage speaks about the restoration of that fellowship and with it our peace. Read I John1:1-10.

We are in the process of writing answers to other questions on this topic, look for them soon. Peace with God is one of the many things God gives us when we accept His Son, Jesus, and are saved through faith in Him.

            We must make a difference between our enemies who are people and those who are evil spirits.  Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  See also Luke 22:3

1. When dealing with people the number one thought should be love. “God is not

willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9) but that all “should come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).  Scripture tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us whether they are saved or unsaved, so they will come to Jesus.

God teaches us in the Scriptures, saying, “vengeance is mine.”  We should not seek vengeance against people.  God often gives us examples in Scripture to teach us, and in this case, David is a great example. Over and over again King Saul tried to kill David out of jealousy and David refused to avenge himself.  He committed the situation to God, knowing that God would protect him and bring about God’s will.

Jesus is our ultimate example.  When He died for us, He did not seek vengeance on His enemies.  Instead, He died for our redemption.

1. When it comes to “evil spirits” who are our enemies, Scripture teaches us what to do to stand against them, how to defeat them.
2. The first thing is to resist them.  Jesus is our example on how to do this.  While providing for our salvation, Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, so He could provide the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  Read Matthew 4:1-11.  Jesus used the Scripture to defeat Satan.  Satan also used Scripture when he tempted Jesus, but he used it in a wrong way, just as he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden, misquoting it and using it out of its context.  It is very important to really understand the Bible and use it correctly.  Satan comes as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) to deceive us.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (correctly handling) the word of truth.”

Jesus did this and we need to work hard and study Scripture so we can use it correctly to defeat our spiritual foes.  Jesus also told Satan simply “away with you” (go away).  He said, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord thy God and Him only shall you serve.’ “  We need to follow the Lord’s example and tell Satan to go away in Jesus’ name and resist him using Scripture.  We have to really know it to use it.

2. Another passage in Scripture where God instructs us on how to fight the “forces of evil” is Ephesians chapter 6:10-18.  I believe it exemplifies how Scripture influences and is used to defeat our spiritual enemies.  I will briefly try to explain this.  Read it please.  Verse 11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
3. Verse 14 says, “having your loins girded about with truth.”  Truth is the Scriptures, God’s true words.  John 17:17 says, “Your word is truth.” We must refute Satan and demons who are liars with the truth, God’s word.  If we know the truth, we will know when Satan is lying to us.  “The truth will set you free.”  John 8:32
4. Verse 14b says, “having on the breastplate of righteousness.” We discussed earlier that our only way to righteousness is to be in Christ, to be saved, to have His righteousness imputed (reckoned to or counted for) us.  Satan will try to tell us we are too evil for God to use us – but we are clean, forgiven, and righteous in Christ.
5. Verse 15 says, “and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel.”  Know the Scriptures (memorize, write them out if necessary and study all the wonderful verses that explain the gospel) so you can present it to everyone.  It will also greatly encourage you.  I Peter 3:15 says, “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”
6. Verse 16. We must use our faith to shield us from Satan’s arrows. Satan will throw all kinds of darts at your heart to make you doubt, be discouraged or give up on following Jesus.  As we said, the more we know about God from the Word, who He is and how He loves us, the stronger we will be.  We must trust Him and not ourselves.  As He was there with Job in his trials, He will be there with us.  Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always.”  Put on the “shield of faith.”

The ultimate test of faith is adversity, and the result is perseverance. God does not tempt us to sin, but He does test us to make our faith stronger.  Read James 1:1-4, 15&16.  Perseverance will make us mature. God allowed Satan to test Job above anything we could ever endure, and Job stood firm in faith, though he stumbled and began to question God.  In the end, he learned more about who God was and was humbled and repented.  God wants us to be strong when difficulties come and to trust Him more and more and not question Him.  God is all powerful and gives us many promises in the Scripture to assure us that He cares and will protect us.  God also says in Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God.”  In Job’s story, remember Satan could not touch Job unless God allowed it, and He only does it if it is for our good.  Our God is all loving and all powerful and as Job learned, He alone is in control, and He promises to deliver us.  I Peter 5:7 says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  I John 4:4 (NASB) says, “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.” I Corinthians 10:13 says, “There has no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  Therefore Philippians 4:6 says, “be anxious for nothing.”  Romans 4:26 says, “what God has promised He is able also to perform.”  Trust Him to keep His promises.  He desires our trust.

Remember Bible history.  It is not just stories but real events, given to us as examples.  Testing makes us strong.  It did for Daniel and his friends, when they were able to say in Daniel 3:16-18, “Our God who we serve is able to deliver us…and He will deliver us…but if He does not…we are not going to serve your gods.”

Jude 24 says, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”  Read also 2 Timothy 1:12.

40. Verse 17 says, “put on the helmet of salvation.”  Satan will often try to make us doubt our salvation – we must trust that God is faithful that promised.  Read these verses and trust them: Philippians 3:9; John 3:16 & 5:24; Ephesians 1:6; John 6:37&40.  Know and use such verses when Satan tempts you to doubt.  Jesus said in John 14:1, “let not your heart be troubled…believe also in me.”  I John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”  See also Luke 24:38               With salvation comes many, many things in Christ Jesus which give us power to live for Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit and many, many Scriptures which can protect our minds from doubt, from fear and false teaching and show us God’s love and protection, just to mention a few, but we need to know and use them.  We know Him through the Word.  2 Peter 1:3 says, “He has given us everything we need for life and godliness.”  The Word gives us all we need to have power and a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Don’t let Satan mess with your mind.  Know God and trust Him.  Again, we must study to rightly understand God’s Word.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1. Verse 17 also says to take up the sword of the Spirit, identified directly as the Word of God.  Use it to strike down Satan as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11 anytime he attacks you and lies to you.  You have to know it to use it. All these things come from God and we know them through His Word.

Ephesians 6:18 tells us the purpose of all this is so we will stand, to persevere and never quit serving our Lord.  NEVER GIVE UP!  It says it in Ephesians 6:10, 12, 13 and 18. In our fight, after we have done everything we can do, “having done all,” STAND.

We trust, we obey, and we fight, but we also come to realize we cannot win in our own power and strength, but we must trust Him and allow Him and ask Him to do what we cannot do ourselves, as Jude says, “to keep us from falling” and to “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).  It says twice in Ephesians 6:10-13, “Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.”   Scripture teaches this also when it says in John 15:5, “without Me, you can do nothing,” and Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Ephesians 6:18 says how we appropriate His power to win: by prayer.  We ask Him to fight for us, to use His power to do what we cannot do ourselves.

Jesus showed us by example, when He taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, that one very important thing to pray for, was to ask God to deliver us from evil (or the evil one in the NIV and other translations).  We must ask God to deliver us from Satan’s power and oppression.  Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  And as we saw in Philippians 4:6 we are to be, “anxious for nothing,” but are to pray.  It says, “in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB) also says, “be on the alert with all perseverance.”  The KJV says to “watch.”  We should always be alert for Satan’s attacks and be watching for any temptation or anything he does to stop us.  Jesus said this in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.”  See also Mark 14:37&38 and Luke 22:40&46.  Be alert.

3. We also need to test false teachers and their teaching. Read Psalm 50:15; 91:3-7 and Proverbs 2:12-14 which says, “Wisdom (which comes only from God) will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.”  God is able also to protect us from false teaching and all false ideas through wisdom and by knowing the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15&16).  False teaching comes from Satan and demons (I Timothy 4:1&2). I John 4:1-3 shows us how to test every spirit and their teaching.  The test for correct teaching is that, “They confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” Acts 17:11 tells us to test teachers and their teachings by Scriptures.  The Bereans tested Paul using God’s Word.  We need to test everyone we listen to.  John 8:44 says that Satan (the devil) “is a liar and the father of lies.”  I Peter 5:8 says he wants to “devour us.”  Ezekiel 13:9 warns against false prophets: “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions.”  These false teachers (liars) are of their father the devil.  2 Timothy 2:26 says some can “fall into the snare of the devil, having been held captive to do his will.”

I am going to quote part of a sermon I just heard on “How to Discern False Teachers:  Ask yourself: “Do they teach the true Gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:3&4; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8&9; Galatians 1:8&9)?  “Do they elevate their ideas or writings above Scripture” (2 Timothy 3:16&17 and Jude 3&4)?  “Do they pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality” (Jude 4)?

4. Another thing, and I think this is of utmost importance, which God told His people long ago and is still very important today, is in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:27, “neither give place to the devil.”  Occultic practice surely is an area which gives Satan power over us.  Deuteronomy 18:10-14 says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages is witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist (psychic) or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the LORD your God.  The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination.  But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.”  We should never get involved in the occult.  This is Satan’s world.  Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
5. Finally, I would say, we should walk closely with the Lord, so we won’t be tempted to go astray.  The phrase “neither give place to the devil” is in the context of practical statements about many things to do or not do to walk with the Lord, to be obedient regarding love, speech, anger, working steadily and other behaviors.  If we are obedient, we won’t give Satan a foothold in our lives. Galatians 5:16 says, “walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”  I John 1:7 says, “walk in the light,” which refers to walking in accordance with the Scripture.  Read Ephesians 5:2&8&25; Colossians 2:6 and 4:5. These things will help you to be victorious over your spiritual enemies.

 

The unique thing about Christianity is that it is the only religion which provides for forgiveness of sin once and for all.  Through Jesus it is promised, provided for and fulfilled in Him.

No other person, man, woman or child, prophet, priest or king, religious leader, church or faith can free us from sin’s condemnation, pay for sin and forgive  our sins (Acts 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Jesus is not an idol like Baal, who is not a real living being.  He is not merely a prophet as Muhammed claimed to be.  He is not a saint who is a mere person, but He is God – Immanuel – God with us. He was promised by God to come as a man .  God sent Him to save us.

John said of this person, Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Go back and read what we said about Isaiah53. Read all of Isaiah 53.  This was the prophecy describing what Jesus would do. Now we will look at the Scriptures which tell us how He actually  fulfilled them. He took the death penalty in full as our substitute.

I John 4:10  says “ In this is love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law.”   Titus 3:4-6 tells us, “When the kindness and love of God appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things that we have done, but according to His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”  Romans 5:6&11 says, “For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…through Him we have now received reconciliation.”  I John 2:2 says, “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”  I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness, for by His wounds we have been healed.”

The Messiah came to take away sin, not just cover it up.  Hebrews 1:3 says, “After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  Ephesians 1:7 says, “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  See also Colossians 1:13&14.  Colossians 2:13 says, “He forgives us all our sins.”  Read also Matthew 9:2-5, I John 2:12; and  Acts 5:31; 26:15 .  We saw that Acts 13:38 said, “I want you to know that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”  Romans 4:7&8 (from Psalms 32:1&2) says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven…whose sins the Lord will never count against them.”  Read also Psalm 103:10-13.

We saw that Jesus said His blood was the “new covenant” to give us remission of sin.  Hebrews 9:26 says, He “appeared to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself once for all.”  Hebrews 8:12 says, He “will forgive…and remember our sins no more.”  In Jeremiah 31:34 God had promised and prophesied the new covenant.  Read Hebrews chapters 9&10 again.

This was forseen in Isaiah 53:5 which says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…and by His wounds we are healed.”  Romans 4:25 says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins…”  This was God’s  fulfillment , to send us a Savior to pay for our sin.

How do we appropriate this salvation?  What do we do?  Scripture clearly shows us that salvation is about faith, believing in Jesus.  Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God.  Romans 3:21-24 says, “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe for…God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood.”

Scripture clearly says it is NOT about what we can do to earn it.  Galatians 3:10 makes this clear.  It tells us, “and all who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written, ‘cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ “   Galatians 3:11 says, “clearly no one is justified before God by the law because the righteous will live by faith.”  It is not by good works we have done.  Read also 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Isaiah 64:6 and Titus 3:5&6.

We deserve punishment for sin.  Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death,” but Jesus died for us.  He took the death penalty in full as our substitute.

You asked how you can escape hell, God’s wrath, our just punishment.  It is by faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the work He has done.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son , that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 6:29 says, “the work is this, to BELIEVE in the One whom He has sent.”

The question is asked in Acts 16:30&31, “What must I do to be saved?” and answered by Paul with, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  We must believe that He died for us (John 3:14-18, 36).  You can see how many times God says we are saved by faith (about 300 times in the New Testament).

God makes this very easy to understand, using many other words to explain how faith is expressed, to show us how free and simple it is to believe.  Even the Old Testament in Joel 2:32 shows us this when it says, “whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Paul quotes this in Romans 10:13 which is one of the clearest explanations of salvation.  This is the simple act of faith, asking God to save you.  Just remember, the only One to call on and come to for salvation and forgiveness is Jesus.

Another way God explains this is the word receive (accept) Him.  This is the opposite of rejecting Him, as explained in John chapter 1. His own people (Israel) rejected Him.  You are saying to God, “Yes I believe” versus, no “I don’t believe or accept or want Him.”  John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to them who believe in His name.”

Revelation 22:17 explains it this way, “Whoever will, let him TAKE of the water of life freely.”  We take a gift.  Romans 6:23 says, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Read also Philippians 2:11.  So come to Jesus and ask, call, take His gift by faith.  Come now.  John 6:37 says, “whoever comes  to Me (Jesus) I will not cast out.”  John 6:40 says “whoever ‘looks’ to the Son of God and believes in Him shall have eternal life.”  John 15:28 says, “I give them eternal life and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH.”

Romans 4:23-25 says, “These are not for them alone but for US, to whom God will credit righteousness, for us who believe in Him who raised our Lord from the dead … He was delivered  to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

The totality of the teaching of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is this: God created us, we sinned but God prepared, promised and sent God the Son to be our Savior – a real person, Jesus who redeemed us from sin by his life blood and reconciles us to God, rescuing us from the consequences of sin and giving us eternal life with God in heaven. Romans 5:9 says “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him.”  Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”  John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment but is passed from death to life.”

There is no other God and God provides no other Savior.  We must accept His only way – Jesus.  In Hosea 13:4 God says, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt.  You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me.”

This is the way of escape from Hell, this  is the only way – the way God planned from the foundation of the world – since creation (2 Timothy 1:9 & Revelation 13:8).  God provided this salvation through His Son – Jesus – whom He sent.  It is a free gift and there is only one way to get it.  We can’t earn it, we can only believe what God says and take the gift from Him (Revelation 22:17).  I John 4:14 says, “And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  With this gift comes forgiveness, freedom from punishment and eternal life (John 3:16, 18, 36; John 1:12; John 5:9&24 and 2 Thessalonians 5:9).

Scripture does have an answer to this question, so let us be clear, from experience, if we are honest, and also from Scripture, it is a fact that salvation does not automatically keep us from sinning.

Someone I know led an individual to the Lord and received a very interesting phone call from her several weeks later. The newly saved person said, “I can’t possibly be a Christian. I sin more now than I ever did.” The person who led her to the Lord asked, “Are you doing sinful things now that you have never done before or are you doing things you’ve been doing all your life only now when you do them you feel horribly guilty about them?” The woman replied, “It’s the second one.” And the person who led her to the Lord then told her confidently, “You’re a Christian. Being convicted of sin is one of the first signs that you are really saved.”

The New Testament epistles give us lists of sins to stop doing; sins to avoid, sins we do commit. They also list things we ought to do and fail to do, things we call sins of omission. James 4:17 says “to him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Romans 3:23 says it this way, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As an example, James 2:15&16 speaks of a brother (a Christian) who sees his brother in need and does nothing to help. This is sinning.

In I Corinthians Paul shows how bad Christians can be. In I Corinthians 1:10&11 he says there were quarrels among them and divisions. In chapter 3 he addresses them as carnal (fleshly) and as babies. We often tell children and sometimes adults to stop acting like babies. You get the picture. Babies squabble, slap, poke, pinch, pull each other’s hair and even bite. It sounds comical but so true.

In Galatians 5:15 Paul tells the Christians not to bite and devour one another. In I Corinthians 4:18 he says that some of them have become arrogant. In chapter 5, verse 1 it gets even worse. “It is reported that there is immorality among you and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans.” Their sins were obvious. James 3:2 says we all stumble in many ways.

Galatians 5:19&20 lists the acts of the sinful nature: immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies as opposed to what God expects: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Ephesians 4:19 mentions immorality, verse 26 anger, verse 28 stealing, verse 29 unwholesome language, verse 31 bitterness, anger, slander and malice. Ephesians 5:4 mentions filthy talk and coarse jesting. These same passages show us also what God expects of us. Jesus told us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, “that the world may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” God wants us to be like Him (Matthew 5:48), but it is obvious that we are not.

There are several aspects of the Christian experience which we need to understand. The moment we become a believer in Christ God gives us certain things. He forgives us. He justifies us, even though we are guilty. He gives us eternal life. He places us in the “body of Christ.” He makes us perfect in Christ. The word used for this is sanctification, set apart as perfect before God. We are born again into God’s family, becoming His children. He comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit. So why do we still sin? Romans chapter 7 and Galatians 5:17 explain this by saying that as long as we are alive in our mortal body we still have our old nature which is sinful, even though the Spirit of God now lives within us. Galatians 5:17 says “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” We don’t do what God wants.

In commentaries by Martin Luther and Charles Hodge they suggest that the closer we approach God through the Scriptures and come into His perfect light the more we see how imperfect we are and how much we fall short of His glory. Romans 3:23

Paul seems to have experienced this conflict in Romans chapter 7. Both commentaries also say that every Christian can identify with Paul’s exasperation and plight: that whereas God desires us to be perfect in our behavior, to be conformed to the image of His Son, yet we find ourselves as slaves of our sinful nature.

I John 1:8 says that “if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I John 1:10 says “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.”

Read Romans chapter 7. In Romans 7:14 Paul describes himself as “sold into bondage to sin.” In verse 15 he says I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” In verse 17 he says the problem is sin which lives in him. So frustrated is Paul that he states these things two more times with slightly different words. In verse 18 he says “For I know that in me (that is in may flesh – Paul’s word for his old nature) nothing good dwells, for to will is present with me but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Verse 19 says “For the good that I will, I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” The NIV translates verse 19 as “For I have the desire to do good but I cannot carry it out.”

In Romans 7:21-23 he again describes his conflict as a law at work in his members (referring to his fleshly nature), warring against the law of his mind (referring to the Spiritual nature in his inner being). With his inner being he delights in God’s law but “evil is right there with me,” and the sinful nature is “waging war against the law of his mind and making him a prisoner of the law of sin.” We all as believers experience this conflict and Paul’s extreme frustration as he cries out in verse 24 ” What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?” What Paul describes is the conflict we all face: the conflict between the old nature (the flesh) and the Holy Spirit that indwells us, which we saw in Galatians 5:17 But Paul also says in Romans 6:1 “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound. God forbid. ” Paul also says God wants us to be rescued not only from the penalty of sin but also from its power and control in this life. As Paul says in Romans 5:17 “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” In I John 2:1, John says to the believers that he writes to them so that they WILL NOT SIN. In Ephesians 4:14 Paul says that we are to grow up so that we won’t be babies anymore (as the Corinthians were).

So when Paul cried in Romans 7:24 “who will help me?’ (and us with him), he has a jubilant answer in verse 25, “I THANK GOD – THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” He knows that the answer is in Christ. Victory (sanctification) as well as salvation come through the provision of Christ who lives in us. I am afraid that many believers just accept living in sin by saying “I’m just human,” but Romans 6 gives us our provision. We now have a choice and we have no excuse to continue in sin.

If I’m Saved, Why Do I Keep on Sinning? (Part 2) (God’s Part)

Now that we understand that we do still sin after becoming a child of God, as evidenced both by our experience and by Scripture; what are we supposed to do about it? First let me say that this process, for that’s what it is, applies only to the believer, those who have put their hope of eternal life, not in their good deeds, but in Christ’s finished work (His death, burial and resurrection for us for the forgiveness of sins); those who have been justified by God. See I Corinthians 15:3&4 and Ephesians 1:7. The reason it applies only to believers is because we cannot do anything by ourselves to make ourselves perfect or holy. That is something only God can do, through the Holy Spirit, and as we shall see, only believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Read Titus 3:5&6; Ephesians 2:8&9; Romans 4:3&22 and Galatians 3:6

Scripture teaches us that at the moment we believe, there are two things God does for us. (There are many, many others.) These are, however, vital in order for us to have “victory” over sin in our lives. First: God puts us in Christ (something that is hard to understand, but we must accept and believe), and second He comes to live in us through His Holy Spirit.

Scripture says in I Corinthians 1:20 that we are in Him. “By His doing you are in Christ who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Romans 6:3 says that we are baptized “into Christ.” This is not talking about our baptism in water, but a work by the Holy Spirit in which He puts us into Christ.

Scripture also teaches us that the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. In John 14:16&17 Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) Who was with them and would be in them, (He would live or dwell in them). There are other Scriptures that tell us that the Spirit of God is in us, in every believer. Read John 14&15, Acts 1:1-8 and I Corinthians 12:13. John 17:23 says He is in our hearts. In fact Romans 8:9 says that if the Spirit of God is not in you, you do not belong to Christ. Thus we say that since this (that is, making us holy) is a work of the indwelling Spirit, only believers, those with the indwelling Spirit, can become free or victorious over their sin.

Someone has said that Scripture contains: 1) truths we must believe (even if we don’t completely understand them; 2) commands to obey and 3) promises to trust. The facts above are truths which must be believed, i.e. that we are in Him and He is in us. Keep this idea of trusting and obeying in mind as we continue this study. I think it helps to understand it. There are two parts we need to understand in overcoming sin in our daily lives. There is God’s part and our part, which is obedience. We will look first at God’s part which is all about our being in Christ and Christ being in us. Call it if you will: 1) God’s provision, I am in Christ, and 2) God’s power, Christ is in me.

This is what Paul was talking about when he said in Romans 7:24-25 “Who will deliver me…I thank God…through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Keep in mind this process is impossible without God’s help.

 

It is obvious from Scripture that God’s desire for us is to be made holy and for us to overcome our sins. Romans 8:29 tells us that as believers He has “predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.” Romans 6:4 says His desire is for us to “walk in newness of life.” Colossians 1:8 says the goal of Paul’s teaching was “to present every one perfect and complete in Christ.” God teaches us that he wants us to become mature (not to remain babies as the Corinthians were). Ephesians 4:13 says we are to “become mature in knowledge and attain the full measure of the fullness of Christ.” Verse 15 says we are to grow up into Him. Ephesians 4:24 says we are to “put on the new self; created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”bI Thessalonians 4:3 states “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” Verses 7&8 say He has “not called us to impurity, but in sanctification.” Verse 8 says “if we reject this we are rejecting God who gives his Holy Spirit to us.”

(Connecting the thought of the Spirit being in us and us being able to change.) Defining the word sanctification can be a little complicated but in the Old Testament it meant to set apart or present an object or person to God for His use, with a sacrifice being offered to purify it. So for our purposes here we are saying to be sanctified is to be set apart to God or to be presented to God. We were made holy for Him by the sacrifice of Christ’s death on the cross. This is, as we say, positional sanctification when we believe and God sees us as perfect in Christ (clothed and covered by Him and reckoned and declared righteous in Him). It is progressive as we become perfect as He is perfect, when we become victorious in overcoming sin in our daily experience. Any verses on sanctification are describing or explaining this process. We want to be presented and set apart to God as purified, cleaned, holy and blameless, etc. Hebrews 10:14 says “by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

More verses on this subject are: I John 2:1 says “I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.” I Peter 2:24 says, “Christ bare our sins in His own body on the tree…that we should live to righteousness.” Hebrews 9:14 tells us “Christ’s blood cleanses us from dead works to serve the living God.”

Here we have not only God’s desire for our holiness, but His provision for our victory: our being in Him and sharing in His death, as described in Romans 6:1-12. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states: “He made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Read also Philippians 3:9, Romans 12:1&2 and Romans 5:17.

Read Romans 6:1-12. Here we find an explanation of God’s work on our behalf for our victory over sin, i.e. His provision. Romans 6:1 continues the thought of chapter five that God does not want us to continue to sin. It says: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Verse 2 says, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 5:17 speaks of “those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.” He wants victory for us now, in this life.

I would like to highlight the explanation in Romans 6 of what we have in Christ. We have spoken of our baptism into Christ. (Remember this is not water baptism but the work of the Spirit.) Verse 3 teaches us that this means we “have been baptized into his death,’ meaning “we died with him.” Verses 3-5 say we are “buried with him.” Verse 5 explains that since we are in Him we are united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. Verse 6 says we are crucified with him so that “the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” This shows us that the power of sin has been broken. Both the NIV and NASB footnotes say it could be translated “the body of sin might be rendered powerless.” Another translation is that “sin will not have dominion over us.”

Verse 7 says “he who has died is freed from sin. For this reason sin can’t hold us as slaves anymore. Verse 11 says “we are dead to sin.” Verse 14 says “sin shall not be master over you.” This is what being crucified with Christ has done for us. Because we died with Christ we died to sin with Christ. Be clear, those were our sins He died for. Those were our sins He BURIED. Sin therefore does not have to dominate us any more. Simply put, since we are in Christ, we died with Him, so sin does not have to have power over us anymore.

Verse 11 is our part: our act of faith. The previous verses are facts which we must believe, though difficult to understand. They are truths we must believe and act upon. Verse 11 uses the word “reckon” which means “count on it.” From here on out we must act in faith. Being “raised” with Him in this passage of Scripture means we are “alive unto God” and we can “walk in newness of life.” (Verses 4, 8 & 16) Because God has put His Spirit in us, we can now live a victorious life. Colossians 2:14 says “we died to the world and the world died to us.” Another way to say this is to say that Jesus did not die only to free us from the penalty of sin, but also to break its control over us, so He could make us pure and holy in our present life.

In Acts 26:18 Luke quotes Jesus as saying to Paul that the gospel will “turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified (made holy) by faith in Me (Jesus).”

We have already seen in part 1 of this study that although Paul understood, or rather knew, these facts, victory was not automatic and neither is it for us. He was unable to make victory happen either by self-effort or by trying to keep the law and neither can we. Victory over sin is impossible for us without Christ.

Here is why. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. It tells us that we cannot be saved by works of righteousness. This is because, as Romans 6 says, we are “sold under sin.” We cannot pay for our sin or earn forgiveness. Isaiah 64:6 tells us “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” in God’s sight. Romans 8:8 tells us that those who are “in the flesh cannot please God.”

John 15:4 shows us that we cannot bear fruit by ourselves and verse 5 says, “without me (Christ) you can do nothing.” Galatians 2:16 says “for by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified,” and verse 21 says “if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died needlessly.” Hebrews 7:18 tells us “the law made nothing perfect.”

Romans 8:3&4 says, “For what the law was powerless to do, in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”

Read Romans 8:1-15 and Colossians 3:1-3. We can’t be made clean or be saved by our good works and neither can we be sanctified by the works of the law. Galatians 3:3 says “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect in the flesh?” And thus, we, like Paul, who while knowing the fact that we are set free from sin by Christ’s death, still struggle (see Romans 7 again) with self-effort, being unable to keep the law and faced with sin and failure, and crying out “O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me!”

Let us review what led to Paul’s failure: 1) The Law couldn’t change him. 2) Self-effort failed. 3) The more he knew God and the Law the worse he seemed. (The law’s job is to make us exceedingly sinful, to make our sin obvious. Romans 7:6,13) The Law made it obvious that we need God’s grace and power. As John 3:17-19 says, the closer we get to the light the more obvious it gets that we are dirty. 4) He ends up frustrated and saying: “who will deliver me?” “nothing good is in me.” “evil is present with me.” “a war is within me.” “I cannot carry it out.” 5) The Law had no power to meet its own demands, it only condemned. He then comes to the answer, Romans 7:25, “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So Paul is leading us to the second part of God’s provision which makes our sanctification possible. Romans 8:20 states, “the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death.” The power and strength to overcome sin is Christ IN US, THE Holy Spirit in us. Read Romans 8:1-15 again.

The New King James translation of Colossians 1:27&28 says it is the job of the Spirit of God to present us perfect. It says, “God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles which is, Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It goes on to say “that we may present every man perfect (or complete) in Christ Jesus.” Is it possible that the glory here is the glory of which we fall short in Romans 3:23? Read 2 Corinthians 3:18 in which God says He wishes to transform us into God’s image from “glory to glory.”

Remember we talked about the Spirit coming to be in us. In John 14:16&17 Jesus said that the Spirit who was with them would come to be in them. In John 16:7-11 Jesus said it was necessary for Him to go away so the Spirit would come to dwell in us. In John 14:20 He says, “at that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you,” just exactly what we have been talking about. This was actually all foretold in the Old Testament. Joel 2:24-29 speaks of His putting the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

In Acts 2 (read it), it tells us this occurred on the Day of Pentecost, after the ascension of Jesus to heaven. In Jeremiah 31:33&34 (referred to in the New Testament in Hebrews 10:10, 14 & 16) God fulfilled another promise, that of putting His law into our hearts. In Romans 7:6 it tells us that the result of these fulfilled promises is that we can “serve God in a new and living way.” Now, the moment we become a believer in Christ, the Spirit comes to abide (live) in us and HE makes Romans 8:1-15 & 24 possible. Read also Romans 6:4&10 and Hebrews 10:1, 10, 14.

At this point, I would like you to read and memorize Galatians 2:20. Never forget it. This verse summarizes all Paul teaches us about sanctification in one verse. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Everything we will do that pleases God in our Christian life can be summed up by the phrase, “not I; but Christ.” It is Christ living in me, not my works or good deeds. Read these verses which also speak of the provision of Christ’s death (to render sin powerless) and the work of the Spirit of God in us.

I Peter 1:2 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Hebrews 2:13  Ephesians 5:26&27 Colossians 3:1-3

God, through His Spirit, gives us the strength to overcome, but it goes even further than that. He changes us from the inside, transforming us, changing us into the image of His Son, Christ. We must trust Him to do it. This is a process; begun by God, continued by God and completed by God.

Here is a list of promises to trust. Here is God doing what we cannot do, changing us and making us holy like Christ. Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing; that He which has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:19&20 “being filled with all the fullness of God… according to the power that works in us.” How great is it that, “God is at work in us.”

Hebrews 13:20&21 “Now may the God of peace… make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ.” I Peter 5:10 “the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

I Thessalonians 5:23&24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who also will do it.” The NASB says “He also will bring it to pass.”

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to ‘fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (NASB says perfecter).” I Corinthians 1:8&9 “God will confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful,” I Thessalonians 3:12&13 says God will “increase” and “establish your hearts unblameable at the coming of our Lord Jesus.”

I John 3:2 tells us “we will be like Him when we see Him as He is.” God will complete this when Jesus returns or we go to heaven when we die.

We have seen many verses which have indicated that sanctification is a process. Read Philippians 3:12-14 which says, “I have not already attained, neither am already perfect, but I press toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” One commentary uses the word “pursue.” Not only is it a process but active participation is involved.

Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that the church is to work together so we may “grow up in all things into Him Who is the Head – Christ.” Scripture also uses the word grow in I Peter 2:2, where we read this: “desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” Growing takes time.

This journey is also described as walking. Walking is a slow way of going; one step at a time; a process. I John talks about walking in the light (that is, the Word of God). Galatians says in 5:16 to walk in the Spirit. The two go hand in hand. In John 17:17 Jesus said “Sanctify them through the truth, thy word is truth.” The Word of God and the Spirit work together in this process. They are inseparable.

We are beginning to see action verbs a lot as we study this topic: walk, pursue, desire, etc. If you go back to Romans 6 and read it again you will see many of them: reckon, present, yield, don’t yield. Doesn’t this imply that there is something we must do; that there are commands to obey; effort required on our part.

Romans 6:12 states “let not sin therefore (that is, because of our position in Christ and the power of Christ in us) reign in your mortal bodies.” Verse 13 commands us to present our bodies to God, not to sin. It tells us not to be a “slave to sin.” These are our choices, our commands to obey; our ‘to do” list. Remember, we can’t do it by our own self effort but only through His power in us, but we must do it.

We must always remember it is only through Christ. I Corinthians 15:57 (NKJB) gives us this remarkable promise: ” thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” So even what we “do” is through Him, through the Spirit’s in working power. Philippians 4:13 tells us we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” So it is: JUST AS WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT HIM, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM.

God gives us the power to “do” whatever He asks us to do. Some believers call it the ‘resurrection” power as expressed in Romans 6:5 “we shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” Verse 11 says the power of God that raised Christ from the dead raises us to newness of life to serve God in this life.

Philippians 3:9-14 also expresses this as “that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” It is obvious from this verse that faith in Christ is vital. We must believe in order to be saved. We must also have faith in God’s provision for sanctification, ie. Christ’s death for us; faith in God’s power to work in us by the Spirit; faith that He gives us power to change and faith in God changing us. None of this is possible without faith. It connects us to God’s provision & power. God will sanctify us as we trust and obey. We must believe enough to act on the truth; enough to obey. Remember the chorus of the hymn:

“Trust and obey For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey.”

Other verses relating faith to this process (being changed by God’s power): Ephesians 1:19&20 “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.”

Ephesians 3:19&20 says “that you may be filled with all the fullness of Christ.n Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.” Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Romans 1:17 says “the just shall live by faith.” This, I believe, does not only refer to initial faith at salvation, but our day by day faith that connects us to all that God provides for our sanctification; our daily living and obeying and walking in faith.

See also: Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:26, 11; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 2:20; Romans 3:20-25; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 3:12&17

It takes faith to obey. Remember Galatians 3: 2&3 “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or hearing of faith… having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect in the flesh?” If you read the whole passage it refers to living by faith. Colossians 2:6 says “as you have therefore received Christ Jesus (by faith) so walk in Him.” Galatians 5:25 says “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

So as we begin to talk about our part; our obedience; as it were, our “to do” list, remember all we have learned. Without His Spirit we can do nothing, but by His Spirit He strengthens us as we obey; and that it is God Who changes us to make us holy as Christ is holy. Even in obeying it is still all of God – Him working in us. It is all of faith in Him. Remember our memory verse, Galatians 2:20. It is “NOT I, but Christ…I live by faith in the Son of God.” Galatians 5:16 says “walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

So we see there is still work for us to do. So when or how do we appropriate, take advantage of or take hold of God’s power. I believe it is proportional to our steps of obedience taken in faith. If we sit and do nothing, nothing will happen. Read James 1:22-25. If we ignore His Word (His instructions) and don’t obey, growth or change will not take place, i.e. if we see ourselves in the mirror of the Word as in James and go away and are not doers, we remain sinful and unholy. Remember I Thessalonians 4:7&8 says “Consequently he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

Part 3 will show us practical things we can “do” (i.e. be doers) in His strength. You must take these steps of obedient faith. Call it positive action.

Our Part (Part 3)

We have established that God wants to conform us to the image of His Son. God says that there is something we also must do. It requires obedience on our part.

There is no “magic” experience we can have that instantly transforms us. As we said, it is a process. Romans 1:17 says the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. 2 Corinthians 3:18 describes it as being transformed into Christ’s image, from glory to glory. 2 Peter 1:3-8 says we are to add one Christ-like virtue to another. John 1:16 describes it as “grace upon grace.”

We have seen that we can’t do it by self-effort or by trying to keep the law, but that it is God who changes us. We have seen that it begins when we are born again and is completed by God. God gives both the provision and the power for our day to day progression. We have seen in Romans chapter 6 that we are in Christ, in His death, burial and resurrection. Verse 5 says sin’s power has been rendered powerless. We are dead to sin and it shall not have dominion over us.

Because God also came to live in us, we have His power, so we can live in a way that pleases Him. We have learned that God Himself changes us. He promises to complete the work He began in us at salvation.

These are all facts. Romans 6 says that considering these facts we must begin to act on them. It takes faith to do this. Here begins our journey of faith or trusting obedience. The first “command to obey” is exactly that, faith. It says “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Reckon means count on it, trust it, consider it to be true. This is an act of faith and is followed by other commands such as “yield, don’t let, and present.” Faith is counting on the power of what it means to be dead in Christ and God’s promise to work in us.

I am glad God doesn’t expect us to understand all of this completely, but only to”act” on it. Faith is the avenue of appropriating or connecting to or taking a hold of God’s provision and power.

Our victory is not achieved by our power to change ourselves, but it may be in proportion to our “faithful” obedience. When we “act,” God changes us and enables us to do what we can’t do; for example changing desires and attitudes; or changing sinful habits; giving us power to “walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4) He gives us “power” to reach the goal of victory. Read these verses: Philippians 3:9-13; Galatians 2:20-3:3; I Thessalonians 4:3; I Peter 2:24; I Corinthians 1:30; I Peter 1:2; Colossians 3:1-4 & 3:11&12 & 1:17; Romans 13:14 and Ephesians 4:15.

The following verses connect faith to our actions and our sanctification. Colossians 2:6 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him. (We are saved by faith, so we are sanctified by faith.) All further steps in this process (walk) are contingent upon and can only be accomplished or attained by faith. Romans 1:17 says, “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” (That means one step at a time.) The word “walk” is often used of our experience. Romans 1:17 also says, “the just shall live by faith.” This is talking about our daily life as much as or more so than its beginning at salvation.

Galatians 2:20 says “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Romans 6 says in verse 12 “therefore” or because of reckoning ourselves as being “dead in Christ” we are now to obey the next commands. We now have a choice to obey daily and moment by moment as long as we live or until He returns.

It starts with a choice to yield. In Romans 6:12 the King James Version uses this word “yield” when it says “don’t yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves to God.” I believe yielding is a choice to relinquish control of your life to God. Other translations us the words “present” or “offer.” This is a choice to choose to give God control of our lives and offer ourselves to Him. We present (dedicate) ourselves to Him. (Romans 12:1&2) As at a yield sign, you give control of that intersection to another, we yield control to God. Yield means to allow Him to work in us; to ask for His help; to yield to His will, not ours. It is our choice to give the Holy Spirit control of our life and yield to Him. This is not just a one time decision but is continuous, daily, and moment by moment.

This is illustrated in Ephesians 5:18 “Be not drunk with wine; wherein is excess; but be filled with the Holy Spirit.: It is a deliberate contrast. When a person is drunk he is said to be controlled by alcohol (under the influence of it). In contrast we are told to be filled with the Spirit.

We are to be voluntarily under the control and influence of the Spirit. The most accurate way to translate the Greek verb tense is “be ye being filled with the Spirit” denoting a continuous relinquishment of our control to the control of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:11 says present the members of your body to God, not to sin. Verses 15&16 say we should present ourselves as slaves to God, not as slaves to sin. There is a procedure in the Old Testament by which a slave could make himself a slave to his master forever. It was a voluntary act. We should do this to God. Romans 12:1&2 says “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” This appears to be voluntary also.

In the Old Testament people and things were dedicated and set apart for God (sanctified) for His service in the temple by a special sacrifice and ceremony presenting them to God. Though our ceremony may be personal the sacrifice of Christ already sanctifies our gift. (2 Chronicles 29:5-18) Should we not, then, present ourselves to God once for all time and also daily. We should not present ourselves to sin at any time. We can only do this through the Holy Spirit’s strength. Bancroft in Elemental Theology suggests that when things were consecrated to God in the Old Testament God often sent down fire to receive the offering. Perhaps in our present day consecration (giving ourselves as a gift to God as a living sacrifice) will cause the Spirit to work in us in a special way to give us power over sin and to live for God. (Fire is a word often associated with the Holy Spirit’s power.) See Acts 1:1-8 and 2:1-4.

We must continue to give ourselves to God and obey him on a daily basis, bringing each revealed failure into conformity to God’s will. This is how we become mature. To understand what God wants in our lives and to see our failures we must search the Scriptures. The word light is often used to describe the Bible. The Bible can do many things and one is to light our way and reveal sin. Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Reading the Word of God is part of our “to do” list.

The Word of God is probably the most important thing God has given us in our journey toward holiness. 2 Peter 1:2&3 says “According as His power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue.” It says everything we need is through the knowledge of Jesus and the only place to find such knowledge is in God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 3:18 carries this even further by saying, ” We all, with unveiled face beholding, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Here it gives us something to do. God by His Spirit will change us, transform us a step at a time, if we are beholding Him. James refers to Scripture as a mirror. So we need to behold Him in the only obvious place we can, the Bible. William Evans in “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” says this on page 66 about this verse: “The tense is interesting here: We are being transformed from one degree of character or glory to another.”

The writer of the hymn “Take Time to Be Holy” must have understood this when he wrote:n”By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be, The friends in thy conduct, His likeness shall see.”

 

The conclusion to this of course is I John 3:2 when “we shall be like Him, when we see Him as He is.” Even though we don’t understand how God does this, if we obey by reading and studying the Word of God, He will do His part of transforming, changing, completing and finishing His work. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) says to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The NIV says to be one “who rightly handles the word of truth.”

It is commonly and jokingly said at times that when we spend time with someone we begin to “look” like them, but it is often true. We do tend to mimic people we spend time with, acting and talking like them. For instance, we might mimic an accent (like we do if we move to a new area of the country), or we might mimic hand gestures or other mannerisms. Ephesians 5:1 tells us “Be ye imitators or Christ as dear children.” Children love to mimic or imitate and so we should mimic Christ. Remember we do this by spending time with Him. Then we will copy His life, character and values; His very attitudes and attributes.

John 15 talks about spending time with Christ in a different way. It says we should abide in Him. Part of abiding is to spend time studying Scripture. Read John 15:1-7. Here it says “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you.” These two things are inseparable. It means more than just cursory reading, it means reading, thinking about it and putting it into practice. That the opposite is also true is apparent from the verse “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (I Corinthians 15:33) So pick carefully where and with whom you spend time.

Colossians 3:10 says the new self is to be “renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. John 17:17 says “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Here is expressed the absolute necessity of the Word in our sanctification. The Word specifically shows us (as in a mirror) where the flaws are and where we need to change. Jesus also said in John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Romans 7:13 says “But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.” We know what God wants through the Word. So we must fill our minds with it. Romans 12:2 entreats us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We need to turn from thinking the world’s way to thinking God’s way. Ephesians 4:22 says to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Philippians 2:5 sys “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Scripture reveals what is the mind of Christ. There is no other way to learn these things than to saturate ourselves with the Word.

Colossians 3:16 tells us to “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:2 tells us to “set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.” This is more than just thinking about them but also asking God to put His desires into our hearts and minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 admonishes us, saying “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Scripture teaches us everything we need to know about God the Father, God the Spirit and God the Son. Remember it tells us “all we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us.” 2 Peter 1:3 God tells us in I Peter 2:2 that we grow as Christians through learning the Word. It says “As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” The NIV translates it this way, “that you may grow up in your salvation.” It is our spiritual food. Ephesians 4:14 indicates that God wants us to be mature, not babies. I Corinthians 13:10-12 talks about putting away childish things. In Ephesians 4:15 He wants us to “GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM.”

The Scripture is powerful. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God also says in Isaiah 55:11 that when His word is spoken or written or in any way is sent out into the world it will accomplish the work it is intended to do; it will not return void. As we have seen, it will convict of sin and will convince people of Christ; it will bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ.

Romans 1:16 says the gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Corinthians says “the message of the cross…is to us who are being saved…the power of God.” In much the same way it can convict and convince the believer.

We have seen that 2 Corinthians 3:18 and James 1:22-25 refer to the Word of God as a mirror. We look into a mirror to see what we are like. I once taught a Vacation Bible School course entitled “See Yourself in God’s Mirror.” I also know a chorus which describes the Word as a “mirror our lives to see.” Both express the same idea. When we look into the Word, reading and studying it as we should, we see ourselves. It will often show us sin in our life or some way in which we fall short. James tells us what we should not do when we see ourselves. “If any one is not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes his face, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” Similar to this is when we say that the Word of God is light. (Read John 3:19-21 and I John 1:1-10.) John says we should walk in the light, seeing ourselves as revealed in the light of God’s Word. It tells us that when the light reveals sin we need to confess our sin. That means to admit or acknowledge what we have done and admit it is sin. It does not mean to plead or beg or do some good deed to earn our forgiveness from God but to simply agree with God and acknowledge our sin.

There is really good news here. In verse 9 God says that if we but confess our sin, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin,’ but not only that but “to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This means He cleanses us from sin we are not even conscious or aware of. If we fail, and sin again, we need to confess it again, as often as necessary, until we are victorious, and we are no longer tempted.

However, the passage also tells us that if we don’t confess, our fellowship with the Father is broken and we will continue to fail. If we obey He will change us, if we don’t we won’t change. In my opinion this is the most important step in sanctification. I think this is what we do when Scripture says to put off or put aside sin, as in Ephesians 4:22. Bancroft in Elemental Theology says of 2 Corinthians 3:18 “we are being transformed from one degree of character or glory to another.” Part of that process is to see ourselves in God’s mirror and we must confess the faults we see. It takes some effort on our part to stop our bad habits. The power to change comes through Jesus Christ. We must trust Him and ask Him to the part we cannot do.

Hebrews 12:1&2 says we should ‘lay aside…the sin which so easily ensnares us… looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” I think this is what Paul meant when he said in Romans 6:12 not to let sin reign in us and what he meant in Romans 8:1-15 about allowing the Spirit to do His work; to walk in the Spirit or to walk in the light; or any of the other ways God explains the co-operative work between our obedience and trusting in God’s work through the Spirit. Psalm 119:11 tells us to memorize Scripture. It says “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” John 15:3 says “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” The Word of God will remind us both not to sin and will convict us when we do sin.

There are many other verses to help us. Titus 2:11-14 says to: 1. Deny ungodliness. 2. Live godly in this present age. 3. He will redeem us from every lawless deed. 4. He will purify for Himself His own special people.

2 Corinthians 7:1 says to cleanse ourselves. Ephesians 4:17-32 and Colossians 3:5-10 lists some sins we need to quit. It gets very specific. The positive part (our action) comes in Galatians 5:16 which tells us to walk in the Spirit. Ephesians 4:24 tells us to put on the new man.

Our part is described both as walking in the light and as walking in the Spirit. Both the Four Gospels and the Epistles are full of positive actions we should do. These are actions we are commanded to do such as “love,” or “pray” or “encourage.”

In possibly the best sermon I have ever heard, the speaker said love is something you do; as opposed to something you feel. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I think such actions describe what God means when He commands us to “walk in the Spirit,” doing what He commands us while at the same time we trust Him to change our inward attitudes such as anger or resentment.

I really think that if we occupy ourselves with doing the positive actions God commands, we will find ourselves with far less time to get into trouble. It has a positive effect on how we feel as well. As Galatians 5:16 says “walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Romans 13:14 says “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Another aspect to consider: God will chasten and correct His children if we continue to follow a path of sin. That path leads to destruction in this life, if we do not confess our sin. Hebrews 12:10 says He chastens us “for our profit, that we might be made partakers of His holiness.” Verse 11 says “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” Read Hebrews 12:5-13. Verse 6 says “For whom the Lord loves He chastens.” Hebrews 10:30 says the “Lord will judge His people.” John 15:1-5 says He prunes the vines so they will bear more fruit.

If you find yourself in this situation go back to I John 1:9, acknowledge and confess your sin to Him as often as you need to and start again. I Peter 5:10 says, “May God…after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.” Discipline teaches us perseverance and steadfastness. Remember, however, that confession may not remove consequences. Colossians 3:25 says, “He who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” I Corinthians 11:31 says “But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” Verse 32 adds, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined.”

This process of becoming like Christ will continue as long as we live in our earthly body. Paul says in Philippians 3:12-15 that he had not already attained, neither was he already perfect, but he would continue to press on and pursue the goal. 2 Peter 3:14 and 18 say we should “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” and to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

I Thessalonians 4:1, 9&10 tell us to “abound more and more” and “increase more and more” in love toward others. Another translation says to “excel still more.” 2 Peter 1:1-8 tells us to add one virtue to another. Hebrews 12:1&2 says we should run the race with endurance. Hebrews 10:19-25 encourages us to continue and never give up. Colossians 3:1-3 says to”set our minds on things above.” This means to put it there and keep it there.

Remember it is God who is doing this as we obey. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Bancroft in Elemental Theology says on page 223 ” Sanctification begins at the inception of the believer’s salvation and is co-extensive with his life on earth and will reach its climax and perfection when Christ returns.” Ephesians 4:11-16 says being a part of a local group of believers will help us reach this goal as well. “till we all come…to a perfect man …that we may grow up into him,” and that the body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Titus 2:11&12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” I Thessalonians 5:22-24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

This is a very common question for which the bible has very definitive answers. I suggest you read I Corinthians chapters 12 through chapter 14. You need to read up on the lists of gifts in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. I Peter 4:10 implies that each believer ( for that is to whom the book is written) has a spiritual gift.”

As each one has received a special gift , employ it in serving one another…”,NASV. That is a gift not one in Particular, This is not a talent such as music etc. which we are born with. But a spiritual gift. Ephesians says in 4:7-8 that He gave us gifts and verses 11-16 lists some of these gifts. Tongues is not even mentioned here.

The purpose of these gifts is to help each other grow. All the way to the end of chapter 5 teaches that the most important thing is to walk in love just as in I Cor. 13, where it is also speaking of gifts. Romans 12 presents gift in the context of sacrifice, service and humility and speaks of a spiritual gift as a measure of faith allotted to us or given to us by God.

Here is a key verse which is very important in considering any gift. Verse 4 -9 Tells us that as we given to us, are all members of Christ, yet we are different so are our gifts , and I quote, “And since we have gifts that DIFFER according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly.” It goes on to explain several gifts specifically and the goes on to speak of the importance of love. Read on in the context to see how we are to love, so practical and amazing.

There is no mention of the gift of tongues here either. For that you need to go to I Cor, 12-14. Verse 4 says there are varieties of gifts. Verse 7,

Now to each one is given>the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” He then says the to ONE is given this gift and to Another a different gift, Not all the same. The context of the passage is just what your question is asking, should we all speak in tongues. Verse 11 says, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as HE wills.”

He links this to the human body with many examples to make it clear, Verse 18 says he has placed us in the body just as He desired for the common good, to say that we are not all hands, or eyes etc. or we would not function well, so in the body we need to have different gift to function as we should and grow as believers. Then He lists the gifts, in order of importance not by its value as to person but by need by using the words, first, second, third and the listing the others and ending with kinds of tongues.

By the way the first use of tongues was at Pentecost where each heard in his own language. He ends by asking retaurical question, you know the answers too. “All do not speak in tongues, DO they.” The answer is NO! I love verse 31, “ Earnestly ( the king James says, Covet ), the greater gifts.” We couldn’t do that if we didn’t know which were greater, could we. Then the discourse on LOVE. Then 14:1 says, “PERSUE LOVE YET DESIRE EARNESTLY SPIRITUAL GIFTS ESPECIALLY“, THE FIRST ONE LISTED. He then explains why prophecy is better because, it edifies, exhorts and consoles ( verse 3 ).

In verses 18 and 19 Paul says he would rather spoke they spoke 5 words of prophecy, that’s what he’s talking about, than ten thousand in a tongue. Please read the whole chapter. In short, you do have at least one spiritual gift, given to you by the Spirit when you were born again, but you may ask or seek others. You can’t learn them. They are gifts given by the Spirit.

Why start at the bottom for others when you should covet the best gifts. Someone I heard teaching on gifts said that if you don’t know what your gift is start serving in ways which are comfortable, for instance teaching or even giving , and it will become apparent. Maybe you are and encourager or show mercy or are an apostle ( means missionary) or an evangelist.

The subject of masturbation is difficult because it is not mentioned in an unmistakable way in the Word of God. So it is possible to say there are situations in which it is not sin. However, most people who masturbate regularly are definitely involved in sinful behavior in some way. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” To look at pornography and then masturbate because of the sexual desires caused by the pornography is definitely sin.

Matthew 7:17&18 “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” I realize that in context this is talking about false prophets, but the principle would seem to apply. You can tell whether something is good or bad by the fruit, the consequences, of doing it. What are the consequences of masturbation?

It distorts God’s plan for sex in marriage. Sex in marriage is not for procreation only, God designed it to be an extremely pleasurable experience that would bind the husband and wife together. When a man or a woman reaches climax, a number of chemicals are released in the brain creating a sense of pleasure, relaxation and well-being. One of these is chemically an opiod, very similar to the derivatives of opium. Not only does it produce a number of pleasing sensations, but like all opiods, it also produces a strong desire to repeat the experience. In essence, sex is addictive. This is why it is so difficult for sexual predators to give up rape or molestation, they become addicted to the opiod rush in their brains every time they repeat their sinful behavior. Eventually, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for them to really enjoy any other kind of sexual experience.

Masturbation produces the same chemical release in the brain as marital sex or rape or molestation does. It is a purely physical experience without the sensitivity to the emotional needs of another that is so critical in marital sex. The person who masturbates gets sexual release without the hard work of building a loving relationship with their spouse. If they masturbate after watching pornography, they see the object of their sexual desire as something to be used for gratification, not as a real person created in the image of God who is to be treated with respect. And although it does not happen in every case, masturbation can become a quick fix for sexual needs that does not require the hard work of building a personal relationship with the opposite sex, and can become more desirable to the one who masturbates than marital sex. And just like it does with the sexual predator, it can become so addictive that marital sex is no longer desired. Masturbation can also make it easier for men or women to be involved in same sex relationships where the sexual experience is two people masturbating each other.

To sum this up, God created men and women as sexual beings whose sexual needs were to be met in marriage. All other sexual relations outside of marriage are clearly condemned in Scripture, and although masturbation is not clearly condemned, there are enough negative consequences to cause men and women who want to please God and who want to have a God honoring marriage to avoid it.
The next question is how can a person who has become addicted to masturbating get free from it. It needs to be said up front that if this is a long standing habit it can be very difficult to break. The first step is to get God on your side and the Holy Spirit working within you to break the habit. In other words, you need to get saved. Salvation comes from believing the Gospel. I Corinthians 15:2-4 says, By this gospel you are saved…For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” You must admit that you have sinned, tell God you believe the Gospel, and ask Him to forgive you based on the fact that Jesus paid for your sins when He died on the cross. If a person understands the message of salvation revealed in the Bible, he knows that asking God to save him is essentially asking God to do three things: to save him from the eternal consequence of sin (eternity in Hell), to save him from slavery to sin in this life, and to take him to heaven when he dies where he will be saved from the very presence of sin.

Being saved from the power of sin is a very important concept to understand. Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6:1-14, among other Scriptures, teach that we are placed in Christ when we accept Him as our Savior, and that a part of that is that we are crucified with Him and that the power of sin to control us is broken. This does not mean we are automatically free from all sinful habits, but that we now have the power to break free through the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. If we continue to live in sin, it is because we have not taken advantage of everything God has given us in order that we might be free. 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

A critical part of this process is given in Galatians 5:16&17. It says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Notice it does not say that the flesh cannot do what it wants. Nor does it say that the Holy Spirit cannot do what He wants. It says YOU are not able to do whatever you want. Most people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior have sins to want to break free from. Most of them also have sins they are either not aware of or they are not ready to give up yet. What you cannot do after accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is expect the Holy Spirit to give you the power to break free from the sins you want to break free from while continuing in the sins you want to hold on to.

I had a man tell me once that he was going to give up on Christianity because he had begged God for years to help him get free from his addiction to alcohol. I asked him if he was still having sexual relations with his girlfriend. When he said, “Yes,” I said, “So you are telling the Holy Spirit to leave you alone while you sin in that way, while asking him to give you the power to break free from your addiction to alcohol. That won’t work.” God will sometimes let us stay in bondage to one sin because we are unwilling to give up another sin. If you want the Holy Spirit’s power, you have to get it on God’s terms.

So if you masturbate habitually and want to stop, and have asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, the next step would be to tell God you want to obey everything the Holy Spirit tells you to do and you especially want God to tell you the sins He is most concerned about in your life. In my experience, God is often far more concerned about sins I am oblivious to, than He is concerned about the sins I am worrying about. Practically speaking, that means sincerely asking God to show you any unconfessed sin in your life and then daily telling the Holy Spirit that you are going to obey everything He asks you to do all day and evening. The promise in Galatians 5:16 is true, “walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Victory over something as entrenched as habitual masturbation may take time. You may slip up and masturbate again. I John 1:9 says that if you confess your failure to God He will forgive you and also purify you from all unrighteousness. If you make the commitment to confess your sin immediately when you fail, it will be a strong deterrent. The closer to the failure the confession comes, the closer you are to victory. Eventually, you will probably find yourself confessing the sinful desire to God before you sin and asking God for his help to obey Him. When that happens you are very close to victory.

If you still struggle, there is one more thing that is very helpful. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” A very private sin like masturbation should not ordinarily be confessed to a group of men and women, but finding one person or several people of the same sex who will hold you accountable can be very helpful. They should be mature Christians who care deeply about you and who are willing to regularly ask you hard questions about how you are doing. Knowing a Christian friend is going to look you in the eye and ask have you failed in this area can be a very positive incentive to do the right thing consistently.

Victory in this area can be difficult but definitely is possible. May God bless you as you seek to obey Him.

If you are truly serious in finding God’s will in this situation, I think the first question that must be answered is, was there deliberate fraud in contracting the marriage in order to get a visa in the first place.  I don’t know if you stood before a civil representative of the government or before a Christian minister.  I don’t know whether you simply said, “I want to marry this person,” without giving any reason, or promised “to cleave unto them only until death do you part.”  If you stood before a civil magistrate who knew what you were doing and why, I suppose there may not be any sin involved.  But if you publicly made vows to God, that is a different matter entirely.

The next question to be answered is, are both of you followers of Jesus Christ?  The next question after that is, do both parties want out of the “marriage” or does only one.  If you are a believer, and the other person is an unbeliever, I believe Paul’s advice based on I Corinthians chapter seven would be to let them get a divorce if that is what they want.  If both of you are believers or if the unbeliever does not want to leave, it gets a little more complicated.  God said before Eve was created, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”  Paul says in I Corinthians chapter seven that because of the lure of sexual immorality it is better for both men and women to be married so that their sexual needs are met in the sexual relationship with each other.  Obviously a marriage that is never consummated does not meet either partner’s sexual needs.

Without knowing more of the situation, I find it impossible to give any more advice.  If you want to give me more details, I would be glad to try to give more biblical advice.

In answer to your second question about whether an unwed mother is obligated to marry the father of her child, the simple answer is no.  It is sexual union, not conception and childbirth, that binds a man and woman together.  The woman at the well had had five husbands and the man she currently had was not her husband, even though the Greek as well as the English implies a sexual relationship.  In Genesis 38 Tamar conceived and had twins by Judah but there is no indication that he married her or should have married her.  Verse 26 says “he did not know her again.”  While it is best for a child to be raised by its biological parents, if the biological father is not a fit to be a husband or father, it would be foolish to marry him just because he is the biological father of a child.

One of the things that the Bible is very clear about is that adultery, sex with someone other than your spouse, is sin.

Hebrews 13:4 says, “marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

The word translated “sexually immoral” means any sexual relationship other than one between a man and a woman who are married to each other. It is used in I Thessalonians 4:3-8 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.

The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

The spirit world is very real.  Satan and the evil spirits under his control are constantly waging war against people.  According to John 10:10, he is a thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”  People who have allied themselves with Satan (sorcerers, witches, those who practice black magic) can influence evil spirits to cause harm to people.  Being involved in any of these practices is strictly forbidden.  Deuteronomy 18:9-12 says, “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.  Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.”

It is important to remember that Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44) and much of what anyone who is associated with him says will be untrue.  It is also important to remember that Satan is compared to a roaring lion in I Peter 5:8.  Only old, largely toothless, old male lions roar.  Young lions sneak up on their prey as quietly as possible.  The purpose of a lion roaring is to scare their prey into making foolish decisions.  Hebrews 2:14&15 talks about Satan having power over people because of fear, specifically their fear of death.

The good news is that one of the benefits of becoming a Christian is that we are removed from Satan’s kingdom and placed in God’s kingdom under God’s protection.  Colossians 1:13&14 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  I John 5:18 (ESV) says, “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

So the first step in protecting yourself is to become a Christian.  Admit you have sinned.  Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Next admit that your sin deserves God’s punishment.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.”  Believe that Jesus paid the penalty for your sin when He died on the cross; believe He was buried and then rose again.  Read I Corinthians 15:1-4 and John 3:14-16.  Finally, ask Him to be your Savior.  Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Remember, you are asking Him to do something for you that you cannot do for yourself (Romans 4:1-8).  (If you still have questions about whether or not you have been saved, there is an excellent article about “Assurance of Salvation” on the Frequently Asked Questions section of the PhotosforSouls website.

So what can Satan do to a Christian.  He can tempt us (I Thessalonians 3:5).  He can try to scare into doing things that are wrong (I Peter 5:8&9; James 4:7).  He can cause things to happen that hinder us from doing what we want to do (I Thessalonians 2:18).  He cannot really do anything else to harm us without getting permission from God (Job 1:9-19; 2:3-8), unless we choose to make ourselves vulnerable to his attacks and schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18).  There are several things people do to make themselves vulnerable to Satan harming them: worshiping idols or engaging in occultic practices (I Corinthians 10:14-22; Deuteronomy 18:9-12); living in persistent rebellion against the revealed will of God (I Samuel 15:23; 18:10); holding onto anger is also specifically mentioned (Ephesians 4:27).

So if you are a Christian, what should you do if you think someone is using black magic, sorcery or witchcraft against you.  Remember that you are God’s child and under His protection and do not give in to fear (I John 4:4; 5:18).  Pray on a regular basis, as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:13, “deliver us from the evil one.”  Rebuke in Jesus’ Name any thoughts of fear or condemnation (Romans 8:1).  Obey everything you know God is telling you to do in His Word.  Unless you have previously given Satan the right to be involved in your life, this should be enough.

If you have previously been personally involved in idolatry, witchcraft, sorcery or black magic or made yourself vulnerable to Satan’s attacks by persistent rebellion against what God tells us to do in His Word, you may need to do more.  First say out loud: “I renounce Satan and all his works.”  In the early days of the church this was a common requirement for people coming to be baptized.  If you can do this freely without sensing any spiritual hindrance, you are probably not in bondage.  If you cannot, find a group of Bible believing followers of Jesus, including a pastor if possible, and have them pray over you, asking God to deliver you from Satan’s power.  Ask them to keep praying until they sense in their spirits that you have been delivered from any spiritual bondage.  Remember Satan was defeated at the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).  As a Christian you belong to the Creator of the universe Who wants you to be totally free from anything Satan would try to do to you.

            There are some things that the Bible teaches that I absolutely love, such as how much God loves us.  There are other things that I actually wish were not there, but my study of Scripture has convinced me that, If I am going to be completely honest in how I handle Scripture, I have to believe it teaches that the lost will suffer eternal torment in Hell.

Those who would question the idea of eternal torment in Hell will often say that the words used to describe the duration of the torment do not exactly mean eternal.  And while this is true, that the Greek of New Testament times did not have and use a word exactly equivalent to our word eternal, the writers of the New Testament used the words available to them to describe both how long we will live with God and how long the ungodly will suffer in Hell.  Matthew 25:46 says, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”  The same words translated eternal are used to describe God in Romans 16:26 and the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 9:14.  2 Corinthians 4:17&18 helps us understand what the Greek words translated “eternal” really mean.  It says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Mark 9:48b “It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”  Jude 13c “For whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”  Revelation 14:10b&11 “They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.  There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”  All these passages indicate something that does not end.

Perhaps the strongest indication that punishment in Hell is eternal is found in Revelation chapters 19&20.  In Revelation 19:20 we read that the beast and the false prophet (both human beings) “were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”  After that it says in Revelation 20:1-6 that Christ reigns for a thousand years.  During those thousand years Satan is locked up in the Abyss but Revelation 20:7 says, “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison.”  After he makes a final attempt to defeat God we read in Revelation 20:10, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  The word “they” includes the beast and the false prophet who have already been there for a thousand years.

Many people have the mistaken idea that people are born Christians.  It may be true that people are born into a family where one or more parent is a believer in Christ, but that does not make a person a Christian.  You may be born into the home of a particular religion but eventually each person must choose what he or she believes.

Joshua 24:15 says, “choose you this day whom you will serve.”  A person is not born a Christian, it is about choosing the way of salvation from sin, not choosing a church or a religion.

Each religion has its own god, the creator of their world, or great leader who is the central teacher who teaches the way to immortality.  They may be similar or totally different from the God of the Bible.  Most people are deluded into thinking that all religions lead to a single god, but are worshiped in various ways.  With this sort of thinking there are either multiple creators or many paths to god.  However, when inspected, most groups claim to be the only way.  Many even think Jesus is a great teacher, but He is far more than that.  He is God’s one and only Son (John 3:16).

The Bible says there is only one God and one way to come to Him.  I Timothy 2:5 says, “There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”  Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father, but through me.”  The Bible teaches that the God of Adam, Abraham and Moses is our Creator, God and Savior.

The Book of Isaiah has many, many references to the God of the Bible being the only God and Creator.  Actually it is stated in the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Isaiah 43:10&11 says, “so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.  Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.  I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.”

Isaiah 54:5, where God is speaking to Israel, says, “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is His name – the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, He is called the God of all the earth.”    He is the Almighty God, the Creator of all the earth.  Hosea 13:4 says, “there is no Savior besides Me.”  Ephesians 4:6 says there is “one God and Father of us all.”

There are many, many more verses:

Psalm 95:6

Isaiah 17:7

Isaiah 40:25 calls Him the “Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 43:3 calls Him, “God the Holy One of Israel”

Isaiah 5:13 calls Him, “Your Maker”

Isaiah 45:5,21&22 say there is , “no other God.”

See also:  Isaiah 44:8; Mark 12:32; I Corinthians 8:6 and Jeremiah 33:1-3

The Bible clearly says He is the only God, the only Creator, the only Savior and clearly shows us Who He is.  So what makes the God of the Bible different and sets Him apart.  He is the One Who says that faith provides a way of forgiveness from sins apart from trying to earn it by our goodness or good deeds.

Scripture clearly shows us that the God Who created the world loves all of mankind, so much that He sent His only Son to save us, to pay the debt or punishment for our sins.  John 3:16&17 say, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…that the world should be saved through Him.”  I John 4:9&14 say, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him…The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  I John 5:16 says, “God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son.”  Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  I John 2:2 says, “He Himself is the propitiation (just payment) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  Propitiation means to make atonement or payment for the debt of our sin.  I Timothy 4:10 says, God is the “Savior of all men.”

So how does a person appropriate this salvation for himself?   How does one become a Christian?  Let’s look at John chapter three where Jesus Himself explains this to a Jewish leader, Nicodemus.  He came to Jesus at night with questions and misunderstandings and Jesus gave him answers, the answers we all need, the answers to the questions you are asking.  Jesus told him that to become a part of the Kingdom of God he needed to be born again.  Jesus told Nicodemus that He (Jesus) had to be lifted up (speaking of the cross, where He would die to pay for our sin), which was historically soon to occur.

Jesus then told him that there was one thing he needed to do, BELIEVE, believe that God sent Him to die for our sin; and this was not true for Nicodemus only, but also for “the whole world,” including you as quoted in I John 2:2.  Matthew 26:28 says, “this is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  See also I Corinthians 15:1-3, which says this is the gospel that, “He died for our sins.”

In John 3:16 He said to Nicodemus, telling him what he must do, “that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.”  John 1:12 tells us we become God’s children and John 3:1-21 (read the whole passage) tells us we are “born again.”  John 1:12 puts it this way, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to them that believe in His name.”

John 4:42 says, “for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  This is what we all must do, believe.  Read Romans 10:1-13 which ends by saying, “whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is what Jesus was sent by His Father to do and as He died He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  Not only had He finished God’s work but the words “It is finished” mean literally in Greek, “Paid in full,” the words which were written on a prisoner’s release document when he was set free and that meant his punishment was legally “paid in full.”  Thus Jesus was saying our penalty of death for sin (see Romans 6:23 which says the wages or penalty of sin is death) had been paid in full by Him.

The good news is that this salvation is free to all the world (John 3:16).Romans 6:23 not only says, “the wages of sin is death,’ but it also says, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Read Revelation 22:17.  It says, “Whoever will let him take of the water of life freely.”  Titus 3:5&6 says, “not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us…”  What a wonderful salvation God has provided.

As we have seen, it is the only way.  However, we must also read what God says in John 3:17&18 and in verse 36.  Hebrews 2:3 says, “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?”  John 3:15&16 says those who believe have eternal life, but verse 18 says, “whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  Verse 36 says, “but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”  In John 8:24 Jesus said, “unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sin.”

Why is this?  Acts 4:12 tells us!  It says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  There is simply no other way.  We need to give up our ideas and notions and accept God’s way.  Luke 13:3-5 says, “unless you repent (which literally means to change your mind in Greek) you shall all likewise perish.”  The punishment for all who do not believe and receive Him is that they will be punished eternally for their deeds (their sins).

Revelation 20:11-15 says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.  Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.  The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death.  If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.”

Read Revelation 22:17 again and also John chapter 10.  John 6:37 says, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out…”  John 6:40 says, “It is the will of your Father that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.  Read Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-16.  If you believe you will be saved.

As we discussed, one is not born a Christian but entering the Kingdom of God is an act of faith, a choice for whosoever will to believe and be born into God’s family.  I John 5:1 says, Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”  Jesus will save us forever and our sins will be forgiven. Read Galatians 1:1-8  This is not my opinion, but God’s Word.  Jesus is the only Savior, the only way to God, the only way to find forgiveness.

We have received two questions which we feel are related/ or very important to each other so we are going to connect or link them online.

If Jesus was not a real person then whatever is said or written about Him is pointless, merely opinion and untrustworthy.  Then we have no Savior from sin. No other religious figure in history, or faith, makes the claims He did and promises forgiveness of sin and an eternal home in Heaven with God.  Without Him we have no hope of heaven.

Actually, Scripture predicted that deceivers would question His existence and deny that He came in the flesh as a real person.  2 John 7 says, “many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh…this is the deceiver and the anti-Christ.”  I John 4:2&3 says, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the anti-Christ, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

You see, the Divine Son of God had to come as a real person, Jesus, to take our place, to save us by paying the penalty of sin, dying for us; because Scripture says, “without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22).  Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.”  Hebrews 10:5 says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.’ “  I Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3 says, “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.”  See also I Peter 4:1 and I Timothy 3:18.  He had to be a substitute as a person.

If Jesus was not real, but a myth, then what He taught is just made up, there is no reality in Christianity, no gospel and no salvation.

Early historical evidence shows us (or corroborates) that He is real and only those who want to discredit His teaching, especially the gospel, claim that He did not exist.  There is no evidence that says He was a story or a fantasy.  Not only does the Bible predict that people would say He wasn’t real, but historical records give us proof that the biblical accounts are accurate and are an actual historical record of His life.

Interestingly, the fact that it is expressed in these terms, “He came in the flesh,” implies that He pre-existed His birth.

My sources for the evidence presented come from bethinking.com and Wikipedia.  Search these sites to read the evidence in full.  Wikipedia on the historicity of Jesus says, “Historicity relates to whether or not Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure” and “very few scholars have argued for non-historicity and have not succeeded due the abundance of evidence to the contrary.”  It also says, “With very few exceptions such critics generally do support the historicity of Jesus and reject the Christ myth theory that Jesus never existed.” These sites give five sources with historical references concerning Jesus as an actual real historical person: Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Josephus, Lucian and the Babylonian Talmud.

1) Tacitus wrote that Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome, describing Him as “Christus” who suffered the “extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate.”

2) Pliny the Younger refers to Christians as “worshipping” by “a hymn to Christ as to a god.”

3) Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, references, “James, the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ.”  He also wrote another reference to Jesus as a real person, who “wrought surprising feats,” and “Pilate…condemned him to be crucified.”

4) Lucian states, “Christians worship a man of this day…who introduced their novel rites and was crucified on that account…and worship the crucified sage.”

What seems extraordinary to me is that these first century historical people who acknowledge that He was real were all people who hated or at least did not believe in Him, such as the Jews or Romans, or skeptics.  Tell me, why would His enemies acknowledge Him as a real person if it were not true.

5) Another amazing source is the Babylonian Talmud, a Jewish Rabbinical writing.  It describes His life and death just as Scripture does.  It says they hated Him and why they hated Him.  In it they say they thought of Him as a person Who threatened their beliefs and political aspirations.  They wanted the Jews to crucify Him.  The Talmud says He was “hanged,” which was commonly used to describe crucifixion, even in the Bible (Galatians 3:13).  The reason given for this was “sorcery” and his death occurred “on the eve of the Passover.” It says He “practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.”  This concurs with Scriptural teaching and its description of the Jewish view of Jesus.  For example, the mention of sorcery coincides with the Scripture which states that Jewish leaders accused Jesus of doing miracles by Beelzebul and said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of  the demons” (Mark3:22).  They also said, “He leads the multitude astray” (John 7:12).  They claimed He would destroy Israel (John 11:47&48).  All of this certainly confirms He was real.

He did come and He certainly did change things.  He brought in the promised New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:38), which brought about redemption.  When a New Covenant is made, the old one passes away.   (Read Hebrews chapters 9&10.)

Matthew 26:27&28 says, “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ “   According to John 1:11, the Jews rejected Him.

Interestingly enough, Jesus also prophesied the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jews by the Romans.  The destruction of the temple happened in 70 AD.  When this occurred the whole Old Testament system was also destroyed; the temple, the priests offering perpetual sacrifices, everything.

So the New Covenant which God had promised literally and historically replaced the Old Testament system.  How could a religion, if it was merely a myth, based on a mythical person, result in a religion which changes lives and has now lasted for almost 2,000 years?  (Yes, Jesus was real!)

 

 

            The Bible does not use the term, “cashless society”, but it does indirectly imply it when it talks about the Anti-Christ who with the help of the False Prophet desecrates the temple in Jerusalem during the Tribulation.  This event is called the Abomination of Desolation. The Mark of the Beast is only mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18; 14:9-12 and 19:20.  Obviously if the ruler requires his mark to buy or sell, it implies society will be cashless.  Revelation 13:16-18 says, “He causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is,the name of the beast or the number of its name.  This calls for wisdom, let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

The Beast (Anti-Christ) is a world ruler who, with the power of the dragon (Satan – Revelation 12:9 & 13:2) and the help of the False Prophet sets himself up and demands to be worshiped as God.  This specific event occurs in the middle of the tribulation when he stops the offerings and the sacrifices in the temple.  (Read carefully Daniel 9:24-27; 11:31 & 12:11; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and Revelation chapter 13.)  The False Prophet demands that an image of the Beast be built and be worshiped.  These events occur during the Tribulation where in Revelation 13 we see the Anti-Christ requiring his mark on everyone in order for them to buy or sell.

Taking the mark of the Beast will be a choice but 2 Thessalonians 2 shows that those who refuse to accept Jesus as God and Savior from sin will be blinded and deceived.  Most born again believers are convinced the Rapture of the church occurs before this and that we will not suffer God’s wrath (I Thessalonians 5:9).  I think many people fear we may accidentally take this mark.  God’s word says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind.”  Most of the passages on this topic say that we should have wisdom and understanding.  I think that we should read the Scriptures and study  them carefully so we are knowledgeable concerning this topic.  We are in the process of answering other questions on this subject (the Tribulation).  Please read them when they are posted and read other web sites by reputable Evangelical sources and read and study these Scriptures: The Books of Daniel and Revelation (God promises a blessing on those who read this last book), Matthew chapter 24; Mark chapter 13; Luke chapter 21; I Thessalonians, especially chapters 4 & 5; 2 Thessalonians chapter 2; Ezekiel chapters 33-39; Isaiah  chapter 26; the Book of Amos and any other Scriptures on this topic.

Be careful of cults which predict dates and claim that Jesus is here; instead look for Scriptural signs of the coming of the last days and Jesus’ return, especially 2 Thessalonians 2 and Matthew 24.  There are events which have not occurred yet that must happen before the Tribulation can take place: 1).  The gospel must be preached to all the nations (ethnos).  2).  There will be a new Jewish temple in Jerusalem which is not there yet, but the Jews are ready to build it.  3).  2 Thessalonians 2 indicates that the beast (Anti-Christ, Man of Sin) will be revealed.  As yet we do not know who he is. 4). Scripture reveals he will arise from a 10 nation confederacy made up of nations who have roots in the old Roman Empire (See Daniel 2, 7, 9, 11, 12).  5).  He will make a treaty with many (probably this concerns Israel).  None of these events have occurred as of yet, but all are possible in the near future.  I believe these events are being set up in our lifetime.  Israel is set to build a temple; the European Union does exist, and could easily be the forerunner of the confederacy;  a cashless society is possible and is certainly being discussed today.  Matthew and Luke’s signs of earthquakes and pestilences and wars are certainly true.  It also says we should be watchful and ready for the Lord’s return.

The way to be ready is to follow God by first believing the Gospel about His Son and accepting Him as your Savior.  Read I Corinthians 15:1-4 which says we need to believe that He died on the cross to pay the debt for our sins.    Matthew 26:28 says, “This is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.”  We need to trust and follow Him. 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  Jude 24&25 says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  We can trust and be watchful and not be fearful.  We are warned by Scripture to be ready.  I believe our generation is setting the stage of circumstances to enable the Anti-Christ to gain power and we need to understand God’s Word and be ready by accepting the Victor (Revelation 19:19-21), the Lord Jesus Christ who can give us the victory (I Corinthians 15:58).  Hebrews 2:3 warns, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.”

Read 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.  Verse 10 says, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”  Hebrews 4:2 says, “For we also have had the gospel preached to us just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith.”  Revelation 13:8 says, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the beast), everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”  Revelation 14:9-11 says, “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ ”  Contrast this with God’s promise in John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”  Verse 18 says, “He who believes in Him is not judged; but he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of God’s One and Only Son.”  John 1:12 promises, “Yet to all who received Him, to all who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.”  John 10:28 says, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

The subject of divorce and/or divorce and remarriage is a complicated and controversial one and so I think the best approach is to simply go through all the Scriptures I think have a bearing on the topic and look at them one at a time.  Genesis 2:18 says, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.”  That is a Scripture we should not forget.

Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”  Notice, this precedes the birth of the first children.  From Jesus commentary on this passage it is evident that the ideal is for one man to be married to one woman for life.  Anything else, one man married to two women, divorce, etc. is definitely not the best possible situation.

Exodus 21:10&11 deals with a woman purchased as a slave.  Once she has sex with the man she was purchased for she was no longer a slave, she was his wife.  Verses 10&11 say “If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, her clothing and marital rights.  If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.”  At least in the case of a female slave, this seems to give a woman treated unfairly the right to leave her husband.

Deuteronomy 21:10-14 deals with a man marrying a woman taken captive in war.  Verse 14 says, “If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes.  You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.”  Both Exodus 21 and Deuteronomy 21 seem to be saying that a woman who had no choice in becoming a man’s wife was free to leave him if she was not treated fairly.

Exodus 22:16-17 says, “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.  If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.”

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 teaches that if a man accused his wife of not being a virgin when he married her and the charge was proved true, she was to be stoned to death.  If the charge was found to be false, verse 18&19 say, “the elders shall take the man and punish him.  They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the girl’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name.  She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.”

According to Deuteronomy 22:22 a man found sleeping with another man’s wife was to be put to death, and the woman was to be put to death also.  But a man who raped a virgin had a different punishment.  Deuteronomy 22:28&29 says, “If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver.  He must marry the girl, for he has violated her.  He can never divorce her as long as he lives.”

Deuteronomy 24:1-4a says, “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled.  That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD.”  This passage is probably the basis for the Pharisees asking Jesus if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all.

Taking all three Deuteronomy passages together, it seems that a man could divorce his wife for cause, although what causes justified divorce were debated.  The restriction on a man divorcing his wife if he slept with her before they were married or if he defamed her makes no sense if it was always considered wrong for a man to divorce his wife.

In Ezra 9:1&2 Ezra finds out that many of the Jews who had returned from Babylon had married pagan women.  The rest of chapter 9 records his grief over the situation and his prayer to God.  In chapter 10:11 Ezra says, “Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will.  Separate yourselves from the peoples around and from your foreign wives.” The chapter concludes with a listing of the men who had married foreign women.  In Nehemiah 13:23 Nehemiah encounters the same situation all over again, and he reacts even more forcibly than Ezra.

Malachi chapter 2:10-16 has a lot to say about marriage and divorce, but it is extremely important that it be read in context.  Malachi prophesied either during or shortly after the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.  That means that what he said about marriage must be understood in the light of what God told the people to do through Ezra and Nehemiah, divorce their pagan wives.  Let’s take this passage one verse at a time.

Malachi 2:10 “Have we not all one Father?  Did not one God create us?  Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?”  From the way verses 15&16 use the term “break faith” it is obvious that Malachi is talking about men divorcing their Jewish wives.

Malachi 2:11 “Judah has broken faith.  A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” This apparently means that Jewish men were divorcing their Jewish wives in order to marry pagan wives and continuing to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship.  See verse 13.

Malachi 2:12  “As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob – even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty.”  Nehemiah 13:28&29 says, “One of the sons of Joida son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite.  And I drove him away from me.  Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.”

Malachi 2:13&14 “Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears.  You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.  You ask, ‘Why?’  It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.”  I Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

The first part of verse 15 is difficult to translate and the translations of it vary.  The NIV translation reads, “Has not the LORD made them one?  In flesh and spirit they are his.  And why one?  Because He was seeking godly offspring.  So guard yourself in spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”  What is obvious in every translation I have read is that one of the purposes of marriage is producing godly children.  That is what was so utterly wrong about Jewish men divorcing their Jewish wives and marrying pagan wives.  Such a second marriage would not produce godly children.  It is also obvious in every translation that God is telling the Jewish men not to divorce their Jewish wives so that they can marry pagan women.

Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty.  So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.”  Again, we need to remember when we read this verse that in the Book of Ezra God commanded Jewish men who had married pagan women to divorce their pagan wives.

We now come to the New Testament.  I am going to make the assumption that everything Jesus and Paul said about divorce and remarriage does not contradict the Old Testament, although it may enlarge upon it and make the requirements for divorce more strict.

Matthew 5:31&32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

Luke 16:18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 19:3-9 Some Pharisees came to him to test him.  They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”  “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”  Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard.  But it was not this way from the beginning.  I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Mark 10:2-9 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  “What did Moses command you?” he replied.  They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”  “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied.  “But from the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’  ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Mark 10:10-12 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.  He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.  And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

First, a couple of explanations.  The Greek word translated “marital unfaithfulness” in the NIV is best defined as any sexual act between two people other than between a man and a woman who are married to each other.  It would also include bestiality. Second, since the sin that is specifically mentioned is adultery, it would seem that Jesus is talking about someone divorcing their spouse SO THAT they could marry someone else.  Some of the Jewish rabbis taught that word translated “indecent” in the NIV translation of Deuteronomy 24:1 meant sexual sin.  Others taught that it could mean almost anything.  Jesus seems to be saying that what Deuteronomy 24:1 is referring to is sexual sin.  Jesus never said that divorce in and of itself was committing adultery.

I Corinthians 7:1&2 “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.  But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.”  This seems to run parallel with God’s original comment, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

I Corinthians 7:7-9 “I wish that all men were as I am.  But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.  Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.  But if they cannot control themselves they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”  Singleness is fine if you have the spiritual gift for it, but if you don’t, it is better to be married.

I Corinthians 7:10&11 “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.  But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.  And a husband must not divorce his wife.”  Marriage should be for life, but since Paul says he is quoting Jesus, the sexual sin exception would apply.

I Corinthians 7:12-16 “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.  And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him…But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so.  A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances: God has called us to live  in peace.  How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”  The question the Corinthians were probably asking was: “If in the Old Testament a man who had married a pagan was commanded to divorce her, what about an unbeliever who accepts Christ as his or her Savior and their spouse does not?  Should the unbelieving spouse be divorced?”  Paul says no.  But if they leave, let them go.

I Corinthians 7:24 “Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.”  Getting saved should not lead to an immediate change in marital status.

I Corinthians 7:27&28 (NKJV) “Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek to be loosed.  Are you loosed from a wife?  Do not seek a wife.  But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.  Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.”  The only way I can put this together with Jesus’ teaching on divorce and remarriage and what Paul says in verses 10&11 of this chapter is to believe that Jesus is talking about divorcing a spouse in order to get married and Paul is talking about someone who finds themselves divorced and after a period of time becomes interested in someone who had nothing to do with their being divorced in the first place.

Are there other legitimate reasons for divorce other than sexual sin and/or and unbelieving spouse leaving?  In Mark 2:23&24 the Pharisees are upset because Jesus’ disciples are picking heads of grain and eating them, to the Pharisees way of thinking, both harvesting and threshing grain on the Sabbath.  Jesus’ response is to remind them of David eating the consecrated bread when he was fleeing for his life from Saul.  There are no exceptions listed as to who could eat the consecrated bread, and yet Jesus seems to be saying that what David did was right.  Jesus also frequently asked the Pharisees when questioned about healing on the Sabbath about their watering their livestock or pulling a child or an animal up out of a pit on the Sabbath.  If violating the Sabbath or eating the consecrated bread was OK because life was in danger, I would think that leaving a spouse because life was in danger would not be wrong either.

What about conduct on the part of one spouse that would make raising godly children impossible.  That was grounds for divorce to Ezra and Nehemiah but it is not directly addressed in the New Testament.

What about a man addicted to pornography who is committing adultery in his heart on a regular basis.  (Matthew 5:28)  The New Testament does not address that.

What about a man who refuses to have normal sexual relationships with his wife or provide her with food and clothing.  That is addressed in the case of slaves and captives in the Old Testament, but is not addressed in the New.

Here is what I am sure of:

One man married to one woman for life is the ideal.

It is not wrong to divorce a spouse for sexual sin, but a person is not commanded to do so.  If reconciliation is possible, pursuing it is a good option.

Divorcing a spouse for any reason so that you can marry someone else almost certainly involves sin.

If an unbelieving spouse leaves, you are under no obligation to try to save the marriage.

If staying in a marriage puts human life in danger, either the spouse or the children, a spouse is free to leave with the children.

If a spouse is being unfaithful, the chances of remaining married are better if the spouse being sinned against tells the sinning spouse they must choose either their spouse or the one they are having an affair with rather than just putting up with it.

Refusing normal sexual relationships with your spouse is sin.  (I Corinthians 7:3-5)  Whether it is grounds for divorce is unclear.

A man involved in pornography will usually eventually get involved in actual sexual sin.  Although I cannot prove it Scripturally, experience has taught those who have dealt with this more than I that telling the husband he must choose between his wife or his pornography is more likely to end up with a the marriage being healed than just ignoring the pornography and hoping the husband will stop.

The New Testament talks about prophesying and describes prophecy as a spiritual gift.  Someone asked if a person prophesies today is his utterance equal to Scripture.  The book General Biblical Introduction gives this definition of prophecy on page 18: “Prophecy is the message of God given through a prophet.  It does not imply prediction; in fact none of the Hebrew words for ‘prophecy’ mean prediction.  A prophet was a person who spoke for God…  He was essentially a preacher and a teacher…’according to the uniform teaching of the Bible.’ ”

I would like to give you Scriptures and observations to help you understand this topic.  First I would say that if a person’s prophetic statement were Scripture, we would have volumes of new Scripture continuously and we would have to conclude that the Scripture is incomplete.  Let’s look and see the differences described between prophecy in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

In the Old Testament the prophets were often the leaders of God’s people and God sent them to guide His people and to pave the way for the coming Savior.  God gave His people specific instructions to identify genuine from false prophets.  Please read Deuteronomy 18:17-22 and also chapter 13:1-11 for those tests.  First, if the prophet predicted something, he had to be 100% accurate.  Each prophecy had to come to pass.  Then chapter 13 said that if He told the people to worship any god but the LORD (Jehovah), he was a false prophet and was to be stoned to death.  Prophets also wrote down what they said and what occurred at God’s command and direction.  Hebrews 1:1 says, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.”  These writings were immediately considered to be Scripture – God’s Word.  When the prophets ceased the Jewish people considered that the “canon” (collection) of Scripture had closed, or was completed.

Similarly, the New Testament was largely written by the original disciples or those close to them.  They were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life.  The church accepted their writings as Scripture, and shortly after Jude and Revelation were written, ceased to accept other writings as Scripture.  Actually, they saw the other later writings as contrary to Scripture and false by comparing them to the Scriptures, the words written by the prophets and apostles as Peter said in I Peter 3:1-4, where he tells the church how to determine scoffers and false teaching.  He said, “recall the words of the prophets and commands given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.”

The New Testament says in I Corinthians 14:31 that now every believer can prophesy.

The idea most often given in the New Testament is to TEST everything.  Jude 3 says the “faith” was “once for all delivered to the saints.”  The Book of Revelation, which reveals the future of our world, strictly warns us in chapter 22 verse 18 not to add or subtract anything to the words of that book.  This is a clear indicator that Scripture was completed. But Scripture gives repeated warnings concerning heresy and false teaching as seen in 2 Peter 3:1-3; 2 Peter chapters 2&3; I Timothy 1:3&4; Jude 3&4 and Ephesians 4:14.  Ephesians 4:14&15 says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ.”  Nothing is equal to Scripture, and all so-called prophecy is to be tested by it.  I Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Test everything, hold fast what is good.”  I John 4:1 says, “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.”  We are to test everything, every prophet, every teacher and every doctrine.  The best example of how we do this is found in Acts 17:11.

Acts 17:11 tells us about Paul and Silas.  They went to Berea to preach the Gospel.  Acts tells us that the Berean people received the message eagerly, and they are commended and called noble because “they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true.”  They tested what the Apostle Paul said by the SCRIPTURES.  That is the key.  Scripture is the truth.  It is what we use to test everything.  Jesus called it the Truth (John 17:10).  This is the one and only way to measure anything, person or doctrine, truth versus apostasy, by the Truth – Scripture, the Word of God.

In Matthew 4:1-10 Jesus set the example of how to defeat Satan’s temptations, and also indirectly taught us to use Scripture in order to test and rebuke false teaching.  He used the Word of God, saying, “It is written.”  However this necessitates that we arm ourselves with a thorough knowledge of the Word of God as Peter implied.

The New Testament is different from the Old Testament because in the New Testament God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us whereas in the Old Testament He came upon prophets and teachers often for just a period of time.  We have the Holy Spirit who guides us into truth.    In this new covenant God has saved us and has given us spiritual gifts.  One of these gifts is prophecy.  (See I Corinthians 12:1-11, 28-31; Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:11-16.)  God gave these gifts to help us grow in grace as believers.  We are to use these gifts to the best of our ability (I Peter 4:10&11), not as authoritative, infallible Scripture, but to encourage one another.  2 Peter 1:3 says that God has given us all that we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him (Jesus).  The writing of Scripture seems to have passed from the prophets to the apostles and other eyewitnesses.  Remember that in this new church we are to test everything.  I Corinthians 14:14 & 29-33 says that “all may prophesy, but let the others judge.”  I Corinthians 13:19 says, “we prophesy in part” which, I believe, means that we only have partial understanding.  Therefore we judge everything by the Word as the Bereans did, always being watchful of false teaching.

I think it is wise to say that God teaches and admonishes and encourages His children to follow and live according to Scripture.

There are many different ideas out there about what the Bible actually predicts will happen in the “last days.”  This will be a brief summary of what we believe and why we believe it.  To make sense of the differing positions on the Millennium, the Tribulation and the Rapture of the Church, one must first understand some basic presuppositions.  A fairly large segment of professing Christianity believes in what is often called “Replacement Theology.”  This is the idea that when the Jewish people rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God in turn rejected the Jews and the Jewish people were replaced by the Church as the people of God.  A person who believes this will read the Old Testament prophecies about Israel and say they are spiritually fulfilled in the Church.  When they read the Book of Revelation and find the words “Jews” or “Israel” they will interpret these words to mean the Church.
This idea is closely related to another idea.  Many people believe that statements about future things are all symbolic and not to be taken literally.  A number of years ago I listened to an audio tape on the Book of Revelation and the teacher repeatedly said: “If the plain sense makes common sense seek no other sense or you will end up with nonsense.”  That is the approach we will take with Bible prophecy.  Words will be taken to mean exactly what they ordinarily mean unless there is something in the context that indicates otherwise.
So the first issue to be settled is the issue of “Replacement Theology.”  Paul asks in Romans 11:1&2a “Did God reject his people?  By no means!  I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.  God did not reject his people whom he foreknew.”  Romans 11:5 says, “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.”  Romans 11:11&12 says, “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?  Not at all!  Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.  But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!”
Romans 11:26-29 says, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.  As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.  And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’  As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”  We believe the promises to Israel will be literally fulfilled to Israel and when the New Testament says Israel or Jews it means exactly what it says.
So what does the Bible teach about the Millenium.  The relevant Scripture is Revelation 20:1-7.  The word “millennium” comes from Latin and means a thousand years.  The words “a thousand years” occur six times in the passage and we believe they mean exactly that.  We also believe that Satan will be locked up in the Abyss for that time to keep him from deceiving the nations.  Since verse four says people reign with Christ for a thousand years, we believe Christ comes back before the Millenium.  (The Second Coming of Christ is described in Revelation 19:11-21.)  At the end of the Millenium Satan is released and inspires a final revolt against God which is defeated and then comes the judgment of unbelievers and eternity begins.  (Revelation 20:7-21:1)
So what does the Bible teach about the Tribulation?  The only passage that describes what begins it, how long it is, what happens in the middle of it and the purpose for it is Daniel  9:24-27.  Daniel has been praying about the end of the 70 years of captivity predicted by the prophet Jeremiah.  2 Chronicles 36:20 tells us, “The land enjoyed it sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.”  Simple math tells us that for 490 years, 70×7, the Jews did not observe the sabbath year, and so God removed them from the land for 70 years to give the land its sabbath rest.  The regulations for the sabbath year are in Leviticus 25:1-7.  The punishment for not keeping it is in Leviticus 26:33-35, “I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you.  Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.  Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths.  All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived on it.”
In response to his prayer about seventy sevens of years of unfaithfulness, Daniel is told in Daniel 9:24 (NIV), “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.”  Notice this is decreed for Daniel’s people and Daniel’s holy city.  The Hebrew word for week is the word “seven” and although it most frequently refers to a seven day week, the context here points to seventy “sevens” of years.  (When Daniel wants to indicate a week of seven days in Daniel 10:2&3, the Hebrew text literally says “sevens of days” both times the phrase occurs.)
Daniel predicts it will be 69 sevens, 483 years, from the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah chapter 2) until the Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ) comes. (This is fulfilled in either Jesus’ baptism or the Triumphal Entry.)  After the 483 years the Messiah will be put to death.  After the Messiah is put to death “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”  This happened in 70 AD.  He (the ruler who is to come) will confirm a covenant with “many” for the final seven years.  “In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  Notice how all of this is about the Jewish people, the city of Jerusalem and the temple in Jerusalem.
According to Zechariah 12 and 14 the LORD returns to rescue Jerusalem and the Jewish people. When this happens, Zechariah 12:10 says, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.  They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”  This seems to be when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).  The seven year Tribulation is primarily about the Jewish people.
There are a number of reasons to believe the Rapture of the church described in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:50-54 will happen before the seven year Tribulation.       1).      The church is described as the dwelling place of God in Ephesians 2:19-22.  Revelation 13:6 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible (the most literal translation I could find for this passage) says, “He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling – those who dwell in heaven.”  This puts the church in heaven while the beast is on earth.
2).    The structure of the Book of Revelation is given in chapter one, verse nineteen, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”  What John had seen is recorded in chapter one.  Then follows letters to seven churches that were then in existence, the “what is now.”  “Later” in the NIV is literally “after these things,” “meta tauta” in Greek.  “Meta tauta” is translated “after this” twice in the NIV translation of Revelation 4:1 and seems to mean the things that happen after the churches.  There is no reference to the Church on earth using distinctive church terminology after that.
3).    After describing the Rapture of the Church in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul talks about the coming “Day of the Lord” in I Thessalonians 5:1-3.  He says in verse 3, “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” Notice the pronouns “them” and “they.”  Verse 9 says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
To sum up, we believe the Bible teaches the Rapture of the Church precedes the Tribulation, which is primarily about the Jewish people.  We believe the Tribulation lasts for seven years and ends with the Second Coming of Christ.  When Christ comes back, He then reigns for 1,000 years, the Millenium.

The Sabbath is introduced in Genesis 2:2&3 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating he had done.”

The Sabbath is not mentioned again until the children of Israel came up out of Egypt.  Deuteronomy 5:15 says, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”  Jesus says in Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  As slaves to the Egyptians, the Israelites obviously did not observe the Sabbath.  God commanded them to rest one day a week for their own good.

If you look closely at Exodus 16:1-36, the chapter that records God’s giving the Sabbath to the Israelites, another reason becomes obvious.  God used the giving of manna and the introduction of the Sabbath to, as Exodus 16:4c says, “In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.”  The Israelites needed to survive in the desert and then conquer the land of Canaan.  To conquer Canaan, they would need to rely on God to do for them what they could not do for themselves and follow his instructions carefully.  Crossing the Jordan and the conquest of Jericho are the first two examples of this.

This is what God wanted them to learn: If you believe what I say and do what I tell you to, I will give you everything you need to conquer the land.  If you do not believe what I say and do what I tell you to do, things will not go well for you.  God supernaturally provided them with manna six days a week.  If they tried to save any overnight on the first five days, “it was full of maggots and began to smell” (verse20).  But on the sixth day they were told to gather twice as much and keep it overnight because there would be none on the morning of the seventh day.  When they did so, “it did not stink or get maggots in it” (verse24).   The truths about keeping the Sabbath and entering the land of Canaan are linked in Hebrews chapters 3&4.

The Jews were also told to keep a Sabbath Year and promised that if they did so God would provide so abundantly for them that they would not need the crops of the seventh year.  The details are in Leviticus 25:1-7.  The promise of abundance is in Leviticus 25:18-22.  The point again was: believe God and do what He says and you will be blessed.  The rewards for obeying God and the consequences of disobeying God are detailed in Leviticus 26:1-46.

The Old Testament also teaches that the Sabbath was given exclusively to Israel.  Exodus 31:12-17 says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, “You must observe my Sabbaths.  This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy…The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.  It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”‘”

One of the major sources of contention between the Jewish religious leaders and Jesus was that He healed on the Sabbath.  John 5:16-18 says, “So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.  In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”  For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

Hebrews 4:8-11 says, “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.  There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”  God did not stop working (John 5:17); He stopped working on His own.  (Hebrews 4:10 in the Greek and King James Version have the word own in it.)  Since creation, God is working with and through people, not on His own.  Entering God’s rest is allowing God to work in and through you, not doing your own thing on your own.  The Jewish people failed to enter Canaan (Numbers chapters 13&14 and Hebrews 3:7-4:7) because they failed to learn the lesson God tried to teach them with the manna and the Sabbath, that if they would believe God and do what He said He would take care of them in situations where they could not take care of themselves.

Every meeting of the disciples or church meeting after the resurrection where the day of the week is mentioned was on a Sunday.  Jesus met with the disciples, minus Thomas, “on the evening of that first day of the week” (John 20:19).  He met with the disciples including Thomas “a week later” (John 20:28).  The Holy Spirit was given to live in believers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) which was celebrated on Sunday according to Leviticus 23:15&16.  In Acts 20:7 we read, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.”  And in I Corinthians 16:2 Paul tells the Corinthians, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”  There is NOT ONE mention of a church meeting on the Sabbath.

The epistle make it clear that keeping the Sabbath was not required.  Colossians 2:16&17 says, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”  Paul writes in Galatians 4:10&11 “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!  I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”  Even a casual reading of the book of Galatians makes it obvious that what Paul is writing against is the idea that one must keep the Jewish law to be saved.

When the Jerusalem church met to consider whether or not Gentile believers should be required to be circumcised and to keep the Jewish law, they wrote this to the Gentile believers: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.  You will do well to avoid these things.  Farewell.”  There is no mention of Sabbath observance.

It seems obvious from Acts 21:20 that Jewish believers continued to observe the Sabbath, but from Galatians and Colossians it also seems obvious that if Gentile believers started to do so it raised questions about whether they really understood the Gospel.  And so in a church composed of Jews and Gentiles, the Jews observed the Sabbath and the Gentiles did not.  Paul addresses this in Romans 14:5&6 when he says, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.  Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”  He follows this with the admonition in verse 13, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.”

My personal advice to a Jewish person who becomes a Christian would that he continue to observe the Sabbath at least to the extent that the Jewish people in his community do.  If he does not, he lays himself open to the charge of rejecting his Jewish heritage and becoming a Gentile.  On the other hand, I would advise a Gentile Christian to think very carefully about starting to observe the Sabbath lest he create the impression that becoming a Christian depends upon BOTH receiving Christ and obeying the law.

In answer to your question, people who believe in Jesus Christ, in His provision for our salvation go to heaven to be with God and unbelievers are condemned to eternal punishment.  John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him,”

When you die your soul and spirit leave your body.  Genesis 35:18 shows us this when it tells of Rachel dying, saying, “as her soul was departing (for she died).”  When the body dies, the soul and spirit depart but they don’t cease to exist. It is very clear in Matthew 25:46 what occurs after death, when, in speaking of the unrighteous, it says, “these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous unto eternal life.”

Paul, when teaching believers, said that the moment we are “absent from the body we are present with the Lord” (I Corinthians 5:8).  When Jesus was risen from the dead, He went to be with God the Father (John 20:17). When He promises the same life for us, we know that it will be and that we will be with Him.

In Luke 16:22-31 we see the account of the rich man and Lazarus.  The righteous poor man was at “Abraham’s side” but the rich man went to Hades and was in agony.  In verse 26 we see that there was a great gulf fixed between them so that once there the unrighteous man could not pass over to heaven.  In verse 28 it refers to Hades as a place of torment.

In Romans 3:23 it says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Ezekiel 18:4 and 20 say, “the soul (and note the use of the word soul for person) who sins shall die…the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”  (Death in this sense in Scripture, as in Revelation 20:10,14&15, is not physical death but separation from God forever and eternal punishment as seen in Luke 16.  Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death,” and Matthew 10:28 says, “fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

So then, who can possibly enter heaven and be with God forever since we all are unrighteous sinners.  How can we be rescued or ransomed from the penalty of death.  Romans 6:23 also gives the answer. God comes to our rescue, for it says, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Read I Peter 1:1-9.  Here we have Peter discussing how the believers have received an inheritance “that can never perish, spoil or fade away – kept forever in heaven” (Verse 4 NIV).  Peter speaks of how believing in Jesus results in “obtaining the outcome of the faith, the saving of your soul” (verse 9).  (See also Matthew 26:28.)  Philippians 2:8&9 tells us that everyone must confess that Jesus, who claimed equality with God, is “Lord” and must believe that He died for them (John 3:16; Matthew 27:50).

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the Truth and the Life; no man can come to the Father, except through Me.”  Psalms 2:12 says, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in the way.”

Many passages in the New Testament phrase our faith in Jesus as “obeying the truth” or “obeying the gospel,” which means to “believe in the Lord Jesus.”  I Peter 1:22 says, “you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.”  Ephesians 1:13 says, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”  (Read also Romans 10:15 and Hebrews 4:2.)

The Gospel (meaning good news) is declared in I Corinthians 15:1-3.  It says, “Brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day…”  Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  I Peter 2:24 (NASB) says, “He Himself bore our sins in His  own body on the cross .”  I Timothy 2:6 says, “He gave His life a ransom for all.”  Job 33:24 says, “spare him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom for him.”  (Read Isaiah 53:5, 6, 8, 10.)

John 1:12 tells us what we must do, “but as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”  Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  John 3:16 says whoever believes on Him has “everlasting life.”  John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.”  In Acts 16:36 the question is asked, “What must I do to be saved?” and answered, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  John 20:31 says, “these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Scripture shows evidence that the souls of those who believe will be in Heaven with Jesus.  In Revelation 6:9 and 20:4 the souls of righteous martyrs were seen by John in heaven.  We also see in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 where Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appeared to them and they were talking with Jesus.  They were more than just spirits, for the disciples recognized them and they were alive.  In Philippians 1:20-25 Paul writes, “to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”  Hebrews 12:22 speaks of heaven when it says, “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and the church (the name given to all believers) of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.”

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

I think people sometimes associate or confuse faith with feelings or think faith must be perfect, with never any doubt.  The best way to understand faith is to look up the use of the word in Scripture and study it.

Our Christian life starts with faith, so a good place to start a study of faith would be Romans 10:6-17, which clearly explains how our life in Christ begins.  In this Scripture we hear the Word of God and believe it and ask God to save us.  I’ll explain more fully.  In verse 17 it says faith comes from hearing the facts preached to us about Jesus in the Word of God, (Read I Corinthians 15:1-4); that is, the Gospel, the death of Christ Jesus for our sins, His burial and resurrection.  Faith is something we do in response to hearing.  We either believe it or we reject it.  Romans 10:13&14 explains what faith it is that saves us, faith enough to ask or call upon God to save us based on Jesus’ work of redemption.  You need enough faith to ask Him to save you and He promises to do it.  Read John 3:14-17, 36.

Jesus also told many stories of real events to describe faith, such as that in Mark 9.  A man came up to Jesus with his son who is possessed by a demon.  The father asks Jesus, “if you can do anything…help us,” and Jesus replies that if he believed all things were possible.  The man replies to that, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”  The man was truly expressing his imperfect faith, but Jesus healed his son.  What a perfect example of our often imperfect faith.  Do any of us possess perfect, complete faith or understanding?

Acts 16:30&31 says we are saved if we simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  God elsewhere uses other words as we saw in Romans 10:13, words like “call” or “ask” or “receive” (John 1:12), “come to Him” (John 6:28&29) which says, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him Whom He has sent,’ and verse 37 which says, “Him that comes to Me I will certainly not cast out,” or “take” (Revelation 22:17) or “look” in John 3:14&15 (see Numbers 21:4-9 for the background).  All these passages indicate that if we have sufficient faith to ask for His salvation, we have sufficient faith to be born again.  I John 2:25 says, “And this is what He promised us – even eternal life.”  In I John 3:23 and also in John 6:28&29 faith is a command.  It is also called the “work of God,” something we must or can do.  If God says or commands us to believe surely it is a choice to believe what He tells us, that is, His Son has died for our sins in our place.  This is the beginning.  His promise is sure.  He gives us eternal life and we are born again.  Read John 3:16&38 and John 1:12

I John 5:13 is a beautiful and interesting verse which goes on to say, “these have been written to you who believe in the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Son of God.”  Romans 1:16&17 says, “the just shall live by faith.”  There are two aspects here: we “live” – receive eternal life, and we “live” our daily life here and now by faith.  Interestingly, it says “faith to faith.”  We add faith to faith, we believe to eternal life and we continue to believe daily.

2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”  We live by acts of obedient trust. The Bible refers to this as perseverance or steadfastness.  Read Hebrews chapter 11.  Here it says it is not possible to please God without faith.  Faith is the evidence of unseen things; God and His creation of the world.  We are then given a number of examples of acts of “obedient faith.”  The Christian life is a continuous walk by faith, step by step, moment by moment, believing in the unseen God and His promises and teachings.  I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Be ye steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Faith is not a feeling, but clearly it is something we choose to do continually.

Actually prayer is like that also.  God tells us, even commands us, to pray.  He even teaches us how to pray in Matthew chapter 6.  In I John 5:14, the verse in which God assures us of our eternal life, the verse goes on to assure us that we can have confidence that if we “ask anything according to His will, He hears us,” and He answers us.  So continue to pray; it is an act of faith.  Pray, even when you don’t feel like He hears or there seems to be no answer.  This is an example of how faith is, at times, the opposite of feelings.  Prayer is one step of our walk of faith.

There are other examples of faith not mentioned in Hebrews 11.  The children of Israel are an example of “not believing.”  The children of Israel, when in the wilderness, chose not to believe what God told them; they chose not to believe in the unseen God and so they created their “own god” out of gold and believed that what they had made was “god.”  How silly is that.  Read Romans chapter one.

We do the same thing today.  We invent our own “belief system” to suit ourselves, one which we find easy, or is acceptable to us, which gives us instant gratification, as if God is here to serve us, not the other way around, or He is our servant and not we His, or we are “god,” not He the Creator God.  Remember Hebrews says faith is evidence of the unseen Creator God.

So the world defines its own version of faith, most of the time involving anything except God, His creation or His Word.

The world often says, “have faith” or just says “believe” without telling you what to have faith in, as if it were the object in and of itself, just some sort of nothingness you decide to believe in.  You believe in something, nothing or anything, whatever makes you feel good.  It is indefinable, because they don’t define what they mean.  It is self-invented, a human creation, inconsistent, confusing and hopelessly unattainable.

As we see in Hebrews 11, Scriptural faith has an object: We are to believe in God and we believe in His Word.

Another example, a good one, is the story of the spies sent by Moses to check out the land which God told His chosen people He would give to them.  It is found in Numbers 13:1-14:21.  Moses sent twelve men into the “Promised Land.”  Ten returned and brought back a bad and discouraging report causing the people to doubt God and His promise and choose to go back to Egypt.  The other two, Joshua and Caleb, chose, even though they saw giants in the land, to trust God.  They said, “We should go up and take possession of the land.”  They chose, by faith, to encourage the people to believe God and go forward as God had commanded them.

When we believed and began our life with Christ, we became God’s child and He our Father (John 1:12).  All His promises became ours, such as Philippians chapter 4, Matthew 6:25-34 and Romans 8:28.

As in the case of our human Father, whom we know, we don’t worry about the things our father can take care of because we know he cares for us and loves us.  We trust God because we know Him.  Read 2 Peter 1:2-7, especially verse 2.  This is faith.  These verses say grace and peace come through our knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

As we learn about God and trust Him we grow in our faith.  Scripture teaches that we know Him by studying Scripture (2 Peter 1:5-7), and thus our faith grows as we understand our Heavenly Father, Who He is and what He is like through the Word.  Most people, however, want some “magic” instant faith; but faith is a process.

2 Peter 1:5 says we are to add virtue to our faith and then continue to add to that; a process by which we grow.  This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “grace and peace be multiplied to you, in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord.”  So peace also comes from knowing God the Father and God the Son.   In this way prayer, knowledge of God and the Word and faith work together.  In learning of Him, He is the Giver of peace.  Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”  Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”  Through learning the Word of God we are connecting to the One Who gives grace and peace.

We have already seen that for believers God hears our prayers and grants them in accordance to His will (I John 5:14).  A good father will give us only what is good for us.  Romans 8:25 teaches us that this is what God does for us also.  Read Matthew 7:7-11.

I’m quite sure this does not equate to our asking for and getting whatever we want, all the time; otherwise we would grow into spoiled children instead of mature sons and daughters of the Father.  James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  Scripture also teaches in James 4:2 that, “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”  God wants us to talk to Him, for that is what prayer is.  A great part of prayer is asking for our needs and the needs of others.  This way we know that He has provided the answer.  See I Peter 5:7 also.  So if you need peace, ask for it.  Trust God to give it as you need it.  God also says in Psalm 66:18, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  If we are sinning we must confess it to Him to get it right.  Read I John 1:9&10.

Philippians 4:6&7 says, “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Here again prayer is tied into faith and knowledge to give us peace.

Philippians then says to think on good things and “do” what you learn, and, “the God of peace will be with you.”  James says to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22&23).  Peace comes from knowing the Person you trust and in obeying His Word.  Since prayer is talking to God and the New Testament tells us believers have complete access to the “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), we can talk to God about everything, because He already knows.  In Matthew 6:9-15 in the Lord’s Prayer He teaches us how and what things to pray for.

Simple faith grows as it is exercised and “worked out” in obedience to God’s commands as seen in His Word.  Remember 2 Peter 1:2-4 says peace comes from the knowledge of God which comes from the Word of God.

To sum up:

Peace comes from God and a knowledge of Him.

We learn of Him in the Word.

Faith comes from hearing God’s Word.

Prayer is part of this faith and peace process.

It is not a once for all experience, but a step by step walk.

If you have not started this journey of faith, I ask you to go back and read 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah chapter 53, I Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 10:1-14, and John 3:16&17 and 36.  Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

After reading your questions and comments it appears that you have some belief in God and His Son, Jesus, but also have many misunderstandings. You seem to see God through only human opinions and experiences and see Him as Someone Who should do what you want, as if He were a servant or on demand, and so you judge His nature, and say it is “at stake.”

Let me first say my answers will be Bible based because it is the only reliable source to truly understand Who God is and what He is like.

We cannot ‘create” our own god to suit our own dictations, according to our own desires. We can’t rely on books or religious groups or any other opinions, we must accept the true God from the only source He has given us, the Scripture. If people question all or part of Scripture we are left with only human opinions, which never agree. We just have a god created by humans, a fictional god. He is only our creation and is not God at all. We might as well make a god of word or stone or a golden image as Israel did.

We want to have a god who does what we want. But we can’t even change God by our demands. We are just acting like children, having a temper tantrum to get our own way. Nothing we do or judge determines Who He is and all our arguments have no effect on His “nature.” His “nature” is not “at stake” because we say so. He is Who He is: Almighty God, our Creator.

So Who is the real God. There are so many characteristics and attributes that I will only mention some and I will not “proof text” all of them. If you want to you can go to a reliable source such as “Bible Hub” or “Bible Gateway” online and do some research.

Here are some of His attributes. God is Creator, Sovereign, Almighty. He is holy, He is just and fair and a righteous Judge. He is our Father. He is light and truth. He is eternal. He cannot lie. Titus 1:2 tells us, “In the hope of eternal life, which God, WHO CANNOT LIE, promised long ages ago. Malachi 3:6 says He is unchangeable, “I am the LORD, I change not.”

NOTHING we do, no action, opinion, knowledge, circumstances, or judgment can change or affect His “nature.” If we blame or accuse Him, He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Here are a few more attributes: He is everywhere present; He knows everything (omniscient) past, present and future. He is perfect and HE IS LOVE (I John 4:15-16). God is loving, kind and merciful to all.

We should note here that all the bad stuff, disasters and tragedies which occur, occur because of sin which entered the world when Adam sinned (Romans 5:12). So what should our attitude be toward our God?

God is our Creator. He created the world and everything in it. (See Genesis 1-3.) Read Romans 1:20&21. It certainly implies that because He is our Creator and because He is, well, God, that He deserves our honor and praise and glory. It says, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor gave thanks to God, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

We are to honor and thank God because He is God and because He is our Creator. Read also Romans 1:28&31. I noticed something very interesting here: that when we do not honor our God and Creator we become “without understanding.”

Honoring God is our responsibility. Matthew 6:9 says, “Our Father Who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name.” Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Thou shalt love the LORD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In Matthew 4:10 where Jesus says to Satan, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'”

Psalm 100 reminds us of this when it says, “serve the Lord with gladness,” “know that the Lord Himself is God,” and verse 3, “It is He that made us and not we ourselves.” Verse 3 also says, “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Verse 4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” Verse 5 says, “For the Lord is good, His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Like Romans it instructs us to give Him thanks, praise, honor and blessing! Psalm 103:1 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.” Psalm 148:5 is clear in saying, “Let them praise the Lord for He commanded and they were created,” and in verse 11 it tells us who should praise Him, “All kings of the earth and all peoples,” and verse 13 adds, “For His name alone is exalted.”

To make things more emphatic Colossians 1:16 says, “all things were created by Him and for Him” and “He is before all things” and Revelation 4:11 adds, “for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” We were created for God, He was not created for us, for our pleasure or for us to get what we want. He is not here to serve us, but we to serve Him. As Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and praise, for you created all things, for by your will they were created and have their being.” We are to worship Him. Psalm 2:11 says to, “Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.” See also Deuteronomy 6:13 and 2 Chronicles 29:8.

You said you were like Job, that “God formerly loved him.” Let’s take a look at the nature of God’s love so you can see that He does not stop loving us, no matter what we do.

The idea that God stops loving us for “whatever” reason is common among many religions. A doctrine book I have, “Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans” in talking about God’s love says, “Christianity is really the only religion that sets forth the Supreme Being as ‘Love.’ It sets forth the gods of other religions as angry beings who require our good deeds to appease them or earn their blessing.”

We only have two points of reference with regard to love: 1) human love and 2) God’s love as revealed to us in Scripture. Our love is flawed by sin. It fluctuates or can even cease while God’s love is eternal. We can’t even fathom or comprehend God’s love. God is love (I John 4:8).

The book, “Elemental Theology” by Bancroft, on page 61 in speaking about love says, “the character of the one loving gives character to the love.” That means that God’s love is perfect because God is perfect. (See Matthew 5:48.) God is holy, so His love is pure. God is just, so His love is fair. God never changes, so His love never fluctuates, fails or ceases. I Corinthians 13:11 describes perfect love by saying this, “Love never fails.” God alone possesses this kind of love. Read Psalm 136. Every verse talks about God’s lovingkindness saying His lovingkindness endures forever. Read Romans 8:35-39 which says, “who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distresses or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?”

Verse 38 continues, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” God is love, so He can’t help but love us.

God loves everyone. Matthew 5:45 says, “He causes His sun to rise and fall on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” He blesses everyone because He loves every one. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning.” Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

What about bad things. God promises the believer that, “All things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28)”. God may allow things to come into our life, but be assured that God has allowed them only for a very good reason, not because God has in some way or for some reason chosen to change His mind and stop loving us.
God may choose to allow us to suffer the consequences of sin but He may also choose to keep us from them, but always His reasons are coming from love and the purpose is for our good.

LOVE’S PROVISION OF SALVATION

Scripture does say God hates sin. For a partial list, see Proverbs 6:16-19. But God does not hate sinners (I Timothy 2:3&4). 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord…is patient toward you, not wishing for you to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

So God prepared a way for our redemption. When we sin or stray from God He never leaves us and is always waiting for us to return, He does not cease to love us. God gives us the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 to illustrate His love for us, that of the loving father rejoicing in his wayward son’s return. Not all human fathers are like this but our Heavenly Father always welcomes us. Jesus says in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will not cast out.” John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world.” I Timothy 2:4 says God “desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” Ephesians 2:4&5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

The greatest demonstration of love in all the world is God’s provision for our salvation and forgiveness. You need to read Romans chapters 4&5 where much of God’s plan is explained. Romans 5:8&9 says, “God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” I John 4:9&10 says,”This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us…” It is here in I John that it says “God is Love (chapter 4, verse 8). That is Who He is. This is the ultimate proof of His love.

We need to believe what God says – He loves us. No matter what happens to us or how things seem at the moment God asks us to believe in Him and His love. David, who is called a “man after God’s own heart,” says in Psalm 52:8, “I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” I John 4:16 should be our goal. “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.”

God’s Basic Plan

Here is God’s plan to save us. 1) We have all sinned. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 says “The wages of sin is death.” Isaiah 59:2 says, “Our sins have separated us from God.”
2) God has provided a way. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son…” In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.”

I Corinthians 15:1&2 “This is God’s free gift of Salvation, the gospel which I presented by which you are saved.” Verse 3 says, “That Christ died for our sins,” and verse 4 continues, “that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day.” Matthew 26:28 (KJV) says, “This is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sin.” I peter 2:24 (NASB) says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.”

3) We cannot earn our salvation by doing good works. Ephesians 2:8&9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Titus 3:5 says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us…” 2 Timothy 2:9 says, “who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”

4) How God’s salvation and forgiveness is made your own: John 3:16 says, “that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John uses the word believe 50 times in the book of John alone to explain how to receive God’s free gift of eternal life and forgiveness. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Assurance of Forgiveness

Here is why we have assurance that our sins are forgiven. Eternal life is a promise to “everyone who believes” and “God cannot lie.” John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” Remember John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to them that believe on His Name.” It is a trust based on His “nature” of love, truth and justice.

If you have come to Him and received Christ you are saved. John 6:37 says, “Him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out.” If you haven’t asked Him to forgive you and accepted Christ, you can do that this very moment.
If you believe in some other version of Who Jesus is and some other version of what He has done for you than the one given in Scripture, you need to “change your mind” and accept Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Remember, He is the only way to God (John 14:6).

Forgiveness

Our forgiveness is a precious part of our salvation. The meaning of forgiveness is that our sins are sent away and God does not remember them anymore. Isaiah 38:17 says, “You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” Psalm 86:5 says, “For You Lord are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” See Romans 10:13. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Jeremiah 31:39 says, “I will forgive their iniquity and their sin will I remember no more.”

Romans 4:7&8 says, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” This is forgiveness. If your forgiveness is not a promise of God then where do you find it, for as we have already seen, you can’t earn it.

Colossians 1:14 says, “In Whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins.” See Acts 5:30&31; 13:38 and 26:18. All of these verses speak of forgiveness as part of our salvation. Acts 10:43 says, “Everyone that believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.” Ephesians 1:7 states this also, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

It is impossible for God to lie. He is incapable of it. It is not arbitrary. Forgiveness is based on a promise. If we accept Christ we are forgiven. Acts 10:34 says, “God is not a respecter of persons.” The NIV translation says, “God does not show favoritism.”

I want you to go to 1 John 1 to show how it applies to believers who fail and sin. We are His children and as our human fathers, or the father of the prodigal son, forgives, so our Heavenly Father forgives us and will receive us yet again, and again.

We know that sin separates us from God, so sin separates us from God even when we are His children. It does not separate us from His love, nor mean we are no longer His children, but it breaks our fellowship with Him. You can’t rely on feelings here. Just believe His word that if you do the right thing, confess, He has forgiven you.

We Are Like Children

Let’s use a human example. When a little child disobeys and is confronted, he may cover it up, or lie or hide from his parent because of his guilt. He may refuse to admit his wrongdoing. He has thus separated himself from his parents because he is afraid they will discover what he has done, and afraid they will be angry with him or punish him when they find out. The closeness and comfort of the child with his parents is broken. He cannot experience the safety, the acceptance and the love they have for him. The child has become like Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden.

We do the same thing with our heavenly Father. When we sin, we feel guilty. We are afraid He will punish us, or He may stop loving us or cast us away. We don’t want to admit we are wrong. Our fellowship with God is broken.

God doesn’t leave us, He has promised never to leave us. See Matthew 28:20, which says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We are hiding from Him. We can’t really hide because He knows and sees everything. Psalm 139:7 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” We are like Adam when we are hiding from God. He is seeking us, waiting for us to come to Him for forgiveness, just as a parent just wants the child to recognize and admit his disobedience. This is what our Heavenly Father wants. He is waiting to forgive us. He will always take us back.

Human fathers may cease to love a child, although that seldom happens. With God, as we have seen, His love for us never fails, never ceases. He loves us with everlasting love. Remember Romans 8:38&39. Remember nothing can separate us from the love of God, we do not cease to be His children.

Yes, God hates sin and as Isaiah 59:2 says,” your sins have separated between you and your God, your sins have hidden His face from you.” It says in verse 1, “the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear,” but Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

I John 2:1&2 tells the believer, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Believers can and do sin. In fact I John 1:8&10 say, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” and “if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” When we do sin God shows us the way back in verse 9 which says, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We must choose to confess our sin to God so if we don’t experience forgiveness it is our fault, not God’s. It is our choice to obey God. His promise is sure. He will forgive us. He cannot lie.

Job Verses God’s Character

Let’s look at Job since you brought him up and see what it really teaches us about God and our relationship to Him. Many people misunderstand the book of Job, its narrative and concepts. It may be one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible.

One of the first misconceptions is to assume that suffering is always or mostly a sign of God’s anger at a sin or sins we have committed. Obviously that is what Job’s three friends were sure of, for which God eventually rebuked them. (We’ll get back to that later.) Another is to assume that prosperity or blessings are always or usually a sign of God being pleased with us. Wrong. This is man’s notion, a thinking which assumes we earn God’s kindness. I asked someone what stood out to them from the book of Job and their reply was, “We don’t know anything.” No one seems sure who wrote Job. We don’t know that Job ever understood all of what was going on. He also did not have Scripture, as we do.

One cannot understand this account unless one understands what is occurring between God and Satan and the warfare between the forces or followers of righteousness and those of evil. Satan is the defeated foe because of the cross of Christ, but you could say that he has not been taken into custody yet. There is a battle still raging in this world over people’s souls. God has given us the book of Job and many other Scriptures to help us understand.

First, as I stated earlier, all evil, pain, sickness and disasters result from the entrance of sin into the world. God doesn’t do or create evil, but He may allow disasters to test us. Nothing comes into our lives without His permission, even correction or allowing us to suffer the consequences from a sin we committed. This is to make us stronger.

God does not arbitrarily decide not to love us. Love is His very Being, but He is also holy and just. Let’s look at the setting. In chapter 1:6, the “sons of God” presented themselves to God and Satan came among them. The “sons of God” are probably angels, maybe a mixed company of those who followed God and those who followed Satan. Satan had come from roaming around on earth. This makes me think of I Peter 5:8 which says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” God points out his “servant Job,” and here is a very important point. He says Job is His righteous servant, and is blameless, upright, fears God and turns from evil. Note that God is nowhere here accusing Job of any sin. Satan basically says that the only reason Job follows God is because God has blessed him and that if God took those blessings away Job would curse God. Here lies the conflict. So God then allows Satan to afflict Job to test his love and faithfulness to Himself. Read chapter 1:21&22. Job passed this test. It says, “In all this Job did not sin, nor blame God.” In chapter 2 Satan again challenges God to test Job. Again God allows Satan to afflict Job. Job responds in 2:10, “shall we accept good from God and not adversity.” It says in 2:10, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Note that Satan could do nothing without God’s permission, and He sets the limits. The New Testament indicates this in Luke 22:31 which says, “Simon, Satan has desired to have you.” The NASB puts it this way saying, Satan “demanded permission to sift you as wheat.” Read Ephesians 6:11&12. It tells us to, “Put on the whole armor or God” and to “stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Be clear. In all this Job had not sinned. We are in a battle.

Now go back to I Peter 5:8 and read on. It basically explains the book of Job. It says, “but resist him (the devil), firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” This is a strong reason for suffering, plus the fact that suffering is a part of any battle. If we were never tried we would just be spoon fed babies and never become mature. In testing we become stronger and we see our knowledge of God increase, we see Who God is in new ways and our relationship with Him becomes stronger.

In Romans 1:17 it says, “the just shall live by faith.” Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” We may not understand this, but it is a fact. We must trust God in all this, in any suffering He allows.

Since the fall of Satan (Read Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:10.) this conflict has existed and Satan desires to turn every one of us from God. Satan even tried to tempt Jesus to mistrust His Father (Matthew 4:1-11). It started with Eve in the garden. Note, Satan tempted her by getting her to question God’s character, His love and care for her. Satan implied that God was keeping something good from her and He was unloving and unfair. Satan is always trying to take over God’s kingdom and turn His people against Him.

We must see Job’s suffering and ours in light of this “war” in which Satan is constantly trying to tempt us to change sides and separate us from God. Remember God declared Job to be righteous and blameless. There is no sign of an indictment of sin against Job thus far in the account. God did not allow this suffering because of anything Job had done. He was not judging him, angry with him nor had He stopped loving him.

Now the friends of Job, who obviously believe suffering is because of sin, enter the picture. I can only refer to what God says of them, and say be careful not to judge others, as they judged Job. God rebuked them. Job 42:7&8 says, “After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.'” God was angry with them for what they had done, telling them to offer up a sacrifice to God. Note that God made them go to Job and ask Job to pray for them, because they had not spoken the truth about Him as Job had.

In all their dialog (3:1-31:40), God was silent. You asked about God being silent to you. It really doesn’t say why God was so silent. Sometimes He may be just waiting for us to trust Him, walk by faith, or really search for an answer, possibly in Scripture, or just be quiet and think about things.

Let’s look back to see what’s become of Job. Job has been struggling with criticism from his “so called” friends who are determined to prove that adversity results from sin (Job 4:7&8). We do know that in the final chapters God rebukes Job. Why? What does Job do wrong? Why does God do this? It seems as if Job’s faith had not been tested. Now it is severely tested, probably more than most of us will ever be. I believe that a part of this testing is the condemnation of his “friends.” In my experience and observation, I think that judgment and condemnation form other believers is a great trial and discouragement. Remember the word of God says not to judge (Romans 14:10). Rather it teaches us to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 3:13).

While God will judge our sin and it is one possible reason for suffering, it is not always the reason, as the “friends” implied. Seeing an evident sin is one thing, assuming it is another. The goal is restoration, not tearing down and condemnation. Job becomes angry with God and His silence and begins to question God and demand answers. He begins to justify his anger.

In chapter 27:6 Job says, “I will maintain my righteousness.” Later God says Job did this by accusing God (Job 40:8). In chapter 29 Job is doubting, referring to God’s blessing him in the past tense and saying God is no longer with him. It’s almost as if he is saying God formerly loved him. Remember Matthew 28:20 says this is not true for God gives this promise, “And I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God never left Job and eventually spoke to him just as He did with Adam and Eve.

We need to learn to continue to walk by faith – not by sight (or feelings) and to trust in His promises, even when we can’t “feel” His presence and haven’t received an answer to our prayers yet. In Job 30:20 Job says, “O God, you do not answer me.” Now he is beginning to complain. In chapter 31 Job is accusing God of not listening to him and saying he would argue and defend his righteousness before God if only God would listen (Job 31:35). Read Job 31:6. In chapter 23:1-5 Job is also complaining to God, because He is not answering. God is silent – he says God is not giving him a reason for what He has done. God does not have to answer to Job or us. We really can’t demand anything from God. See what God says to Job when God speaks. Job 38:1 says, “Who is this who speaks without knowledge?” Job 40:2 (NASB) says, “Wii the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” In Job 40:1&2 (NIV) God says that Job “contends,” “corrects” and “accuses” Him. God reverses what Job says, by demanding that Job answer His questions. Verse 3 says, “I will question you and you will answer me.” In chapter 40:8 God says, “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” Who demands what and of whom?

Then God again challenges Job with His power as his Creator, for which there is no answer. God essentially says, “I am God, I am Creator, don’t discredit Who I am. Don’t question My love, My justice, for I AM GOD, the Creator.”
God does not say Job was punished for a past sin but He does say, “Don’t question Me, for I alone am God.” We are not in any position to make demands of God. He alone is Sovereign. Remember God wants us to believe Him. It is faith that pleases Him. When God tells us He is just and loving, He wants us to believe Him. God’s response left Job with no answer or recourse but to repent and worship.

In Job 42:3 Job is quoted as saying, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things to wonderful for me to know.” In Job 40:4 (NIV) Job says, “I am unworthy.” The NASB says, “I am insignificant.” In Job 40:5 Job says, “I have no answer,” and in Job 42:5 he says, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” He then says, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” He now has a much greater understanding of God, the correct one.

God is always willing to forgive our transgressions. We all fail and don’t trust God sometimes. Think of some people in Scripture who failed at some point in their walk with God, such as Moses, Abraham, Elijah or Jonah or who misunderstood what God was doing as Naomi who became bitter and how about Peter, who denied Christ. Did God stop loving them? No! He was patient, longsuffering and merciful and forgiving.

Discipline

It is true that God hates sin, and just like our human fathers He will discipline and correct us if we continue to sin. He may use circumstances to judge us, but His purpose is, as a parent, and out of His love for us, to restore us to fellowship with Himself. He is patient and longsuffering and merciful and ready to forgive. Like a human father He wants us to “grow up” and be righteous and mature. If He didn’t discipline us we would be spoiled, immature children.

He might also let us suffer the consequences of our sin, but He does not disown us or stop loving us. If we respond correctly and confess our sin and ask Him to help us change we will become more like our Father. Hebrews 12:5 says, “My son, do not make light of (despise) the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and punishes everyone He accepts as a son.” In verse 7 it says, “for whom the Lord loves He disciplines. For what son is not disciplined” and verse 9 says, “Moreover we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live.” Verse 10 says, “God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness.”

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

God disciplines us to make us stronger. Though Job never denied God, he did distrust and discredit God and say God was unfair, but when God rebuked him, he repented and acknowledged his fault and God restored him. Job responded correctly. Others like David and Peter failed too but God restored them also.

Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have mercy upon him and He will abundantly (NIV says freely) pardon.”

If you ever fall or fail, just apply 1 John 1:9 and acknowledge your sin as David and Peter did and as Job did. He will forgive, He promises. Human fathers correct their children but they can make mistakes. God does not. He is all knowing. He is perfect. He is fair and just and He loves you.

Why God Is Silent

You raised the question of why God was silent when you pray. God was silent when testing Job too. There is no reason given, but we can only give conjectures. Maybe He just needed the whole thing to play out to show Satan the truth or maybe His work in Job’s heart wasn’t finished yet. Maybe we aren’t ready for the answer yet either. God is the only One Who knows, we must just trust Him.

Psalm 66:18 gives another answer, in a passage about prayer, it says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.” Job was doing this. He stopped trusting and began questioning. This can be true of us also.
There can be other reasons also. He may just be trying to get you to trust, to walk by faith, not by sight, experiences or feelings. His silence forces us to trust and seek Him. It also forces us to be persistent in prayer. Then we learn that it is truly God Who gives us our answers, and teaches us to be thankful and appreciate all He does for us. It teaches us that He is the source of all blessings. Remember James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ” As with Job we may never know why. We may, as with Job, just recognize Who God is, that He is our Creator, not we His. He is not our servant that we can come to and demand our needs and wants be met. He does not even have to give us reasons for His actions, though many times He does. We are to honor and worship Him, for He is God.

God does want us to come to Him, freely and boldly but respectfully and humbly. He sees and hears every need and request before we ask, so people ask, “Why ask, why pray?” I think we ask and pray so we realize He is there and He is real and He does hear and answer us because He does love us. He is so good. As Romans 8:28 says, He always does what is best for us.

Another reason we don’t get our request is that we don’t ask for His will to be done, or we don’t ask according to His written will as revealed in the Word of God. I John 5:14 says, “And if we ask anything according to His will we know He hears us…we know that we have the request we have asked of Him.” Remember Jesus prayed, “not my will but Yours be done.” See also Matthew 6:10, the Lord’s Prayer. It teaches us to pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Look at James 4:2 for more reasons for unanswered prayer. It says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” We simply don’t bother to pray and ask. It goes on in verse three, “You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives (KJV says ask amiss) so you can consume it on your own lusts.” This means we are being selfish. Someone said we are using God as our personal vending machine.

Maybe you should study the topic of prayer from Scripture alone, not some book or series of human ideas on prayer. We can’t earn or demand anything from God. We live in a world that puts self first and we regard God as we do other people, we demand they put us first and give us what we want. We want God to serve us. God wants us to come to Him with requests, not demands.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” I Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Micah 6:8 says, “He has showed you O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Conclusion

There is much to learn from Job. Job’s first response to testing was one of faith (Job 1:21). Scripture says we should “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Trust God’s justice, fairness and love. If we question God, we are putting ourselves above God, making ourselves God. We are making ourselves the judge of the Judge of all the earth. We all have questions but we need to honor God as God and when we fail as Job later did we need to repent which means to “change our minds” as Job did, get a new perspective of Who God is – the Almighty Creator, and worship Him as Job did. We need to recognize that it is wrong to judge God. God’s “nature” is never at stake. You cannot decide Who God is or what He should do. You can in no way change God.

James 1:23&24 says God’s Word is like a mirror. It says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” You have said God stopped loving Job and you. It is evident that He did not and God’s Word says His love is everlasting and does not fail. However, you have been exactly like Job in that you have “darkened His counsel.” I think this means you have “discredited” Him, His wisdom, purpose, justice, judgments and His love. You, like Job, are “finding fault” with God.

Look at yourself clearly in the mirror of “Job.” Are you the one “at fault” as Job was? As with Job, God always stands ready to forgive if we confess our fault (I John 1:9). He knows we are human. Pleasing God is about faith. A god you make up in your mind isn’t real, only the God in Scripture is real.

Remember in the beginning of the story, Satan appeared with a great group of angels. The Bible teaches that the angels learn about God from us (Ephesians 3:10&11). Remember too, that there is a great conflict going on.
When we “discredit God,” when we call God unfair and unjust and unloving, we are discrediting Him before all the angels. We are calling God a liar. Remember Satan, in the Garden of Eden discredited God to Eve, implying He was unjust and unfair and unloving. Job eventually did the same and so do we. We dishonor God before the world and before the angels. Instead we must honor Him. Whose side are we on? The choice is ours alone.

Job made his choice, he repented, that is, changed his mind about Who God was, he developed a greater understanding of God and who he was in relation to God. He said in chapter 42, verses 3 and 5: “surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job recognized he had “contended” with the Almighty and that was not his place.

Look at the end of the story. God accepted his confession and restored him and doubly blessed him. Job 42:10&12 says, “The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before…The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.”

If we are demanding of God and contending and “thinking without knowledge,” we too must ask God to forgive us and “walk humbly before God” (Micah 6:8). This starts with our recognizing Who He is in relationship to ourselves, and believing the truth as Job did. A popular chorus based on Romans 8:28 says, “He does all things for our good.” Scripture says that suffering has a Divine purpose and if it is to discipline us, it is for our good. I John 1:7 says to “walk in the light,” which is His revealed Word, the Word of God.

In the Bible, a Jew is a descendant of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. They were given many special promises and were judged severely when they sinned. Jesus, in His humanity, was Jewish, as were all the Twelve Apostles. Every Book in the Bible except Luke and Acts and possibly Hebrews was written by a Jew.

Genesis 12:1-3 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed in you.”

Genesis 13:14-17 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
Genesis 17:5 “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”

Speaking to Jacob, Isaac said in Genesis 27:29b, “May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”

Genesis 35:10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

The name Jew comes from the tribe of Judah, which was the most prominent of the Jewish tribes when the Jews returned to the Holy Land after the Babylonian captivity.

There is disagreement among Jews to day as to who is really a Jew, but if three of a person’s grandparents were Jewish or if a person has formally converted to Judaism, almost all Jews would recognize that person as being a Jew.

A Gentile is simply anyone who is not a Jew, including any of Abraham’s descendants other than those through Isaac and Jacob.

Although God gave the Jews many promises, salvation (forgiveness of sins and spending eternity with God) is not one of them. Every Jew as well as every Gentile needs to be saved, by acknowledging they have sinned, believing the Gospel and accepting Jesus as their Savior. I Corinthians 15:2-4 says, “By this gospel you are saved…For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

Peter was speaking to a group of Jewish leaders when he said in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

To really understand what the Great White Throne Judgment is and when it occurs one has to know a little history.  I love the Bible and history because the Bible is history.  The Bible is also about the future, God telling us the future of the world through prophecy.  It is real.  It is true.  One only has to see the prophecies already fulfilled to see that it is true.  There were prophecies concerning what was then Israel’s soon to be future, their distant future, and prophecies about Jesus the Messiah which were very specific.  There were prophecies about events which have already occurred, and events which have happened since Jesus ascended into heaven, and even events which have occurred during our lifetimes.

Scripture, in many places, also predicts events which will occur in the future, some of which are expanded upon in the Book of Revelation, or lead up to the events prophesied by John in Revelation, some of which have already happened.  Here are some Scriptures to read which are about both already fulfilled prophecies and yet future events: Ezekiel chapters 38&39; Daniel chapters 2, 7 & 9; Zechariah chapters 12&14 and Romans 11:26-32, to mention only a few.  Here are a few historical events prophesied in the Old or New Testament which have already occurred.  For example, there are prophecies about Israel’s dispersion into Babylon, and the later world-wide dispersion.  Israel being re-gathered to the Holy Land and Israel once again becoming a nation are also foretold.  The destruction of the Second Temple is predicted in Daniel chapter 9.  Daniel also describes the Neo-Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek (under Alexander the Great) and the Roman empires and talks of a confederacy made up of nations which will come out of the old Roman Empire.  Out of this will come the Anti-Christ (the Beast of Revelation), who through the power of Satan (the dragon) will rule this confederacy and rise up against God Himself and His Son and Israel and those who follow Jesus.  This leads us to the Book of Revelation which describes and expands upon these events and says that God will ultimately destroy His enemies and create “the new heavens and earth” where Jesus will reign forever with those who love Him.

Let’s start with a chart: A Brief Chronological Outline of the Book of Revelation:

1).           The Tribulation

2).           The Second Coming of Christ which leads to the Battle of Armageddon

3).           Millenium (the 1,000 year reign of Christ)

4).           Satan loosed from the Abyss and the last battle where Satan is defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire.

5).           Unrighteous raised.

6).           Great White Throne Judgment

7).           New Heavens and New Earth

Read 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 which describes the Anti-Christ who will rise and gain control of the world until the Lord “brings (him) to an end by the appearance of His coming” (verse 8).  Verse 4 says the Anti-Christ will claim to be God.  Revelation chapters 13 and 17 tell us more about the Anti-Christ (the Beast).  2 Thessalonians says God gives people up to a great delusion “that they may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”  The Anti-Christ signs a treaty with Israel which marks the beginning of the seven years of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27).

Here are the major events of the Book of Revelation with some explanations:

1).           The seven year Tribulation: (Revelation 6:1-19:10).  God pours out His wrath on the wicked who have rebelled against Him.  The armies of the earth gather to destroy God’s city and His people.

2).           The Second Coming of Christ:

1. Jesus comes from heaven with His armies to defeat the Beast (empowered by Satan) at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21).
2. Jesus’ feet stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).
3. The Beast (Anti-Christ) and False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20).
4. Then Satan is thrown into the Abyss for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).

3).           Millenium:

1. Jesus raises the dead who were martyred during the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4). This is part of the first resurrection of which Revelation 20:4&5 says, “the second death has no power over them.”
2. They reign with Christ in His kingdom on the earth for 1,000 years.

4).           Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time for a final battle.

1. He deceives people and gathers them from all over the earth in a final rebellion and battle against Christ (Revelation 20:7&8) but
2. “fire will come down from heaven and destroy them” (Revelation 20:9).
3. Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire to be tormented for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

5).           The Unrighteous Dead are raised

6).           The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

1. After Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire the rest of the dead are raised (the unrighteous who do not believe in Jesus) (See 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Revelation 20:5 again).
2. They stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment.
3. They are judged for what they did in their lives.
4. Everyone not found written in the Book of Life is thrown into the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:15).
5. Hades is thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14).

7).           Eternity: The New Heaven and New Earth: Those who believe in Jesus will be with the Lord forever.

Many debate exactly when the Rapture of the Church (also called the Bride of Christ) occurs, but if Revelation chapters 19&20 is chronological, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and His bride occurs at least before Armageddon where His followers appear to be with Him.  Those who had been raised in that “first resurrection” are called “blessed” because they have no part in the wrath of God’s judgment which follows (the lake of fire – which is also called the second death).  See Revelation 20:11-15, especially verse 14.

To understand these events we must connect a few dots, so to speak, and look at a few related Scriptures.  Turn to Luke 16:19-31.  This is the story of the “rich man” and Lazarus.  After they died they went to Sheol (Hades).  Both these words, Sheol and Hades, mean the same thing, Sheol in the Hebrew language and Hades in the Greek language.  The meaning of these words is literally “the place of the dead” which is composed of two parts.  One, also and always referred to as Hades, is a place of punishment.  The other, called Abraham’s side (bosom) is also called Paradise.    They are only the temporary place of the dead. Hades lasts only until the Great White Throne Judgment and Paradise or Abraham’s side lasted only until the resurrection of Christ, when apparently those in Paradise went to Heaven to be with Jesus.  In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the thief on the cross, who believed on Him, that he would be with Him in Paradise. The connection to Revelation 20 is that, at the judgment, Hades is thrown into the “lake of fire.”

Scripture teaches that all believers who die since the resurrection of Christ will be with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:6 says when we are “absent from the body”…we will be “present with the Lord.”

According to the story in Luke 16 there is a separation between the parts of Hades and there are two distinct groups of people.  1) The rich man is with the unrighteous, those who will endure God’s wrath and 2) Lazarus is with the righteous, those who will be with Jesus forever.  This actual story of two real people teaches us that after we die there is no way to change our eternal destination; no going back; and two eternal destinations.  We will either be destined for heaven or hell.  We will either be with Jesus as the thief on the cross was or separated from God forever (Luke 16:26).  I Thessalonians 4:16&17 assures us that believers will be with the Lord forever.  It says, “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  The unjust (unrighteous) will face the judgment.  Hebrews 9:27 says, “people are destined to die once and after that face judgment.”  So that brings us back to Revelation chapter 20 where the unjust are raised from the dead and it describes this judgment as the “great white throne judgment.”

There is good news however, because Hebrews 9:28 says that Jesus, “will come to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”  The bad news is that Revelation 20:15 also states that after this judgment those who are not written in the “book of life” will be cast into the “lake of fire” while Revelation 21:27 says that those written in the “book of life” are the only ones who may enter the “New Jerusalem.”  These people will have eternal life and will never perish (John 3:16).

So, the important question is which group are you in and how do you escape the judgment and be a part of the righteous whose names are written in the book of life. Scripture clearly teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Revelation 20 clearly says those at that judgment will be judged by the deeds done in this life.  Scripture clearly says that even our so-called “good deeds” are ruined by wrong motives and desires.  Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our righteousnesses (good deeds or righteous acts) are as filthy rags” (in His sight).  So how can we possibly be saved from God’s judgment?

Revelation 21:8, along with other verses which list particular sins, shows how impossible it is to earn salvation by our deeds.  Revelation 21:22 says, “nothing impure will ever enter into it (The New Jerusalem), nor does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

So let’s look at what Scripture reveals about those whose names are written in the “book of life” (those who will be in heaven) and see what God says we must do in order to have our name written in the “book of life” and have eternal life.  The existence of the “book of life” was understood by those who believed in God in every dispensation (age or period of time) in Scripture.  In the Old Testament, Moses spoke of it as recorded in Exodus 32:32, as did David (Psalm 69:28), Isaiah (Isaiah 4:3) and Daniel (Daniel 12:1).  In the New Testament Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 10:20, ‘rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Paul speaks of the book in Philippians 4:3 when he speaks of believers he knows who are his fellow workers “whose names are written in the book of life.”  Hebrews also refers to “believers whose names are written in heaven” (Hebrews 12:22&23).  So we see that the Scriptures speak of believers being in the book of life, and in the Old Testament those who followed God knew they were in the book of life.  The New Testament speaks of the disciples and those who believed in Jesus as being in the book of life.  The conclusion we must come to is that those who believe in the one true God and in His Son, Jesus, are in the “book of life.”  Here is a list of verses on the “book of life:” Exodus 32:32; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:15&20; 21:27 and Revelation 22:19.

So Who can help us?  Who can rescue us from the judgment?  Scripture asks this same question for us in Matthew23:33, “How will you escape being condemned to hell?”  Romans 2:2&3 says, “Now we know that judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.  So when you a mere human being pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?”

Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way.”  It is about believing.  John 3:16 says we must believe in Jesus.  John 6:29 says, “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.”  Titus 3:4&5 says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

So how did God, through His Son Jesus, accomplish our redemption?  John 3:16&17 says, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved by Him.”  See also John 3:14.

Romans 5:8&9 states, “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” and then goes on to say, “since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him.”  Hebrews 9:26&27 (read the whole passage) says, “He appeared at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many…”

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”  Read Hebrews 10:1-14 to see how God declares us righteous, because He paid for our sins.

Jesus took our sin upon Himself and paid our penalty.  Read Isaiah chapter 53.  Verse 3 says, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” and verse 8 says, “for the transgression of my people was He punished.”  Verse 10 says,  “The Lord makes His life an offering for sin.”  Verse 11 says, “He will bear their iniquities.”  Verse 12 says, “He poured out His life unto death.”  This was God’s plan for verse 10 says, “It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.”

When Jesus was on the cross He said, “It is finished.”  The words literally mean “paid in full.”  This was a legal term which means the penalty, the required punishment for a crime or transgression was fully paid, the sentence was complete and the criminal was set free.  This is what Jesus did for us when He died.  Our penalty is the death sentence and He paid it in full; He took our place. He took our sin and He paid the sin penalty in full.  Colossians 2:13&14 says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us.  He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”  I Peter 1:1-11 says the end of this is the “salvation of our souls.”  John 3:16 tells us that to be saved, we need to believe He did this.  Read John 3:14-17 again.  It’s all about believing.  Remember that John 6:29 says, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.”

Romans 4:1-8 says, “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?  If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about – but not before God.  What does the Scripture say?  ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’  Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.  However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.  David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose transgressions are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.‘ ”

I Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “…do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  It continues by saying, “…and such were some of you; but you were washed, you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.”  This occurs when we believe.  Scripture says in various verses that our sin is covered.  We are washed and made clean, we are seen in Christ and His righteousness and are accepted in the beloved (Jesus).  We are made white as snow.  Our sins are taken away, forgiven and cast into the sea (Micah 7:19) and He “remembers them no more” (Hebrews 10:17).  All because we believe that He took our place in His death for us on the cross.

I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed.”  John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on Him.”  I Thessalonians 5:9-11 says, “We are not appointed unto wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…that we may live together with Him.”  I Thessalonians 1:10 also says that  “Jesus…rescues us from the wrath to come.”  Notice the contrast in outcomes for the believer.  John 5:24 says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

So to avoid this judgment (God’s eternal wrath) all He requires is that we believe in and receive His Son Jesus.  John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him to them He gives the right to be the children of God; to them that believe on His Name.”  We will live forever with Him.  John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish;” Read John 14:2-6 which says Jesus is preparing a home for us in heaven and we will be with Him forever in heaven. So you need to come to Him and believe in Him as Revelation 22:17 says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that hears say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

We have the promise of the immutable (unchanging) God Who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) that if we believe in His Son that we will escape His wrath, have eternal life and never perish, and live with Him forever.  Not only this, but we have the promise in the Word of God that He is our keeper.  2 Timothy 1:12 says, “I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  Jude 24 says He is able to “keep you from falling and to present you faultless before His presence with exceeding joy.”  Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

The Word of God has inexhaustible lists of instructions and exhortations for how those who follow the Savior, Jesus, should live: Scriptures which tell us what to do, such as, how we should behave, how we should love our neighbor and our enemies, helping other people or how we should speak and even how we should think.

When our life on earth is done, we (those of us who believe in Him) will stand before the One Who died for us and all the things which we have done will be judged.  God’s standard alone will decide the value of each thought, word and deed which we do.  Jesus says in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Were our works done for ourselves: for glory, pleasure or recognition or gain; or were they done for God and for others?  Was what we did selfish or selfless?  This judgment will occur at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:8-10 was written to believers in the church at Corinth.  This judgment is only for those who believe and will be with the Lord forever.  In 2 Corinthians 5:9&10 it says, “So we make it our goal to please Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  This is a judgment of works and their motives.

The Judgment Seat of Christ in NOT about whether we go to heaven.  It is not about whether we are saved or if our sins are forgiven.  We are forgiven and have eternal life when we believe in Jesus.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  We are accepted in Christ (Ephesians 1:6).

In the Old Testament we find the descriptions of the sacrifices, each of which is a type, a foreshadowing, a picture of what Christ would do for us on the cross to accomplish our reconciliation.  One of these is about a “scapegoat.”  The transgressor brings a sacrificial goat and he places his hands on the goat’s head confessing his sins, thus transferring his sins to the goat for the goat to bear.  Then the goat is led into the wilderness never to return.  This is to picture that Jesus took our sins upon Himself when He died for us.  He sends our sins away from us forever.  Hebrews 9:28 says, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.”  Jeremiah 31:34 says, “I will forgive their wickedness and their sins will I remember no more.”

Romans 5:9 has this to say, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him.”  Read Romans chapters 4&5.  John 5:24 says that because of our faith God has given us “eternal life and we will NOT be judged but have crossed (passed) over from death to life.”  See also Romans 2:5; Romans 4:6&7; Psalms 32:1&2; Luke 24:42 and Acts 13:38.

Romans 4:6&7 quotes from the Old Testament Psalm 12:1&2 which says, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will not count against them.”  Revelation 1:5 says that He “freed us from our sins by His death.”  See also I Corinthians 6:11; Colossians 1:14 and Ephesians 1:7.

So this judgment is not about sin, but about our works – the work we do for Christ. God will reward the works we do for Him.  This judgment is about whether our deeds (works) will stand the test to earn God’s rewards.

Everything God teaches us “to do,” we are accountable for.  Do we obey what we learned was God’s will or do we neglect and ignore what we know.  Do we live for Christ and His kingdom or for ourselves?  Are we faithful or lazy servants?

The deeds God will judge are found throughout Scripture wherever we are commanded or encouraged to do anything.  Space and time will not allow us to discuss all that Scripture teaches us to do.  Almost every epistle has a list somewhere of things God is encouraging us to do for Him.

Each believer has been given at least one spiritual gift when they are saved, such as teaching, giving, exhorting, helping, evangelism etc., which he or she is told to use to help the church and other believers and for His kingdom.

We also have natural abilities, things we are good at, that we are born with.  The Bible says these too are given us by God, for it says in I Corinthians 4:7 that we have nothing that is not given to us by God.  We are accountable to use any and all these things to serve God and His kingdom and to bring others to Him.  James 1:22 tells us to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”  The fine linen (white robes) with which the saints of Revelation are clothed represent the “righteous acts of God’s holy people” (Revelation 19:8).  This exemplifies how important this is to God.

Scripture makes it clear that God wants to reward us for what we have done.  Acts 10:4 says, “The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.’ ” This brings us to the point that there are things which can hinder us from earning rewards, even disqualify a good deed we have done and make us lose the reward we would have earned.

I Corinthians 3:10-15 tells us about the judgment of our works.  It is described as  building.  Verse 10 says, “each one should build with care.”  Verses 11-15 say, “if anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  If what he has built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though as one escaping through the flames.”

Romans 14:10-12 says, “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”  God does not want our “good” deeds burned like “wood, hay and stubble.”  2 John 8 says, “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.”  Scripture gives us examples of how we earn or lose our rewards.  Matthew 6:1-18 shows us several areas where we may earn rewards, but speaks directly about what NOT to do so that we don’t lose them.  I would read it a couple of times.  It covers three specific “good deeds” –acts of righteousness – giving to the poor, prayer and fasting.  Read verse one.  Pride is a key word here: wanting to be seen by others, to get honor and glory.  If we do works to be “seen of men,” it says we “will have no reward” from our “Father”, and we have received our “reward in full.”  We need to do our works in “secret,” then He will “reward us openly” (verse 4).  If we do our “good works” to be seen we already have our reward.  This Scripture is very clear, if we do anything for our own gain, for selfish motives or worse, to hurt others or put ourselves above others then our reward will be lost.

Another issue is that if we allow sin into our lives it will hinder us.  If we fail to do God’s will, like being kind, or we neglect to use the gifts and abilities God gives us we are failing Him.  The Book of James teaches us these principles, like James 1:22 saying, “we are to be doers of the Word.”  James also says God’s Word is like a mirror.  When we read it we see how much we fail and don’t measure up to God’s perfect standard.  We see our sins and failures.  We are guilty and we need to ask God to forgive and change us.  James talks about specific areas of failure such as failure to help the needy, our speech, partiality and loving our brothers.

Read Matthew 25:14-27 to see about neglecting what God has entrusted to us to use in His Kingdom, whether it is gifts, abilities, money or opportunities.  We are responsible to use them for God.  In Matthew 25 another hindrance is fear.  Fear of failure can make us “bury” our gift and not use it.  Also if we compare ourselves to others who have greater gifts, resentment or not feeling worthy may hinder us; or maybe we are just plain lazy.  I Corinthians 4:3 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust be found faithful.”  Matthew 25:25 says those who don’t use their gifts are “unfaithful and wicked servants.”

Satan, who accuses us continually before God, can also hinder us.  He is constantly trying to stop us from serving God.  I Peter 5:8(KJV) says, “Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary, the Devil, prowls around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  Verse 9 says, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”  Luke 22:31 says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat.”  He tempts us and discourages us to get us to quit.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.”  This Scripture also gives us tools to fight against our enemy Satan.  Read Matthew 4:1-6 to see how Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan when He was tempted by Satan’s lies. We can also use Scripture when Satan accuses us so we can stand strong and not quit.  This is because Scripture is the truth and the truth will set us free.  See also Luke 22:31&32 which says that Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail.

Any of these hindrances can keep us from faithful service to God, and cause us to lose rewards.  I think a large part of Ephesians 6 has to do with knowing what God’s Word says, especially about how to apply God’s promises for us and how to use the truth to counter Satan’s lies.  James 4:7 says, “resist the devil and he will flee from you,” but we must resist him with truth.  John17:17 says, God’s “Word is truth.”  We need to know the truth in order to use it.  The Word of God is crucial in our warfare against the enemy.

So what do we do if we sin and fail Him as believers.  We all know we do sin and fall short.  Go to I John 1:6, 8 & 10 and 2:1 & 2.  It tells us if we say we do not sin we deceive ourselves, and we are not in fellowship with God.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  But, what if we don’t confess our sin,  if we do not deal with our sin, by confessing it to God, He will discipline us.  I Corinthians 11:32 says, “When we are judged in this way, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.”  Read Hebrews 12:1-11 (KJV) which says He scourges “every son He receives.”  Remember we have seen in Scripture that we will not be judged, condemned and fall under God’s final wrath (John 5:24; 3:14, 16 & 36), but our perfect Father will discipline us.

So what should we do and be doing so we avoid being disqualified from our rewards. Hebrews 12:1&2 has the answer.  It says, “Therefore…let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”  We should determinedly set out to do good, to live God’s plan for us.

We mentioned that when we are born again God gives each of us a spiritual gift or gifts with which we can serve Him and build up the church, things God loves to reward.  Ephesians 4:7-16 talks about how our gifts are to be used.  Verse 11 says Christ “gave gifts to His people: some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.  Verses 12-16 (NIV) says, “to equip His people (KJV the saints) for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…and become mature…as each part does its work.  Read the whole passage.  Also read these other passages on gifts: I Corinthians 12:4-11 and Romans 12:1-31.  Simply put, use the gift God has given you.  Read Romans 12:6-8 again.

Let’s look at some specific areas of our lives, some examples of things He wants us to do.  We have seen from Matthew 6:1-12 that praying, giving and fasting are among those things which earn rewards, when done “faithfully as unto the Lord.”  I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  2 Timothy 3:14-16 is a Scripture which ties much of this together since it talks about Timothy using his spiritual gifts.  It says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful (profitable KJV) for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for ever good work.”  Wow!!  Timothy was to use his gift to teach others to do good works.  Then they were to teach others to do the same. (2 Timothy 2:2).

I Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

A related topic we are exhorted to continue to do, which is closely related to teaching, is that of continuing to grow in our knowledge of the Word of God.  Timothy could not teach and preach what he didn’t know.  When we are first “born” into God’s family we are exhorted to “desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow” (I Peter 2:2).  In John 8:31 Jesus said to “continue in my word.”  We never outgrow our need to learn from the Word of God.”

I Timothy 4:16 says, “watch your life and doctrine, persevere in them…”  See also: 2 Peter chapter 1; 2 Timothy 2:15 and I John 2:21.  John 8:31 says, “if you continue in My word, then you are my disciples indeed.”  See Philippians 2:15&16.  As Timothy did, we must continue in what we have learned (2 Timothy 3:14).  We also keep coming back to Ephesians chapter 6 which keeps referring to what we know from the Word about faith and using the Bible as a shield and helmet etc., which are God’s promises from the Word and are used to defend against Satan’s attacks.

In 2 Timothy 4:5, Timothy is exhorted to use another gift and “do the work of an evangelist,” which means preaching and sharing the gospel, and to “discharge all the duties of his ministry.”  Both Matthew and Mark end by commanding us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.  Acts 1:8 says we are His witnesses.  This is our primary duty.  2 Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us He “gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”  Acts 20:29 says, “my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying  to the Good News of God’s grace.”  See also Romans 3:2.

Again we keep coming back to Ephesians 6.  Here the word stand is used: the idea is “never quit,” “never retreat” or “never give up.”  The word is used three times.  Scripture also uses the words continue, persevere and run the race.  We are to keep believing and following our Savior, till our race is done (Hebrews 12:1&2).  When we fail, we need to confess our unbelief and failure, get up and ask God to sustain us.  I Corinthians 15:58 says to be steadfast.  Acts 14:22 tells us that the apostles went to the churches “strengthening the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith” (NKJV).  In the NIV it says to be “true to the faith.”

We saw how Timothy was to keep learning but also to continue in what he had learned (2 Timothy 3:14).  We know we are saved by faith, but we also walk by faith.  Galatians 2:20 says we “live daily by the faith of the Son of God.”  I think there are two aspects of living by faith. 1) We are given life (eternal life) by faith in Jesus (John 3:16).  In John 5:24 we saw that when we believe we pass from death to life.  See Romans 1:17 and Ephesians 2:8-10.  Now we see that while we are still alive physically, we are to live our life continually by faith in Him and all He teaches us, trusting and believing and obeying Him every day: trusting in His grace, love, power and faithfulness.  We are to remain faithful; to continue.

This in itself has two parts: 1) to remain true to the doctrine as Timothy was exhorted, that is, not to be drawn away into any false teaching.  Acts 14:22 says they encouraged “the disciples to be true to THE faith.”  2) Acts 13:42 tells us that the apostles “persuaded them to CONTINUE in the grace of God.”  See also Ephesians 4:1 and I Timothy 1:5 and 4:13.  Scripture describes this as “walking,” as “walking in the Spirit” or “walking in the light,” often in the face of trials and tribulations.  As stated, it means not quitting.

In the Gospel of John 6:65-70 many disciples went away and quit following Him and Jesus said to the Twelve, “Will you also go away?”  Peter said to Jesus, “To whom would we go, You have the words of eternal life.”  This is the attitude we should have with regard to following Jesus.  This is illustrated in Scripture in the account of the spies sent out to check out God’s Promised Land.  Instead of believing God’s promises they brought back a discouraging report and only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to go forward and trust in God.  Because the people did not trust God, those who did not believe died in the wilderness.  Hebrews says this is a lesson to us to trust God, and not to quit.  See Hebrews 3:12 which says, “see to it brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

When we are tested and tried God is trying to make us strong and patient and faithful.  We learn to overcome our trials and Satan’s arrows.  Don’t be like the Hebrews who failed to trust and follow God.  I Corinthians 4:1&2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust remain faithful.”

One other area to consider is prayer.  According to Matthew 6 it is obvious God rewards us for our prayers.  Revelation 5:8 says our prayers are a sweet savor, they are an offering to God like the incense offerings in the Old Testament.  The verse says, “they were holding golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of God’s people.”  Matthew 6:6 says, “pray to your Father…then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Jesus tells a story of an unjust judge to teach us to importance of prayer – persistent prayer – never give up prayer (Luke 18:1-8).  Read it.  A widow pestered a judge for justice until finally he granted her request because she bothered him persistently.  God loves us.  How much more will He answer our prayers. Verse one says, “Jesus told this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”  Not only does God want to answer our prayers but He rewards us for praying.  Remarkable!

Ephesians 6:18&19, which we have come back to many times in this discussion, also refers to prayer.  Paul concludes the letter and encourages the believers to pray for “all the Lord’s people.”  He was also very specific as to how to pray for his evangelistic efforts.

I Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people.”  Verse three says, “this is good and pleasing to our Savior, Who wants all men to be saved.”  We should never stop praying for lost loved ones and friends.  In Colossians 4:2&3 Paul also talks about how to specifically pray for evangelism.  It says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

We saw how the Israelites discouraged one another.  We are told to encourage, not discourage one another.  Actually encouragement is a spiritual gift.  Not only are we to do these things and continue to do them, we are to teach and encourage others to do them too.  I Thessalonians 5:11 commands us to do so, to “build one another up.”  Timothy was also told to preach, correct and encourage others because of God’s judgment.  2 Timothy 4:1&2 says, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”  See also I Peter 5:8&9.

Lastly, but really it should be first, we are commanded throughout all Scripture to love one another, even our enemies.  I Thessalonians 4:10 says, “You do love God’s family…yet we urge you do so more and more.”  Philippians 1:8 says, “that your love may abound more and more.”  See also Hebrews 13:1 and John 15:9  It is interesting that He says “more.”  There can never be too much love.

Verses encouraging us to persevere are everywhere in the Scriptures.  In short, we should always be doing something and continue to do something.  Colossians 3:23(KJV) says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it heartily (or with all your heart in the NIV) as unto the Lord.”   Colossians 3:24 continues, “Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord you are serving.”  2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”  Will you be able to say this?  I Corinthians 9:24 says “So run that you will win the prize.”  Galatians 5:7 says, “You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”

What Is the Meaning of Life?

Cruden’s Concordance defines life as “animated existence as distinguished from dead matter.”  We all know when something is alive by the evidence exhibited.  We know that a person or animal ceases to be alive when it stops breathing, communicating and functioning.  Likewise, when a plant dies it withers and dries up.

Life is a part of God’s creation.  Colossians 1:15&16 tells us we were created by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and in Genesis 1:26 it says, “Let us make man in our image.” This Hebrew word for God, “Elohim,” is plural and speaks of all three persons of the Trinity, which means that the Godhead or Triune God created the first human life and the whole world.

Jesus is specifically mentioned in Hebrews 1:1-3.  It says God “has spoken to us by His Son…through whom also He made the universe.”  See also John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15&16 where it is specifically talking about Jesus Christ and it says, “all things were created by Him.”  John 1:1-3 says, “He made everything that was made, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  In Job 33:4, Job says, “The Spirit of God has made me, the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  We know by these verses that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, working together, created us.

This life comes directly from God. Genesis 2:7 says, “God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.” This was unique from all else He created.  We are living beings by the very breath of God in us.  There is no life except from God.

Even in our vast, yet limited, knowledge we cannot understand how God could do this, and maybe we never will, but it is even harder to believe that our complex and perfect creation was just the result of a series of freak accidents.

Does it not then beg the question, “What is the meaning of life?” I like to also refer to this as our reason or purpose for life!  Why did God create human life?  Colossians 1:15&16, previously partly quoted, gives us the reason for our life.  It goes on to say that we were “created for Him.”  Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things, to Him be the glory forever! Amen.”  We are created for Him, for His pleasure.

In speaking of God, Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  The Father also says that He has given His Son, Jesus, rule and supremacy over all things.  Revelation 5:12-14 says He has “dominion.”  Hebrews 2:5-8 (quoting Psalm 8:4-6) says God has “put all things under His feet.”  Verse 9 says, “In putting all things under His feet, God left nothing that is not subject to Him.”  Not only is Jesus our Creator and thus worthy to rule, and worthy of honor and power but because He died for us God has exalted Him to sit on His throne and rule over all creation (including His world).

Zechariah 6:13 says, “He will be clothed with majesty, and will sit and rule on His throne.”  Read also Isaiah 53.  John 17:2 says, “Thou hast given Him authority over all mankind.”  As God and Creator He deserves honor, praise and thankfulness.  Read Revelation 4:11 and 5:12&13.  Matthew 6:9 says, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.”  He deserves our service and respect.  God rebuked Job because he disrespected Him.  He did it by showing the greatness of His creation, and Job responded by saying, “Now my eyes have seen thee and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Romans 1:21 shows us the wrong way, by how the unrighteous behaved, thus revealing what is expected of us.  It says, “though they knew God they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks.”  Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “the conclusion, when all has been heard is: fear God and keep His commandments: because this applies to every person.”  Deuteronomy 6:5 says (and this is repeated in Scripture over and over), “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might.”

I would define the meaning of life (and our purpose in life), as fulfilling these verses.  This is fulfilling His will for us.  Micah 6:8 sums it up this way, “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Other verses say this in slightly different ways as in Matthew 6:33, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you,” or Matthew 11:28-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.”  Verse 30(NASB) says, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Deuteronomy 10:12&13 says, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your good.”

Which brings to mind the point that God is not capricious nor arbitrary nor subjective; for although He deserves to be and is the Supreme Ruler, He does not do what He does for Himself alone.  He is love and everything He does is out of love and for our good, that is although it is His right to rule, God is not selfish.  He does not rule just because He can.  Everything that God does has love at its core.

More importantly, although He is our ruler it does not say He created us to rule us but what it does say is God loved us, that He was pleased with His creation and delights in it.  Psalm 149:4&5 says, “The Lord takes delight in His people…let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy.”  Jeremiah 31:3 Says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”  Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take delight in you, He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Proverbs 8:30&31 says, “I was daily His delight…Rejoicing in the world, His earth and having my delight in the sons of man.”  In John 17:13 Jesus in His prayer for us says, “I am still in the world so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” for us.  God loved Adam, His creation, so much He made him ruler over all His world, over all His creation and placed him in His beautiful garden.

I believe that the Father often walked with Adam in the Garden.  We see that He came looking for him in the garden after Adam had sinned, but didn’t find Adam because he had hidden himself.  I believe that God created man for fellowship.  In I John 1:1-3 it says, “our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son.”

In Hebrews chapters 1&2 Jesus is referred to as our brother.  He says, “I am not ashamed to call them brothers.”  In verse 13 He calls them “the children God has given Me.”  In John 15:15 He calls us friends.  All of these are terms of fellowship and relationship. In Ephesians 1:5 God speaks of adopting us “as His sons through Jesus Christ.”

So, even though Jesus has pre-eminence and supremacy over everything (Colossians 1:18), His purpose for giving us “life” was for fellowship and a family relationship.  I believe this is the purpose or meaning of life presented in Scripture.

Remember Micah 6:8 says we are to walk humbly with our God; humbly because He is God and Creator; but walking with Him because He loves us.  Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”  In light of this verse, let me say that once Satan, God’s angel served Him, but Satan wanted to be God, to take over God’s place instead of “walking humbly with Him.”  He tried to exalt himself above God and was thrown out of heaven.  Ever since then he has tried to drag us down with him as he did with Adam and Eve.  They followed him and sinned; then they hid themselves in the garden and eventually God cast them out of the Garden.  (Read Genesis 3.)

We, like Adam, have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and rebelled against God and our sins have separated us from God and our relationship and fellowship with God is broken.  Read Isaiah 59:2, which says, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you…”  We died spiritually.

Someone I know defined the meaning of life this way: “God wants us to live with Him forever and maintain a relationship (or walk) with Him here and now (Micah 6:8 all over again).  Christians often refer to our relationship here and now with God as a “walk” because Scripture uses the word “walk” to describe how we should live.  (I’ll explain that later.)  Because we have sinned and are separated from this “life,” we MUST start or begin by receiving His Son as our personal Savior and the restoration He has provided by dying for us on the cross.  Psalm 80:3 says, “God, restore us and cause thy face to shine upon us and we will be saved.”

Romans 6:23 says, “The wages (penalty) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Thankfully, God so loved the world that He sent His own Son to die for us and pay the penalty for our sin that whoever “believes in Him might have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Jesus’ death restores our relationship with the Father. Jesus paid this penalty of death, but we must receive (accept) it and believe in Him as we have seen in John 3:16 and John 1:12.  In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said, “This is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  Read also I Peter 2:24; I Corinthians 15:1-4 and Isaiah chapter 53.  John 6:29 tells us, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.”

It is then that we become His children (John 1:12), and His Spirit comes to live in us (John 3:3 and John 14:15&16) and then that we have the fellowship with God spoken of in I John chapter 1.  John 1:12 tells us that when we receive and believe in Jesus we become His children.  John 3:3-8 says that we are “born again” into God’s family.  It is then that we can walk with God as Micah says we should.  Jesus said in John 10:10(NIV), “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  The NASB reads, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  This is life with all the joy God promises.  Romans 8:28 goes even further by saying that God loves us so much that He “causes all things to work together for our good.”

So how do we walk with God?  Scripture talks about being one with the Father as Jesus was one with the Father (John 17:20-23).  I think Jesus meant this also in John 15 when He spoke of abiding in Him.  There is also John 10 which speaks of us as sheep following Him, the Shepherd.

As I said, this life is described as “walking” over and over, but to understand it and do it we must study the Word of God.  Scripture teaches us the things we must do to walk with God.  It starts with reading and studying God’s Word.  Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.”  Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”  When we do these things we are walking with God and obeying His Word.

I’m going to put this in sort of an outline with a lot of verses which I hope you will read:

1).        John 15:1-17:  I think Jesus means walking with Him continuously, day by day in this life, when He says “abide” or “remain” in Me.  “Abide in Me and I in you.”  Being His disciples implies that He is our Teacher.  According to 15:10 it includes obeying His commands.  According to verse 7 it includes having His word abiding in us.  In John 14:23 it says, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep my Word and My Father will love him, and We will come and make Our abode with him'”  This sounds like abiding to me.

2).        John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.”  Jesus later speaks of unity with us as He has with the Father.  In John 10:30 Jesus says, “I and My Father are One.”

3).        John 10:1-18 teaches us that we, His sheep, follow Him, the Shepherd, and He cares for us as “we go in and out and find pasture.”  In verse 14 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-”

WALKING WITH GOD

How can we as humans walk with God Who is Spirit?

6. We can walk in truth. Scripture says God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), meaning the Bible and what it commands and the ways it teaches, etc.  The truth sets us free (John 8:32).  Walking in His ways means as James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.”  Other verses to read would be:  Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 143:8; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 5:33; Deuteronomy 5:33; Ezekiel 37:24; 2 John 6; Psalm 119:11, 3; John 17:6 &17; 3 John 3&4; I Kings 2:4 & 3:6; Psalm 86:1, Isaiah 38:3 and Malachi 2:6.
7. We can walk in the Light. Walking in the light means to walk in the teaching of God’s Word (Light also refers to the Word itself); seeing yourself in God’s Word, that is, recognizing what you are doing or are, and recognizing whether it is good or bad as you see examples, historical accounts or commands and teaching presented in the Word.  The Word is God’s light and as such we must respond (walk) in it.  If we are doing what we should we need to thank God for His strength and ask God to enable us to continue; but if we have failed or have sinned, we need to confess it to God and He will forgive us.  This is how we walk in the light (revelation) of the Word of God, for Scripture is God-breathed, the very words of Our Heavenly Father (2 Timothy 3:16).  Read also I John 1:1-10; Psalm 56:13; Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 2:5; John 8:12; Psalm 89:15; Romans 6:4.
8. We can walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God but rather works through it.  He is the Author of it (2 Peter 1:21).  For more about walking in the Spirit see Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16 and Romans 8:9.  The results of walking in the light and walking in the Spirit are very similar in Scripture.
9. We can walk as Jesus walked. We are to follow His example, obey His teaching and be like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18; Luke 6:40).  I John 2:6 says, “The one who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same manner as He walked.”  Here are some important ways to be like Christ:
10. Love one another.  John 15:17: “This is my command: Love each other.”  Philippians 2:1&2 says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”  This relates to walking in the Spirit because the first aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22).
11. Obey Christ as He obeyed and submitted to the Father (John 14:15).
12. John 17:4: He finished the work God gave Him to do, when He died on the cross (John 19:30).
13. When He prayed in the garden He said, “Thy will be done (Matthew 26:42).
14. John 15:10 says, “If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Fathers commands and abide in His love.”
15. This brings me to another aspect of walking, that is, living the Christian life – which is PRAYER. Prayer falls into both obedience, since God commands it many times, and following Jesus’ example in praying.  We think of prayer as asking for things.  It is, but it is more.  I like to define it as just talking to or with God anytime, anywhere.  Jesus did this because in John 17 we see that Jesus while walking and talking with His disciples “looked up” and “prayed” for them.  This is a perfect example of “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17), asking requests of God and talking to God ANY TIME AND ANY WHERE.
16. Jesus’ example and other Scriptures teach us to also spend time separately from others, alone with God in prayer (Matthew 6:5&6).  Here Jesus is also our example, as Jesus spent much time alone in prayer.  Read Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 11:1; 5:16; 6:12 and 9:18&28.
17. God commands us to pray. Abiding includes prayer. Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer.”  In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus taught us how to pray by giving us the “Lord’s Prayer.”  Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Paul repeatedly asked the churches he started to pray for him.  Luke 18:1 says, “Men ought always to pray.”  Both 2 Samuel 21:1 and I Timothy 5:5 in the Living Bible translation speak of spending “much time in prayer.”  So prayer is an important requirement for our walk with God.  Spend time with Him in prayer as David does in the Psalms and as Jesus did.

The whole Scripture is our guidebook to live and walk with God, but summed up it is:

1. Know the Word: 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2. Obey the Word: James 1:22
3. Know Him through the Scripture (John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:3).
4. Pray
5. Confess sin
6. Follow Jesus’ example
7. Be like Jesus

These things I believe constitute what Jesus meant when Jesus said to abide in Him and this is the true meaning of life.

Conclusion

Life without God is futile and rebellion leads to living without Him.  It leads to living without purpose, with confusion and frustration, and as Romans 1 says, living “without knowledge.”  It is meaningless and totally self-centered.  If we walk with God we have life and that more abundantly, with purpose and God’s eternal love.  With this comes a loving relationship with a loving Father Who ALWAYS gives us what is good and best for us and Who delights and joys in pouring out His blessings on us, forever.

The tribulation is a period of seven years predicted in Daniel 9:24-27.  It says, “Seventy-sevens are decreed for your people and your city (i.e. Israel and Jerusalem) to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.”  It goes on to say in verses 26b and 27, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.  The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.  He will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven” (7 years); in the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 explain the interpretation of this seventieth week as seven years, the last half of which in actual days is three and one-half years.  Jeremiah 30:7 describes this as the day of Jacob’s trouble saying, “Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”  It is described in detail in Revelation chapters 6-18 and is a seven year period in which God will “pour out” his wrath against the nations, against sin and against those who rebel against God, refusing to believe in and worship Him and His Anointed One.  I Thessalonians 1:6-10 says, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.  For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

The Tribulation centers around Israel and God’s Holy City, Jerusalem.  It starts with a ruler coming up out of a ten nation confederacy which comes from the roots of the historic Roman Empire in Europe.  At first he will appear to be a peace maker and then rise up to be evil.  After three and one-half years in which he gains power, he desecrates the temple in Jerusalem and sets himself up as “god” and demands to be worshiped.  (Read Matthew chapters 24&25; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 and Revelation chapter 13.)  God judges the nations who have been hostile to and tried to destroy His people (Israel). He also judges the ruler (the Anti-Christ) who sets himself up as god.  When the nations of the world all gather together to destroy His people and City at the valley of Armageddon, to battle against God, Jesus will return to destroy His enemies and rescue His people and the City.  Jesus will return visibly and be seen by the whole world (Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7) and His people Israel (Zechariah 12:1-14 and 14:1-9).

When Jesus returns, the Old Testament saints, the Church and armies of angels will come with Him to conquer.  When the remnant of Israel sees Him they will recognize Him as the One they pierced and mourn and they will all be saved (Romans 11:26).  Then Jesus will set up His Millennial Kingdom and reign with His people for 1,000 years.

ARE WE IN THE TRIBULATION?

No, not yet, but we are probably in the time just prior to that.  As we stated earlier, the tribulation begins when the Anti-Christ will be revealed and form a treaty with Israel (See Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2).  Daniel 7 & 9 say that he will arise out of a ten nation union and then take more control.  As of yet, the 10 nation group is not formed.

Another reason why we are not yet in the tribulation is that during the tribulation, at 3&1/2 years the Anti-Christ will defile the temple in Jerusalem and set himself up as god and at the present time there is no temple on the Mount in Israel, though the Jews are prepared and ready to build it.

What we do see is a time of increased war and unrest which Jesus said would occur (See Matthew 24:7&8; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11).  This is the sign of the impending wrath of God.  These verses say there will be increased wars between countries and ethnic groups, pestilence, earthquakes and other signs from heaven.

Another thing which must occur is that the gospel must be preached to all the nations, tongues and peoples, because some of these people will believe and will be in heaven, praising God and the Lamb (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 5:9&10).

We know we are close because God is gathering His scattered people, Israel, from the world and returning them to Israel, the Holy Land, never to leave again.  Amos 9:11-15 says, “I will plant them upon the land, and they will no more be pulled up out of the land I have given them.”

Most fundamental Christians believe that the rapture of the church will also come first (see I Corinthians 15:50-56; I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) because the church “is not appointed unto wrath”, but this point is not as clear and can be controversial.  However God’s Word does say that the angels will gather His saints “from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31), not from one end of the earth to another, and that they will join with the armies of God, including the angels (I Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:14) to come to earth to defeat Israel’s enemies at the Lord’s return.  Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

Since the Greek noun translated apostasy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 comes from a verb that is usually translated to depart, this verse may be referring to the rapture and that would be consistent with the chapter context.  Read also Isaiah 26:19-21 which seems to picture a resurrection and an event in which these people are hidden away to escape God’s wrath and judgment.  The rapture has not occurred yet.

HOW CAN WE ESCAPE THE TRIBULATION?

Most evangelicals accept the concept of the Rapture of the church, but there is controversy as to when it occurs.  If it occurs prior to the start of the tribulation then only the unbelievers who remain on earth after the Rapture will enter the tribulation, the time of God’s wrath, because only those who believe that Jesus died to save us from our sins will be raptured.  If we are wrong about the timing of the Rapture and it occurs later, during or at the end of the seven year tribulation, we will be left with everyone else and go through the tribulation, although most of the people who believe this believe we will somehow be protected from God’s wrath during that time.

You don’t want to be against God, you want to be on God’s side, otherwise, you will not only go through the tribulation but also face God’s judgment and eternal wrath and be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.  Revelation 20:10-15 says, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, the great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (See also Matthew 25:41.)

As I stated, most Christians are convinced that believers will be raptured and not enter the tribulation.  I Corinthians 15:51&52 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable; and we will be changed.”  I think it is very interesting that the Scriptures about the Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:8-10; I Corinthians 15:52) say, “we shall be forever with the Lord,” and that, “we should comfort one another with these words.”

Jewish believers use the illustration of the Jewish Marriage ceremony as it was during the time of Christ to illustrate this point of view.  Some argue that Jesus never used it and yet He did.  He used the marriage customs several times to describe or explain events surrounding  His Second Coming.  The Characters are: The bride is the church; the groom is Christ; the Father of the Groom is God the Father.

The basic events are:

1).        The Betrothal: The bride and groom drink a cup of wine together and promise not to drink again of the fruit of the vine until the actual wedding happens.  Jesus used the words the groom would use when He said in Matthew 26:29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”  When the bride drinks from the cup of wine and the bride price is paid by the groom, it is a picture of the payment made for us for our sins and our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior. We are the bride.

2).        The Groom goes away to build a house for his bride.  In John 14 Jesus goes to heaven to prepare a house for us.  John 14:1-3 says, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also,” (the rapture).

3).        The Father decides when the groom will return for the bride.  Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”  The Father alone knows when Jesus will return.

4).        The groom comes unexpectedly for His bride who is waiting, often as long as a year, for Him to come back.  Jesus raptures the church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

5).        The bride is cloistered for a week in the room prepared for her in the Father’s house.  The church is in heaven for seven years during the Tribulation.  Read Isaiah 26:19-21.

6).        The Marriage Supper happens in the Fathers house at the end of the marriage celebration (Revelation 19:7-9).  After the marriage supper, the bride comes forth and is presented to everyone.  Jesus returns to earth with His bride (the church) and the Old Testament saints and angels to subdue His enemies (Revelation 19:11-21).

Yes, Jesus did use the wedding customs of His day to illustrate last days’ events.  Scripture refers to the church as the bride of Christ and Jesus says that He is going to prepare a home for us.  Jesus also talks about coming back for His church and that we should be ready for His return (Matthew 25:1-13).  As we said, He also says only the Father knows when He will return.

There is no New Testament reference to the seven day seclusion of the bride, however there is one Old Testament reference – a prophecy which parallels the resurrection of those who die and then they are to “go to their rooms or chambers till God’s wrath is complete.”  Read Isaiah 26: 19-26, which looks like it may be about the rapture of the church before the tribulation.  After this you have the marriage supper and then the saints, the redeemed and myriads of angels coming “from heaven” to defeat Jesus’ enemies (Revelation 19:11-22) and to rule and reign on earth (Revelation 20:1-6).

Either way, the only way to avoid God’s wrath is to believe in Jesus.  (See John 3:14-18 and 36.  Verse 36 says, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”)  We must believe that Jesus paid the penalty, the debt and punishment for of our sin, by dying on the cross.  I Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “I declare the gospel…by which also you are saved…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”  Matthew 26:28 says, “This is My blood… which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  I Peter 2:24 says, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the cross.”  (Read Isaiah 53:1-12.)  John 20:31 says, “But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.”

If you come to Jesus, He will not turn you away.  John 6:37 says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”  Verses 39&40 say, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.  For this is the will of the Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  Read also John 10:28&29 which says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall NEVER perish and neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand…”  Read also Romans 8:35 which says, “Who shall separate us from the love of God, shall tribulation or distress…”  And verses 38&39 say, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels…nor things to come.. shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”  (See also I John 5:13)

But God says in Hebrews 2:3, “How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation.”  2 Timothy 1:12 says, “I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

 

Whenever you are trying to understand a part of Scripture, there are some guidelines to follow. Study it in its context, in other words look carefully at the surrounding verses. You should look at it in light of its Biblical history and background. The Bible is cohesive. It is one story, the amazing story of God’s plan of redemption. No part can be understood alone. It is a good idea to ask questions about a passage or topic, such as, who, what, where, when, why and how.

When it comes to the question of whether or not a person has committed the unpardonable sin, background is important to its understanding. Jesus began His ministry of preaching and healing six months after John the Baptist began his. John was sent by God to prepare people to receive Jesus and as a witness to Who He was. John 1:7 “to bear witness to the Light.” John 1:14&15, 19-36 God told John that he would see the Spirit descend and abide upon Him. John 1:32-34 John said “he bare record that this was the Son of God.” He also said of Him, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the son of the world. John 1:29 See also John 5:33

The priests and Levites (religious leaders of the Jews) were aware of both John and Jesus. The Pharisees (another group of Jewish leaders) began to ask them who they were and by what authority they were preaching and teaching. It seems they began to see them as a threat. They asked John if he were the Christ (he said he was not) or “that prophet.” John 1:21 This is very important to the question at hand. The phrase “that prophet” comes from the prophecy given to Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 and is explained in Deuteronomy 34:10-12 where God tells Moses that another prophet would come who would be like himself and preach and do great wonders (a prophecy about Christ). This and other Old Testament prophecies were given so people would recognize the Christ (the Messiah) when He came.

So Jesus began to preach and show people that He was the promised Messiah and to prove it by mighty wonders. He made the claim that He spoke the words of God and that He came from God. (John chapter 1, Hebrews chapter 1, John 3:16, John 7:16) In John 12:49&50 Jesus said, “I (do) not speak of my own accord, but the Father Who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.” By teaching and doing miracles Jesus fulfilled both aspects of Moses’ prophecy. John 7:40 The Pharisees were knowledgeable in Old Testament Scripture; familiar with all these Messianic prophecies. Read John 5:36-47 to see what Jesus said about this. In verse 46 of that passage Jesus claims to be “that prophet” by saying “he spoke of me.” Read also Acts 3:22 Many people were asking if He were the Christ or “the Son of David.” Matthew 12:23

This background and the Scriptures about it all connect to the question of the unpardonable sin. All of these facts come up in the passages about this question. They are found in Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30 and Luke 11:14-54, especially verse 52. Please read these carefully if you want to understand the issue. The situation is about Who Jesus is and Who empowered Him to do miracles. By this time the Pharisees are jealous of Him, testing Him, trying to trip Him up with questions and refusing to acknowledge Who He is and refusing to come to Him that they might have life. John 5:36-47 According to Matthew 12:14&15 they were even trying to kill Him. See also John 10:31. It appears that the Pharisees followed Him (perhaps mingling with the crowds who gathered to hear Him preach and do miracles) in order to keep watch on Him.

On this particular occasion concerning the unpardonable sin Mark 3:22 states that they came down from Jerusalem. They apparently followed Him when he left the crowds to go somewhere else because they wanted to find a reason to kill Him. There Jesus drove out a demon from a man and healed him. It is here that the sin in question occurs. Matthew 12:24 “When the Pharisees heard this they said, ‘it is only by Baalzebub the prince of demons that this fellow drives out demons.” (Baalzebub is another name for Satan.) It is at the end of this passage where Jesus concludes by saying, “whoso speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come.” This is the unpardonable sin: “they said that He had an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:30 The whole discourse, which includes the remarks about the unpardonable sin, is directed at the Pharisees. Jesus knew their thoughts and He spoke to them directly about what they were saying. Jesus’ whole discourse and His judgment on them is based on their thoughts and words; He started with that and ended with that.

Simply stated the unpardonable sin is crediting or attributing Jesus’ wonders and miracles,especially casting out demons, to an unclean spirit. The Scofield Reference Bible says in the notes on page 1013 about Mark 3:29&30 that the unpardonable sin is “ascribing to Satan the works of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is involved – He empowered Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 12:28, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come unto you.” He concludes by saying wherefore (that is because you say these things) “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto you.” Matthew 12:31 There is no other explanation in Scripture saying what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is. Remember the background. Jesus had the witness of John the Baptist (John 1:32-34) that the Spirit was upon Him. Words used in the dictionary to describe blasphemy are to profane, revile, insult and show contempt.

Surely discrediting Jesus’ works fits this. We don’t like it when someone else gets credit for what we do. Imagine taking the Spirit’s work and crediting it to Satan. Most scholars say this sin occurred only while Jesus was on the earth. The reasoning behind this is that the Pharisees were eyewitnesses to His miracles and heard firsthand accounts about them. They were also learned in the Scriptural prophecies and were leaders who were thus more accountable because of their position. Knowing that John the Baptist said He was the Messiah and that Jesus said His works proved Who He was, they still persistently refused to believe. Worse still, in the very Scriptures which discuss this sin, Jesus not only speaks of their blasphemy, but also accuses them of another fault – that of scattering those who witnessed their blasphemy. Matthew 12:30&31 “he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you…anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

All these things are linked together bringing Jesus’ harsh condemnation. To discredit the Spirit is to discredit Christ, thus nullifying His work to any who listened to what the Pharisees said. It eradicates all of Christ’s teaching and salvation with it. Jesus said of the Pharisees in Luke 11:23, 51&52 that not only did the Pharisees not enter in but they hindered or prevented those who were entering. Matthew 23:13 “you shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.” They should have been showing people the way and instead they were turning them away. Read also John 5:33, 36, 40; 10:37&38 (actually the entire chapter); 14:10&11; 15:22-24.

To sum it up, they were guilty because: they knew; they saw; they had knowledge; they did not believe; they kept others from believing and they blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Vincent’s Greek Word Studies adds another part of the explanation from Greek grammar by pointing out that in Mark 3:30 the verb tense indicates that they kept on saying or persisted in saying “He has an unclean spirit.” The evidence indicates that they kept on saying this even after the resurrection. All the evidence indicates that the unpardonable sin is not one isolated act, but a persistent pattern of behavior. To say otherwise would negate the clear often repeated truth of the Scripture that “whoever will may come.” Revelation 22:17 John 3:14-16 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 10:13 “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”

God is calling us to believe in Christ and the gospel. I Corinthians 15:3&4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” If you believe in Christ, surely you are not crediting His works to Satan’s power and committing the unpardonable sin. “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30&31

Christmas is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world. The connection to Christianity is obvious in the name, which probably comes from Christ Mass, a Catholic service celebrating the birth of Christ. The is nothing in the New Testament about celebrating the birth of Christ and the writings of the early Christians indicate they were much more interested in celebrating His death, burial and resurrection than in celebrating His birth.

Most people who have studied the question as to the actual day of Christ’s birth have come to the conclusion that it was not on December 25^th, although there are a significant number of theologians who believe that December 25^th is the day of the year Christ was actually born. Some believe the date was chosen to give Christians something to celebrate while the pagans were celebrating the birth of one of their gods. Either way, most Christians celebrate it because it gives us a chance to talk about Christ and what He came to do for us. Most Christians celebrate it without getting involved with all the cultural trappings that have been attached to it.

The Holy Spirit is both everywhere present and especially present in believers. Psalm 139:7&8 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” The Holy Spirit being everywhere present will not change, even when all believers are in Heaven.

The Holy Spirit also lives in believers from the moment they are “born again,” or “born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8). It is my opinion that when the Holy Spirit comes to live in a believer he joins Himself to that person’s spirit in a relationship that is much like a marriage. I Corinthians 6:16b&17 “For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” I think the Holy Spirit will remain united with my spirit even after I die.

I believe the answer to your question lies in the Scripture.  As regards any doctrine or teaching, the only way we can know if what is being taught is “truth” is to compare it to the “truth” – the Scriptures – the Bible.

In the Book of Acts (17:10-12) in the Bible, we see an account of how Luke encouraged the early church to deal with doctrine.  God says all Scripture is given to us for our instruction or as an example.

Paul and Silas had been sent to Berea where they began to teach.  Luke complimented the Bereans who heard Paul teach, calling them noble because, besides receiving the Word, they examines Paul’s teaching, testing it to see if it was true.  Acts 17:11 says they did this by “searching the Scriptures daily to see if these things (they were being taught) we so.”  This is exactly what we should do with every and all things anyone teaches us.

Any doctrine you hear or read should be tested.  You should search and study the Bible to test any doctrine.  This story is given for our example.  I Corinthians 10:6 says that Scripture accounts are given to us for “examples for us,” and 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is for our “instruction.”  New Testament “prophets” were instructed to test each other to see if what they said was accurate.  I Corinthians 14:29 says “let two or three prophets speak and let the others pass judgment.”

Scripture itself is the only true record of God’s words and is therefore the only truth with which we must judge.  So we must do as God instructs us and judge everything by the Word of God.  So get busy and start studying and searching God’s Word.  Make it your standard and your joy as David did in the Psalms.

I Thessalonians 5:21 says, in the New King James Version, “test all things: hold fast what is good.”  The 21^st Century King James Version translates the first part of the verse, “Prove all things.”  Enjoy the search.

There are several online websites that may be very helpful as you study.  On biblegateway.com you can read any verse in over 50 English and many foreign language translations and also look up any word every time it occurs in the Bible in those translations.  Biblehub.com is another valuable resource.  New Testament Greek dictionaries and interlinear Bibles (that have the English translation underneath the Greek or Hebrew)  are also available on line and these also can be very helpful.

After reading your questions and comments it appears that you have some belief in God and His Son, Jesus, but also have many misunderstandings.  You seem to see God through only human opinions and experiences and see Him as Someone Who should do what you want, as if He were a servant or on demand, and so you judge His nature, and say it is “at stake.”

Let me first say my answers will be Bible based because it is the only reliable source to truly understand Who God is and what He is like.

We cannot ‘create” our own god to suit our own dictations, according to our own desires.  We can’t rely on books or religious groups or any other opinions, we must accept the true God from the only source He has given us, the Scripture.  If people question all or part of Scripture we are left with only human opinions, which never agree.  We just have a god created by humans, a fictional god.  He is only our creation and is not God at all.  We might as well make a god of word or stone or a golden image as Israel did.

We want to have a god who does what we want.  But we can’t even change God by our demands.  We are just acting like children, having a temper tantrum to get our own way.  Nothing we do or judge determines Who He is and all our arguments have no effect on His “nature.”  His “nature” is not “at stake” because we say so.  He is Who He is: Almighty God, our Creator.

So Who is the real God.  There are so many characteristics and attributes that I will only mention some and I will not “proof text” all of them.  If you want to you can go to a reliable source such as “Bible Hub” or “Bible Gateway” online and do some research.

Here are some of His attributes.  God is Creator, Sovereign, Almighty.  He is holy, He is just and fair and a righteous Judge.  He is our Father.  He is light and truth.  He is eternal.  He cannot lie.  Titus 1:2 tells us, “In the hope of eternal life, which God, WHO CANNOT LIE, promised long ages ago.  Malachi 3:6 says He is unchangeable, “I am the LORD, I change not.”

NOTHING we do, no action, opinion, knowledge, circumstances, or judgment can change or affect His “nature.”  If we blame or accuse Him, He does not change.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Here are a few more attributes: He is everywhere present; He knows everything (omniscient) past, present and future.  He is perfect and HE IS LOVE (I John 4:15-16).  God is loving, kind and merciful to all.

We should note here that all the bad stuff, disasters and tragedies which occur, occur because of sin which entered the world when Adam sinned (Romans 5:12).  So what should our attitude be toward our God?

God is our Creator.  He created the world and everything in it.  (See Genesis 1-3.)  Read Romans 1:20&21.  It certainly implies that because He is our Creator and because He is, well, God, that He deserves our honor and praise and glory.  It says, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor gave thanks to God, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

We are to honor and thank God because He is God and because He is our Creator.  Read also Romans 1:28&31.  I noticed something very interesting here: that when we do not honor our God and Creator we become “without understanding.”

Honoring God is our responsibility.  Matthew 6:9 says, “Our Father Who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name.”  Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Thou shalt love the LORD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  In Matthew 4:10 where Jesus says to Satan, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'”

Psalm 100 reminds us of this when it says, “serve the Lord with gladness,” “know that the Lord Himself is God,” and verse 3, “It is He that made us and not we ourselves.”  Verse 3 also says, “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”  Verse 4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”  Verse 5 says, “For the Lord is good, His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Like Romans it instructs us to give Him thanks, praise, honor and blessing! Psalm 103:1 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.”  Psalm 148:5 is clear in saying, “Let them praise the Lord for He commanded and they were created,” and in verse 11 it tells us who should praise Him, “All kings of the earth and all peoples,” and verse 13 adds, “For His name alone is exalted.”

To make things more emphatic Colossians 1:16 says, “all things were created by Him and for Him” and “He is before all things” and Revelation 4:11 adds, “for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”  We were created for God, He was not created for us, for our pleasure or for us to get what we want.  He is not here to serve us, but we to serve Him.  As Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and praise, for you created all things, for by your will they were created and have their being.”  We are to worship Him.  Psalm 2:11 says to, “Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.”  See also Deuteronomy 6:13 and 2 Chronicles 29:8.

You said you were like Job, that “God formerly loved him.”  Let’s take a look at the nature of God’s love so you can see that He does not stop loving us, no matter what we do.

The idea that God stops loving us for “whatever” reason is common among many religions.  A doctrine book I have, “Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans” in talking about God’s love says, “Christianity is really the only religion that sets forth the Supreme Being as ‘Love.’ It sets forth the gods of other religions as angry beings who require our good deeds to appease them or earn their blessing.”

We only have two points of reference with regard to love: 1) human love and 2) God’s love as revealed to us in Scripture.  Our love is flawed by sin.  It fluctuates or can even cease while God’s love is eternal.  We can’t even fathom or comprehend God’s love.  God is love (I John 4:8).

The book, “Elemental Theology” by Bancroft, on page 61 in speaking about love says, “the character of the one loving  gives character to the love.”  That means that God’s love is perfect because God is perfect.  (See Matthew 5:48.)  God is holy, so His love is pure.  God is just, so His love is fair.  God never changes, so His love never fluctuates, fails or ceases.  I Corinthians 13:11 describes perfect love by saying this, “Love never fails.”  God alone possesses this kind of love.  Read Psalm 136.  Every verse talks about God’s lovingkindness saying His lovingkindness endures forever.  Read Romans 8:35-39 which says, “who can separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation or distresses or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?”

Verse 38 continues, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”  God is love, so He can’t help but love us.

God loves everyone.  Matthew 5:45 says, “He causes His sun to rise and fall on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  He blesses everyone because He loves every one.  James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning.”  Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.”  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

What about bad things.  God promises the believer that, “All things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28)”.  God may allow things to come into our life, but be assured that God has allowed them only for a very good reason, not because God has in some way or for some reason chosen to change His mind and stop loving us.

God may choose to allow us to suffer the consequences of sin but He may also choose to keep us from them, but always His reasons are coming from love and the purpose is for our good.

LOVE’S PROVISION OF SALVATION

Scripture does say God hates sin.  For a partial list, see Proverbs 6:16-19.  But God does not hate sinners (I Timothy 2:3&4).  2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord…is patient toward you, not wishing for you to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

So God prepared a way for our redemption.  When we sin or stray from God He never leaves us and is always waiting for us to return, He does not cease to love us.  God gives us the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 to illustrate His love for us, that of the loving father rejoicing in his wayward son’s return.  Not all human fathers are like this but our Heavenly Father always welcomes us.  Jesus says in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will not cast out.”  John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world.”  I Timothy 2:4 says God “desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”  Ephesians 2:4&5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

The greatest demonstration of love in all the world is God’s provision for our salvation and forgiveness.  You need to read Romans chapters 4&5 where much of God’s plan is explained.  Romans 5:8&9 says, “God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”  I John 4:9&10 says,”This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us…”  It is here in I John that it says “God is Love (chapter 4, verse 8).  That is Who He is.  This is the ultimate proof of His love.

We need to believe what God says – He loves us.  No matter what happens to us or how things seem at the moment God asks us to believe in Him and His love.  David, who is called a “man after God’s own heart,” says in Psalm 52:8, “I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.”  I John 4:16 should be our goal.  “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.”

God’s Basic Plan

Here is God’s plan to save us. 1) We have all sinned.  Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 6:23 says “The wages of sin is death.”  Isaiah 59:2 says, “Our sins have separated us from God.”

2) God has provided a way.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son…”  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.”

I Corinthians 15:1&2 “This is God’s free gift of Salvation, the gospel which I presented by which you are saved.”  Verse 3 says, “That Christ died for our sins,” and verse 4 continues, “that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day.”  Matthew 26:28 (KJV) says, “This is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sin.”  I peter 2:24 (NASB) says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.”

3) We cannot earn our salvation by doing good works.  Ephesians 2:8&9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”  Titus 3:5 says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us…”  2 Timothy 2:9 says, “who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”

4) How God’s salvation and forgiveness is made your own:  John 3:16 says, “that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  John uses the word believe 50 times in the book of John alone to explain how to receive God’s free gift of eternal life and forgiveness.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Assurance of Forgiveness

Here is why we have assurance that our sins are forgiven.  Eternal life is a promise to “everyone who believes” and “God cannot lie.”  John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”  Remember John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to them that believe on His Name.”   It is a trust based on His “nature” of love, truth and justice.

If you have come to Him and received Christ you are saved.  John 6:37 says, “Him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out.”  If you haven’t asked Him to forgive you and accepted Christ, you can do that this very moment.

If you believe in some other version of Who Jesus is and some other version of what He has done for you than the one given in Scripture, you need to “change your mind” and accept Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.  Remember, He is the only way to God (John 14:6).

Forgiveness

Our forgiveness is a precious part of our salvation.  The meaning of forgiveness is that our sins are sent away and God does not remember them anymore.  Isaiah 38:17 says, “You have cast all my sins behind Your back.”  Psalm 86:5 says, “For You Lord are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.”  See Romans 10:13.  Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Jeremiah 31:39 says, “I will forgive their iniquity and their sin will I remember no more.”

Romans 4:7&8 says, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”  This is forgiveness.  If your forgiveness is not a promise of God then where do you find it, for as we have already seen, you can’t earn it.

Colossians 1:14 says, “In Whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins.”  See Acts 5:30&31; 13:38 and 26:18.  All of these verses speak of forgiveness as part of our salvation.  Acts 10:43 says, “Everyone that believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.”  Ephesians 1:7 states this also, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

It is impossible for God to lie.  He is incapable of it.  It is not arbitrary.  Forgiveness is based on a promise.  If we accept Christ we are forgiven.  Acts 10:34 says, “God is not a respecter of persons.”  The NIV translation says, “God does not show favoritism.”

I want you to go to 1 John 1 to show how it applies to believers who fail and sin.  We are His children and as our human fathers, or the father of the prodigal son, forgives, so our Heavenly Father forgives us and will receive us yet again, and again.

We know that sin separates us from God, so sin separates us from God even when we are His children.  It does not separate us from His love, nor mean we are no longer His children, but it breaks our fellowship with Him.  You can’t rely on feelings here.  Just believe His word that if you do the right thing, confess, He has forgiven you.

We Are Like Children

Let’s use a human example.  When a little child disobeys and is confronted, he may cover it up, or lie or hide from his parent because of his guilt.  He may refuse to admit his wrongdoing.   He has thus separated himself from his parents because he is afraid they will discover what he has done, and afraid they will be angry with him or punish him when they find out.  The closeness and comfort of the child with his parents is broken.  He cannot experience the safety, the acceptance and the love they have for him.  The child has become like Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden.

We do the same thing with our heavenly Father.  When we sin, we feel guilty.  We are afraid He will punish us, or He may stop loving us or cast us away.  We don’t want to admit we are wrong.  Our fellowship with God is broken.

God doesn’t leave us, He has promised never to leave us.  See Matthew 28:20, which says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  We are hiding from Him.  We can’t really hide because He knows and sees everything.  Psalm 139:7 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?”  We are like Adam when we are hiding from God.  He is seeking us, waiting for us to come to Him for forgiveness, just as a parent just wants the child to recognize and admit his disobedience.  This is what our Heavenly Father wants.  He is waiting to forgive us.  He will always take us back.

Human fathers may cease to love a child, although that seldom happens.  With God, as we have seen, His love for us never fails, never ceases.  He loves us with everlasting love.  Remember Romans 8:38&39. Remember nothing can separate us from the love of God, we do not cease to be His children.

Yes, God hates sin and as Isaiah 59:2 says,” your sins have separated between you and your God, your sins have hidden His face from you.”  It says in verse 1, “the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear,” but Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

I John 2:1&2 tells the believer, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”   Believers can and do sin.  In fact I John 1:8&10 say, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” and “if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”  When we do sin God shows us the way back in verse 9 which says, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We must choose to confess our sin to God so if we don’t experience forgiveness it is our fault, not God’s.  It is our choice to obey God.  His promise is sure.  He will forgive us.  He cannot lie.

Job Verses God’s Character

Let’s look at Job since you brought him up and see what it really teaches us about God and our relationship to Him.  Many people misunderstand the book of Job, its narrative and concepts.  It may be one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible.

One of the first misconceptions is to assume that suffering is always or mostly a sign of God’s anger at a sin or sins we have committed.  Obviously that is what Job’s three friends were sure of, for which God eventually rebuked them.  (We’ll get back to that later.)  Another is to assume that prosperity or blessings are always or usually a sign of God being pleased with us.  Wrong.  This is man’s notion, a thinking which assumes we earn God’s kindness.  I asked someone what stood out to them from the book of Job and their reply was, “We don’t know anything.”  No one seems sure who wrote Job.  We don’t know that Job ever understood all of what was going on.  He also did not have Scripture, as we do.

One cannot understand this account unless one understands what is occurring between God and Satan and the warfare between the forces or followers of righteousness and those of evil.  Satan is the defeated foe because of the cross of Christ, but you could say that he has not been taken into custody yet.  There is a battle still raging in this world over people’s souls.  God has given us the book of Job and many other Scriptures to help us understand.

First, as I stated earlier, all evil, pain, sickness and disasters result from the entrance of sin into the world.  God doesn’t do or create evil, but He may allow disasters to test us.  Nothing comes into our lives without His permission, even correction or allowing us to suffer the consequences from a sin we committed.  This is to make us stronger.

God does not arbitrarily decide not to love us.  Love is His very Being, but He is also holy and just.  Let’s look at the setting.  In chapter 1:6, the “sons of God” presented themselves to God and Satan came among them.  The “sons of God” are probably angels, maybe a mixed company of those who followed God and those who followed Satan.  Satan had come from roaming around on earth.  This makes me think of I Peter 5:8 which says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  God points out his “servant Job,” and here is a very important point.  He says Job is His righteous servant, and is blameless, upright, fears God and turns from evil.  Note that God is nowhere here accusing Job of any sin.  Satan basically says that the only reason Job follows God is because God has blessed him and that if God took those blessings away Job would curse God.  Here lies the conflict.  So God then allows Satan to afflict Job to test his love and faithfulness to Himself.  Read chapter 1:21&22.  Job passed this test.  It says, “In all this Job did not sin, nor blame God.”  In chapter 2 Satan again challenges God to test Job.  Again God allows Satan to afflict Job.  Job responds in 2:10, “shall we accept good from God and not adversity.”  It says in 2:10, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Note that Satan could do nothing without God’s permission, and He sets the limits.  The New Testament indicates this in Luke 22:31 which says, “Simon, Satan has desired to have you.”  The NASB puts it this way saying, Satan “demanded permission to sift you as wheat.”  Read Ephesians 6:11&12.  It tells us to, “Put on the whole armor or God” and to “stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Be clear.  In all this Job had not sinned.  We are in a battle.

Now go back to I Peter 5:8 and read on.  It basically explains the book of Job.  It says, “but resist him (the devil), firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  This is a strong reason for suffering, plus the fact that suffering is a part of any battle.  If we were never tried we would just be spoon fed babies and never become mature.  In testing we become stronger and we see our knowledge of God increase, we see Who God is in new ways and our relationship with Him becomes stronger.

In Romans 1:17 it says, “the just shall live by faith.”  Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.”  We may not understand this, but it is a fact.  We must trust God in all this, in any suffering He allows.

Since the fall of Satan (Read Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:10.) this conflict has existed and Satan desires to turn every one of us from God.  Satan even tried to tempt Jesus to mistrust His Father (Matthew 4:1-11).  It started with Eve in the garden.  Note, Satan tempted her by getting her to question God’s character, His love and care for her.  Satan implied that God was keeping something  good from her and He was unloving and unfair.  Satan is always trying to take over God’s kingdom and turn His people against Him.

We must see Job’s suffering and ours in light of this “war” in which Satan is constantly trying to tempt us to change sides and separate us from God.  Remember God declared Job to be righteous and blameless.  There is no sign of an indictment of sin against Job thus far in the account.  God did not allow this suffering because of anything Job had done.  He was not judging him, angry with him nor had He stopped loving him.

Now the friends of Job, who obviously believe suffering is because of sin, enter the picture.  I can only refer to what God says of them, and say be careful not to judge others, as they judged Job.  God rebuked them.  Job 42:7&8 says, “After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has.  So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves.  My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.  You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.'”  God was angry with them for what they had done, telling them to offer up a sacrifice to God.  Note that God made them go to Job and ask Job to pray for them, because they had not spoken the truth about Him as Job had.

In all their dialog (3:1-31:40), God was silent. You asked about God being silent to you.  It really doesn’t say why God was so silent.  Sometimes He may be just waiting for us to trust Him, walk by faith, or really search for an answer, possibly in Scripture, or just be quiet and think about things.

Let’s look back to see what’s become of Job.  Job has been struggling with criticism from his “so called” friends who are determined to prove that adversity results from sin (Job 4:7&8).  We do know that in the final chapters God rebukes Job.  Why?  What does Job do wrong?  Why does God do this?  It seems as if Job’s faith had not been tested.  Now it is severely tested, probably more than most of us will ever be.  I believe that a part of this testing is the condemnation of his “friends.”  In my experience and observation, I think that judgment and condemnation form other believers is a great trial and discouragement.  Remember the word of God says not to judge (Romans 14:10).  Rather it teaches us to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 3:13).

While God will judge our sin and it is one possible reason for suffering, it is not always the reason, as the “friends” implied.  Seeing an evident sin is one thing, assuming it is another.  The goal is restoration, not tearing down and condemnation.  Job becomes angry with God and His silence and begins to question God and demand answers.  He begins to justify his anger.

In chapter 27:6 Job says, “I will maintain my righteousness.”  Later God says Job did this by accusing God (Job 40:8).  In chapter 29 Job is doubting, referring to God’s blessing him in the past tense and saying God is no longer with him.  It’s almost as if he is saying God formerly loved him.  Remember Matthew 28:20 says this is not true for God gives this promise, “And I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God never left Job and eventually spoke to him just as He did with Adam and Eve.

We need to learn to continue to walk by faith – not by sight (or feelings) and to trust in His promises, even when we can’t “feel” His presence and haven’t received an answer to our prayers yet.  In Job 30:20 Job says, “O God, you do not answer me.”  Now he is beginning to complain.  In chapter 31 Job is accusing God of not listening to him and saying he would argue and defend his righteousness before God if only God would listen (Job 31:35).  Read Job 31:6.  In chapter 23:1-5 Job is also complaining to God, because He is not answering.  God is silent – he says God is not giving him a reason for what He has done.  God does not have to answer to Job or us.  We really can’t demand anything from God.  See what God says to Job when God speaks.  Job 38:1 says, “Who is this who speaks without knowledge?”  Job 40:2 (NASB) says, “Wii the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?”  In Job 40:1&2 (NIV) God says that Job “contends,” “corrects” and “accuses” Him.  God reverses what Job says, by demanding that Job answer His questions.  Verse 3 says, “I will question you and you will answer me.”  In chapter 40:8 God says, “Would you discredit my justice?  Would you condemn me to justify yourself?”  Who demands what and of whom?

Then God again challenges Job with His power as his Creator, for which there is no answer.  God essentially says, “I am God, I am Creator, don’t discredit Who I am.  Don’t question My love, My justice, for I AM GOD, the Creator.”

God does not say Job was punished for a past sin but He does say, “Don’t question Me, for I alone am God.”  We are not in any position to make demands of God.  He alone is Sovereign.  Remember God wants us to believe Him.  It is faith that pleases Him. When God tells us He is just and loving, He wants us to believe Him.  God’s response left Job with no answer or recourse but to repent and worship.

In Job 42:3 Job is quoted as saying, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things to wonderful for me to know.”  In Job 40:4 (NIV) Job says, “I am unworthy.”  The NASB says, “I am insignificant.”  In Job 40:5 Job says, “I have no answer,” and in Job 42:5 he says, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.”  He then says, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”  He now has a much greater understanding of God, the correct one.

God is always willing to forgive our transgressions.  We all fail and don’t trust God sometimes.  Think of some people in Scripture who failed at some point in their walk with God, such as Moses, Abraham, Elijah or Jonah or who misunderstood what God was doing as Naomi who became bitter and how about Peter, who denied Christ.  Did God stop loving them?  No! He was patient, longsuffering and merciful and forgiving.

Discipline

It is true that God hates sin, and just like our human fathers He will discipline and correct us if we continue to sin.  He may use circumstances to judge us, but His purpose is, as a parent, and out of His love for us, to restore us to fellowship with Himself.  He is patient and longsuffering and merciful and ready to forgive.  Like a human father He wants us to “grow up” and be righteous and mature.  If He didn’t discipline us we would be spoiled, immature children.

He might also let us suffer the consequences of our sin, but He does not disown us or stop loving us.  If we respond correctly and confess our sin and ask Him to help us change we will become more like our Father.  Hebrews 12:5 says, “My son, do not make light of (despise) the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”  In verse 7 it says, “for whom the Lord loves He disciplines.  For what son is not disciplined” and verse 9 says, “Moreover we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live.”  Verse 10 says, “God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness.”

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

God disciplines us to make us stronger.  Though Job never denied God, he did distrust and discredit God and say God was unfair, but when God rebuked him, he repented and acknowledged his fault and God restored him.  Job responded correctly.  Others like David and Peter failed too but God restored them also.

Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have mercy upon him and He will abundantly (NIV says freely) pardon.”

If you ever fall or fail, just apply 1 John 1:9 and acknowledge your sin as David and Peter did and as Job did.  He will forgive, He promises.  Human fathers correct their children but they can make mistakes.  God does not.  He is all knowing.  He is perfect.  He is fair and just and He loves you.

Why God Is Silent

You raised the question of why God was silent when you pray.  God was silent when testing Job too.  There is no reason given, but we can only give conjectures.  Maybe He just needed the whole thing to play out to show Satan the truth or maybe His work in Job’s heart wasn’t finished yet.  Maybe we aren’t ready for the answer yet either.  God is the only One Who knows, we must just trust Him.

Psalm 66:18 gives another answer, in a passage about prayer, it says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.”  Job was doing this.  He stopped trusting and began questioning.  This can be true of us also.

There can be other reasons also.  He may just be trying to get you to trust, to walk by faith, not by sight, experiences or feelings.  His silence forces us to trust and seek Him.  It also forces us to be persistent in prayer.  Then we learn that it is truly God Who gives us our answers, and teaches us to be thankful and appreciate all He does for us.  It teaches us that He is the source of all blessings.  Remember James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ”  As with Job we may never know why.  We may, as with Job, just recognize Who God is, that He is our Creator, not we His.  He is not our servant that we can come to and demand our needs and wants be met.  He does not even have to give us reasons for His actions, though many times He does.  We are to honor and worship Him, for He is God.

God does want us to come to Him, freely and boldly but respectfully and humbly.  He sees and hears every need and request before we ask, so people ask, “Why ask, why pray?”  I think we ask and pray so we realize He is there and He is real and He does hear and answer us because He does love us.  He is so good.  As Romans 8:28 says, He always does what is best for us.

Another reason we don’t get our request is that we don’t ask for His will to be done, or we don’t ask according to His written will as revealed in the Word of God.  I John 5:14 says, “And if we ask anything according to His will we know He hears us…we know that we have the request we have asked of Him.”  Remember Jesus prayed, “not my will but Yours be done.”  See also Matthew 6:10, the Lord’s Prayer.  It teaches us to pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Look at James 4:2 for more reasons for unanswered prayer.  It says, “You do not have because you do not ask.”  We simply don’t bother to pray and ask.  It goes on in verse three, “You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives (KJV says ask amiss) so you can consume it on your own lusts.”  This means we are being selfish.  Someone said we are using God as our personal vending machine.

Maybe you should study the topic of prayer from Scripture alone, not some book or series of human ideas on prayer.  We can’t earn or demand anything from God.  We live in a world that puts self first and we regard God as we do other people, we demand they put us first and give us what we want. We want God to serve us.  God wants us to come to Him with requests, not demands.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  I Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”  Micah 6:8 says, “He has showed you O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Conclusion

There is much to learn from Job.  Job’s first response to testing was one of faith (Job 1:21).  Scripture says we should “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  Trust God’s justice, fairness and love.  If we question God, we are putting ourselves above God, making ourselves God.  We are making ourselves the judge of the Judge of all the earth.  We all have questions but we need to honor God as God and when we fail as Job later did we need to repent which means to “change our minds” as Job did, get a new perspective of Who God is – the Almighty Creator, and worship Him as Job did.  We need to recognize that it is wrong to judge God.  God’s “nature” is never at stake.  You cannot decide Who God is or what He should do.  You can in no way change God.

James 1:23&24 says God’s Word is like a mirror.  It says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”  You have said God stopped loving Job and you.  It is evident that He did not and God’s Word says His love is everlasting and does not fail.  However, you have been exactly like Job in that you have “darkened His counsel.”  I think this means you have “discredited” Him, His wisdom, purpose, justice, judgments and His love.  You, like Job, are “finding fault” with God.

Look at yourself clearly in the mirror of “Job.”  Are you the one “at fault” as Job was?  As with Job, God always stands ready to forgive if we confess our fault (I John 1:9).  He knows we are human.  Pleasing God is about faith.  A god you make up in your mind isn’t real, only the God in Scripture is real.

Remember in the beginning of the story, Satan appeared with a great group of angels.  The Bible teaches that the angels learn about God from us (Ephesians 3:10&11).  Remember too, that there is a great conflict going on.

When we “discredit God,” when we call God unfair and unjust and unloving, we are discrediting Him before all the angels.  We are calling God a liar.  Remember Satan, in the Garden of Eden discredited God to Eve, implying He was unjust and unfair and unloving.  Job eventually did the same and so do we.  We dishonor God before the world and before the angels.  Instead we must honor Him.  Whose side are we on?  The choice is ours alone.

Job made his choice, he repented, that is, changed his mind about Who God was, he developed a greater understanding of God and who he was in relation to God.  He said in chapter 42, verses 3 and 5: “surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…but now my eyes have seen you.  Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”  Job recognized he had “contended” with the Almighty and that was not his place.

Look at the end of the story.  God accepted his confession and restored him and doubly blessed him.  Job 42:10&12 says, “The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before…The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.”

If we are demanding of God and contending and “thinking without knowledge,” we too must ask God to forgive us and “walk humbly before God” (Micah 6:8).  This starts with our recognizing Who He is in relationship to ourselves, and believing the truth as Job did.  A popular chorus based on Romans 8:28 says, “He does all things for our good.”  Scripture says that suffering has a Divine purpose and if it is to discipline us, it is for our good.  I John 1:7 says to “walk in the light,” which is His revealed Word, the Word of God.

You ask, “Why can’t I understand the Word of God?  What a great and honest question.  First of all, you must be a Christian, one of God’s children to really understand Scripture.  That means you must believe that Jesus is the Savior, Who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  Romans 3:23 clearly says we all have sinned and Romans 6:23 says the penalty for our sin is death – spiritual death which means we are separated from God.  Read I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53 and John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son (to die on the cross in our place) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  An unbeliever cannot truly understand the Word of God, because he does not yet have the Spirit of God.  You see, when we accept or receive Christ, His Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts and one thing He does is instruct us and help us understand God’s Word.  I Corinthians 2:14 says, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

When we accept Christ God says we are born again (John 3:3-8).  We become His children and as with all children we enter into this new life as babies and we need to grow.  We do not come into it mature, understanding all God’s Word.  Wonderfully, in I Peter 2:2 (NKJB) God says, “as new born babies desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.”  Babies start out with milk and gradually grow to eat meat and so, we as believers start out as babies, not understanding everything, and learn gradually.  Children don’t start knowing calculus, but with simple addition.  Please read I Peter 1:1-8.  It says we add to our faith.  We grow in character and maturity through our knowledge of Jesus through the Word.  Most Christian leaders suggest starting with a Gospel, especially Mark or John.  Or you could start with Genesis, the stories of great characters of faith like Moses or Joseph or Abraham and Sarah.

I’m going to share my experience.  I hope I helps you.  Don’t try to find some deep or mystical meaning from Scripture but rather just take it in a literal way, as real life accounts or as directions, such as when it says love your neighbor or even your enemy, or teaches us how to pray.  God’s Word is described as light to guide us.  In James 1:22 it says to be doers of the Word.  Read the rest of the chapter to get the idea.  If the Bible says pray – pray.  If it says give to the needy, do it.  James and the other epistles are very practical. They give us many things to obey.  I John says it this way, “walk in the light.”  I think that all believers find that understanding is hard at first, I know I did.

Joshua 1:8 and Palms 1:1-6 tell us to spend time in the Word of God and meditate on it.  This simply means to think about it – not fold our hands together and mutter a prayer or something, but think about it.  This brings me to another suggestion I find very helpful, study a topic – get a good concordance or go online to BibleHub or BibleGateway and study a topic like prayer or some other word or topic like salvation, or ask a question and look for an answer this way.

Here is something which changed my thinking and opened Scripture for me in a whole new way.  James 1 also teaches that the Word of God is like a mirror.  Verses 23-25 say, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” When you read the Bible, look at it as a mirror into your heart and soul.  See yourself, for good or bad, and do something about it.  I once taught a Vacation Bible School class called See Yourself in God’s Word.  It was eye opening.  So, look for yourself in the Word.

As you read about a character or read a passage ask yourself questions and be honest.  Ask questions such as:  What is this character doing?  Is it right or wrong?  How am I like him?  Am I doing what he or she is doing?  What do I need to change? Or ask: What is God saying in this passage?  What can I do better?  There are more directions in Scripture than we can ever fulfill.  This passage says to be doers.  Get busy doing this.  You need to ask God to change you.  2 Corinthians 3:18 is a promise.  As you look at Jesus you will become more like Him.  Whatever you are seeing in Scripture, do something about it.  If you are failing, confess it to God and ask Him to change you.  See I John 1:9.  This is the way you grow.

As you grow you will begin to understand more and more.  Just enjoy and rejoice in the light you have and walk in it (obey) and God will reveal the next steps like a flashlight in the dark.  Remember that God’s Spirit is your Teacher, so ask Him to help you understand Scripture and give you wisdom.

If we obey and study and read the Word we will see Jesus because He is in all the Word, from the beginning at creation, to the promises of His Coming, to the New Testament fulfillment of those promises, to His instructions to the church.   I promise you, or I should say God promises you, He will transform your understanding and He will transform you to be in His image – to be like Him.  Isn’t that our goal?  Also, go to church and hear the word there.

Here is a warning: don’t read a lot of books about man’s opinions of the Bible or man’s ideas of the Word, but read the Word itself.  Allow God to teach you.  Another important thing is to test everything you hear or read.  In Acts 17:11 the Bereans are commended for this.  It says, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  They even tested what Paul said, and their only measure was the Word of God, the Bible.  We should always test everything we read or hear about God, by checking it out with Scripture.  Remember this is a process.  It takes years for a baby to become an adult.

You have asked a very complex question which is not easy to answer.  Only God knows your heart and your faith.  No one can judge your faith, no one but God.

What I know is that there are many other Scriptures concerning prayer and I think the best way to help is to say you should search those Scriptures and study them as much as possible and ask God to help you understand them.

If you read what other people say about this or any other Biblical subject there is a good verse you should learn and remember: Acts 17:10, which says, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

This is a great principle to live by.  No person is infallible, only God is.  We should never just accept or believe what we hear or read because someone is a “famous” church leader or recognized person.  We should always check out and compare everything we hear with the Word of God; always.  If it contradicts the Word of God, reject it.

To find verses on prayer use a concordance or look at on line sites like Bible Hub or Bible Gateway.  First allow me to share some Bible study principles that others have taught me and have helped me over the years.

Don’t just isolate a single verse, such as those about “faith” and “prayer,” but compare them with other verses on the topic and all Scripture in general.  Also study each verse in its context, that is, the story around the verse; the situation and actual circumstances in which it was spoken and the event occurred.  Ask questions such as: Who said it? Or Who were they talking to and why?  Keep asking questions like: Is there a lesson to be learned or something to avoid.  I learned it this way:  Ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Whenever you have any question or problem, search the Bible for your answer.  John 17:17 says, “Thy word is truth.”  2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness.”  We are the ones who are imperfect, not God.  He never fails, we can fail.  If we don’t have our prayers answered it is we who failed or misunderstood.  Think about Abraham who was 100 years old when God answered his prayer for a son and some of God’s promises to him were not fulfilled until long after he died.  But God did answer, at just the right time.

I am quite sure that no one has perfect faith without doubting all the time, in every situation.  Even people to whom God has given the spiritual gift of faith are not perfect or infallible.  Only God is perfect.  We don’t always know or understand His will, what He is doing or even what is best for us.  He does.  Trust Him.

To start you out on a study of prayer I will point out some verses for you to think about.  Then start asking yourself questions, such as, Do I have the kind of faith God requires?  (Ah, more questions, but I think they are very helpful.)  Do I doubt?  Is perfect faith necessary to receive an answer to my prayer?  Are there other qualifications for answered prayer?  Are there hindrances to prayer being answered?

Put yourself into the picture.  I once worked for someone who taught stories from the Bible entitled: “See Yourself in God’s Mirror.”  God’s Word is referred to as a mirror in James 1:22&23.  The idea is to see yourself in whatever you are reading in the Word.  Ask yourself:  How do I fit this character, either for good or bad?  Am I doing things God’s way, or do I need to ask forgiveness and change?

Now let’s look at a passage that came to mind when you asked your question: Mark 9:14-29.  (Please read it.)  Jesus, with Peter, James and John, was returning from the transfiguration to rejoin the other disciples who were with a great crowd which included Jewish leaders called Scribes.  When the crowd saw Jesus they rushed to Him.  Among them came one who had a demon possessed son.  The disciples had not been able to cast out the demon.  The father of the boy said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us?”  That does not sound like great faith, but just enough to ask for help.  Jesus replied, “All things are possible if you believe.”  The father said, “I do believe, have compassion on me in my unbelief.”  Jesus, knowing the crowd was watching and loving all of them, cast out the demon and raised up the boy.  Later the disciples asked Him why they could not cast out the demon.  He said, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer” (probably meaning fervent, persistent prayer, not a single short request).  In the parallel account in Matthew 17:20, Jesus told the disciples it was also due to their unbelief.  It was a special case (Jesus called it “this kind.”)

Jesus was meeting the needs of many people here.  The boy needed a cure, the father wanted hope and the crowd needed to see Who He was and believe.  He was also teaching His disciples about faith, faith in Him and prayer.  They were being taught by Him, prepared by Him for a special task, a special work.  They were being prepared to go into “into all the world and preach the gospel,” (Mark 16:15), to proclaim to the world Who He was, God the Savior Who died for their sins, demonstrated by the same signs and wonders He performed, a monumental responsibility they were especially chosen to accomplish.  (Read Matthew 17:2; Acts 1:8; Acts 17:3 and Acts 18:28.) Hebrews 2:3b&4 says, “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.  God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”  They needed great faith to perform great things.  Read the Book of Acts.  It shows how successful they were.

They stumbled because of a lack of faith during the process of learning.  Sometimes, as in Mark 9, they failed due to a lack of faith, but Jesus was patient with them, just as He is with us.  We, no more than the disciples, can blame God when our prayers are unanswered.  We need to be like them and ask God to “increase our faith.”

In this situation Jesus was meeting many peoples’ needs.  This is often true when we pray and ask Him for our needs.  It is seldom just about our request.  Let’s put some of these things together.  Jesus answers prayer, for one reason or for many reasons.  For instance,  I’m sure the father in Mark 9 had no idea about what Jesus was doing in the lives of the disciples or the crowd.  Here in this passage, and by looking at all Scripture, we can learn a lot about why our prayers aren’t answered the way we want or when we want them to be.  Mark 9 teaches us a lot about understanding Scripture, prayer and God’s ways.  Jesus was showing all of them Who He was: their loving, all Powerful God and Savior.

Let’s look at the Apostles again.  How did they know Who He was, that He was “the Christ, the Son of God,” as Peter professed.  They knew by understanding Scripture, all Scripture.  How do we know Who Jesus is, so we have faith to believe in Him?  How do we know He is the Promised One – the Messiah.  How do we recognize Him or how does anyone recognize Him.  How did the disciples recognize Him so that they devoted themselves to spreading the gospel about Him.  You see, it all fits together – a part of God’s plan.

One way they recognized Him was that God announced in a voice from heaven (Matthew 3:17) saying, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.”  Another way was prophecy being fulfilled (here being aware of all Scripture – as it relates to signs and wonders).

God in the Old Testament sent many prophets to tell us when and how He would come, what He would do and what He would be like.  The Jewish leaders, scribes and Pharisees, recognized these prophetic verses as did many of the people.  One of these prophecies was through Moses as found in Deuteronomy 18:18&19; 34:10-12 and Numbers 12:6-8, all of which show us that the Messiah would be a prophet like Moses who would speak for God (give His message) and do great signs and wonders.

In John 5:45&46 Jesus claimed to be that Prophet and He backed up His claim by the signs and wonders He performed.  Not only did He speak God’s word, more than that, He is called the Word (See John 1 and Hebrews 1).  Remember, the disciples were chosen to do the same, proclaim Who Jesus was by signs and wonders in His Name, and so Jesus was, in the Gospels, training them to do just that, to have faith to ask in His name, knowing He would do it.

The Lord wants our faith to grow also, like theirs did, so we can tell people about Jesus so they will believe in Him.  One way He does this is by giving us opportunities to step out in faith so He can demonstrate His willingness to show us Who He is and glorify the Father by answers to our prayers.  He also taught His disciples that sometimes it takes persistent prayer.  So what should we learn from this?  Is perfect faith without doubting always necessary for answered prayer?  It wasn’t for the father of the demon possessed boy.

What else does Scripture tell us about prayer?  Let’s look at other verses about prayer.  What are other requirements for answered prayer?  What can hinder prayer being answered?

1).        Look at Psalm 66:18.  It says, “If I regard sin in my heart the Lord will not hear.”  In Isaiah 58 He says He will not listen to or answer the prayers of His people because of their sins.  They were neglecting the poor and not caring for one another.  Verse 9 says they should turn from their sin (see I John 1:9), “then you will call and I will answer.”  In Isaiah 1:15-16 God says, “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you.  Yes even though you multiply prayers I will not listen.  Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, remove the evil of your deeds from my sight.  Cease to do evil.”  A particular sin which hinders prayer is found in I Peter 3:7.  It tells men how they should treat their wives so their prayers won’t be hindered.  I John 1:1-9 tells us that believers do sin but says, “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Then we can continue to pray and God will hear our requests.

2).        Another reason prayers are unanswered is found in James 4:2&3 which states, “You have not because you ask not.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your own pleasures.”  The King James Version says lusts instead of pleasures.  In this context the believers were quarrelling with each other for power and gain.  Prayer should not be just about getting things for ourselves, for power or as a means of getting our selfish desires.  God says here that He does not grant these requests.

So what is the purpose for prayer, or how should we pray?  The disciples asked Jesus this question.  The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 answers this question.  It is a pattern or lesson for prayer.  We are to pray to the Father.  We are to ask that He is glorified and pray that His kingdom will come.  We should pray for His will to be accomplished.  We should pray to be kept from temptation and delivered from the Evil One.  We should ask for forgiveness (and forgive others) and that God will provide for our NEEDS.  It says nothing about asking for our wants, but God says if we seek Him first, He will add many blessings to us.

3).        Another hindrance to prayer is doubt.  This brings us right back to your question.  Though God answers prayer for those who are learning to trust, He wants our faith to increase.  We often realize our faith is lacking but there are plenty of verses that link answered prayer to faith without doubting, such as: Mark 9:23-25; 11:24; Matthew 2:22; 17:19-21; 21:27; James 1:6-8; 5:13-16 and Luke 17:6.  Remember Jesus told the disciples that they could not cast out a demon due to their lack of faith.  They required this kind of faith for their task after the ascension.

There may be times when faith without doubting is necessary for an answer.  Many things can cause us to doubt.  Do we doubt His ability or His willingness to answer?  We can doubt because of sin, it takes away our confidence in our position in Him.  Do we think He no longer answers today in 2019?

In Matthew 9:28 Jesus asked the blind man, “Do you believe I am able to do this?”  There are degrees of maturity and faith, but God loves all of us.  In Matthew 8:1-3 a leper said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

This strong faith comes by knowing Him (abiding) and His Word (We will look at John 15 later.).  Faith, in itself, is not the object, but we can’t please Him without it.  Faith has an object, a Person – Jesus.  It does not stand by itself.  I Corinthians 13:2 shows us that faith is not the end in itself – Jesus is.

Sometimes God gives a special gift of faith to some of His children, for a special purpose or ministry.  Scripture teaches that God gives a spiritual gift to each and every believer when he/she is born again, a gift to build each other up for the work of ministry in reaching the world for Christ.  One of these gifts is faith; faith to believe God will answer requests (just as the Apostles did).

The purpose for this gift is similar to the purpose of prayer as we saw in Mathew 6.  It is for God’s glory.  It is not for selfish gain (to get something we lust for), but to benefit the Church, the body of Christ, to bring maturity; to grow faith and to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God.  It is not for pleasure, pride or profit.  It is mostly for others and to meet the needs of others or a particular ministry.

All spiritual gifts are given by God at His discretion, not our choice.  Gifts do not make us infallible, nor do they make us spiritual.  No person has all of the gifts, nor does every person possess one particular gift and any gift can be abused.  (Read I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-16 and Romans 12:3-11 to understand gifts.)

We need to be very careful if we have been given miraculous gifts, such as miracles, healings or faith, because we can become puffed up and proud.  Some have used these gifts for power and profit.  If we could do this, get whatever we wanted just by asking, the world would run after us and pay us to pray for them to get their wishes.

For example, the apostles probably had one or more of these gifts.  (See Stephen in Acts 7 or the ministry of Peter or Paul.)  In Acts we are shown an example of what not to do, the account of Simon the Sorcerer.  He sought to buy the power of the Holy Spirit to do miracles for his own profit (Acts 8:4-24).  He was severely rebuked by the Apostles and did ask God for forgiveness.  Simon tried to abuse a spiritual gift.  Romans 12:3 says, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Faith is not limited to those with this special gift.  All of us can believe God for answered prayer, but this kind of faith comes, as said, from a close relationship with Christ, because His is the Person in Whom we have faith.

3).        This brings us to another requirement for answered prayer.  John chapters 14&15 tell us we must abide in Christ.  (Read John 14:11-14 and John 15:1-15.)  Jesus has told the disciples that they will do greater works than He did, that if they asked for anything in His Name He would do it.  (Note the connection between faith and the Person Jesus Christ.)

In John 15:1-7 Jesus tells the disciples they need to abide in Him (verses 7&8), “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”  If we abide in Him we will want His will to be done and desire His glory and that of the Father.  John 14:20 says, “You shall know that I am in the Father and you in Me and I in you.”  We will be of one mind, so we will ask for what God wants us to ask for and He will answer.

According to John 14:21 and 15:10 to abide in Him is partly about keeping His commandments (obedience) and doing His will, and as it says, abiding in His Word and having His Word (the Word of God) abiding in us.  This means spending time in the Word (See Psalm 1 and Joshua 1) and doing it.  Abiding is about consistently remaining in fellowship with God (I John 1:4-10), prayer, learning about Jesus and being obedient doers of the Word (James 1:22).  So to have prayer answered we must ask in His Name, do His will and abide in Him, as John 15:7&8 says.  Don’t isolate the verses on prayer, they must go together.

Turn to I John 3:21-24.  It covers the same principles.  “Beloved if our heart does not condemn us, we have this confidence before God; and whatever we ask of Him we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is the commandment: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commands us.  And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him and He in him.  And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.”  We must abide to receive.  In prayers of faith, I think you have confidence in the ability of the Person Jesus and that He will answer because you know and want His will.

I John 5:14&15 says, “and this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, in whatever we ask, we know that we have the request which we have asked of Him.”  We must understand first of all His known will as revealed in the Word of God.  The more we know the Word of God the more we will know of God and His will and the more effectual our prayers will be.  We must also walk in the Spirit and have a pure heart (I John 1:4-10).

If all this seems difficult and discouraging, remember God commands and encourages us to pray.  He also encourages us to continue in and be persistent in prayer.  He doesn’t always answer immediately.  Remember that in Mark 9 the disciples were told they could not cast the demon out because of their lack of prayer.  God does not want us to give up on our prayers because we do not get an immediate answer.  He wants us to be persistent in prayer.  In Luke 18:1 (NKJV) it says, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”  Read also I Timothy 2:8 (KJV) which says, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without fear or doubting.” In Luke He tells them about an unjust and impatient judge who gave a widow her request because she was persistent and “bothered” him.  God wants us to keep “bothering” Him.   The judge granted her request because she annoyed him, but God answers us because He loves us.  God wants us to know that He is answering our prayers.  Matthew 10:30 says, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows.”  Trust Him because He cares for you.  He knows what we need and what is good for us and when the time is right (Romans 8:29; Matthew 6:8, 32 & 33 and Luke 12:30).  We don’t know or understand, but He does.

God also tells us we should not be anxious or worried, because He loves us.  Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God.” We need to pray with thanksgiving.

Another lesson to learn about prayer is to follow Jesus’ example.  Jesus often “went away alone” to pray.  (See Luke 5:16 and Mark 1:35.)  When Jesus was in the garden He prayed to the Father.  We ought to do the same.  We should spend time alone in prayer.  King David too, prayed a lot as we can see from His many prayers in the Psalms.

We need to understand prayer God’s way, trust God’s love and grow in faith as the disciples and Abraham did (Romans 4:20&21).  Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray for all the saints (believers).  There are many other verses and passages on prayer, on how to pray and what to pray for.  I encourage you to continue to use internet tools to find and study them.

Remember “all things are possible to those who believe.”  Remember, faith pleases God but it is not the end or goal.  Jesus is the center.

Psalm 16:19-20 says, “certainly God has heard.  He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His lovingkindness from me.”

James 5:17 says, “Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”

James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  Keep praying.

Some things to think about in regard to prayer:

1).        God alone can answer prayer.

2).        God wants us to talk to Him.

3).        God wants us to fellowship with Him and to be glorified.

4).        God loves to give us good things but He alone knows what is good for us.

Jesus did many miracles for different people.  Some didn’t even ask, some had great faith and some had very little (Matthew 14:35&36).  Faith is what connects us to God Who can give us whatever we need.  When we ask in Jesus Name we invoke all of Who He is.  We are asking in the Name of God, the Son of God, the All Powerful Creator of all that exists, Who loves us and wants to bless us.

This is one of the most common questions asked of theologians.  Actually everyone experiences bad stuff at some time or another.  People also ask why do good things happen for bad people? I think that this whole question “begs” us to ask other very relevant questions such as, “Who is really good anyway?” or “Why do bad things occur at all?” or “Where or when did bad ‘stuff’ (suffering) start or originate?”

From God’s point of view, according to Scripture, there are no good or righteous people.  Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth, who continually does good and who never sins.”  Romans 3:10-12 describes mankind saying in verse 10, “There is none righteous,” and in verse 12, “There is no one who does good.”  (See also Psalms 14:1-3 and Psalms 53:1-3.) No one stands before God, in and of himself, as “good”.

That is not to say that a bad person, or anyone for that matter, can never do a good deed.  This is speaking of continuous behavior, not a single act.

So why does God say that no one is “good” when we see people as good to bad with “many shades of gray in between.”  Where then should we draw a line between who is good and who is bad, and what about the poor soul who is “on the line.”

God says it this way in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and in Isaiah 64:6 it says, “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.”  Our good deeds are tainted by pride, self gain, impure motives or some other sin.  Romans 3:19 says that all the world has become “guilty before God.”  James 2:10 says, “Whoever offends in one point is guilty of all.”  In verse 11 it says “you have become a lawbreaker.”

So how did we get here as a human race and how does it affect what happens to us.  It all started with Adam’s sin and also our sin, because every person sins, just as Adam did.  Psalm 51:5 shows us we are born with a sinful nature.  It says, “I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”  Romans 5:12 tells us that, “sin entered the world through one man (Adam).”  Then it says, “and death through sin.” (Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.”)  Death entered the world because God pronounced a curse upon Adam for his sin which caused physical death to enter the world (Genesis 3:14-19).  Actual physical death did not occur at once, but the process was begun.  So as a result, illness, tragedy and death happen to all of us, no matter where we fall on our “gray scale.”  When death entered the world, all suffering entered with it, all as a result of sin.  And so we all suffer, for “all have sinned.”  To simplify, Adam sinned and death and suffering came to all men because all have sinned.

Psalms 89:48 says, “what man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave.”  (Read Romans 8:18-23.)  Death happens to all, not just to those we perceive as bad, but also to those we perceive as good.  (Read Romans chapters 3-5 to understand God’s truth.)

In spite of this fact, in other words, despite our deserving death, God continues to send us His blessings.  God does call some people good, in spite of the fact that we all sin.  For instance, God said Job was upright. So what determines if a person is bad or good and upright in God’s eyes?  God had a plan to forgive our sins and make us righteous.  Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated His love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (See also Romans 5:16-18.)  Romans 5:4 tells us that, “Abraham believed God and it was credited (counted) to him as righteousness.”  Abraham was declared righteous by faith.  Verse five says that if anyone has faith like Abraham they too are declared righteous.  It is not earned, but given as a gift when we believe on His Son Who died for us. (Romans 3:28)

Romans 4:22-25 states, “the words, ‘it was credited to him’ were not for him alone but also for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  Romans 3:22 makes it clear what we must believe saying, “this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe,” because (Galatians 3:13), “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written ‘cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'”  (Read I Corinthians 15:1-4)

Believing is God’s only requirement for our being made righteous.  When we believe we also are forgiven our sins.  Romans 4:7&8 says, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”  When we believe we are ‘born again” into God’s family; we become His children. (See John 1:12.)  John 3 verses 18 & 36 show us that while those who believe have life, those who do not believe are condemned already.

God proved that we would have life by raising Christ.  He is referred to as the firstborn from the dead.  I Corinthians 15:20 says that when Christ returns, even if we die, He will also raise us up.  Verse 42 says that the new body will be imperishable.

So what does this mean for us, if we are all “bad” in God’s sight and deserve punishment and death, but God declares those “upright” who believe in His Son, what effect does this have on bad things happening to “good” people.  God sends good things to all, (Read Matthew 6:45) but all men suffer and die.  Why does God allow His children to suffer?  Until God gives us our new body we are still subject to physical death and whatever may cause it.  I Corinthians 15:26 says, “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

There are several reasons why God allows this.  The best picture is in Job, whom God called upright.  I have numbered some of these reasons:

#1.There is warfare between God and Satan and we are involved.  We have all sung “Onward Christian Soldiers,” but we forget so easily that the warfare is very real.

In the book of Job, Satan went to God and accused Job, saying that the only reason he followed God was because God blessed him with riches and health.  So God “allowed” Satan to test Job’s loyalty with affliction; but God put a “hedge” around Job (a limit to which Satan could cause his suffering). Satan could only do what God allowed.

We see by this that Satan cannot afflict us or touch us except with God’s permission and within limits.  God is always in control.  We also see that in the end, even though Job was not perfect, testing God’s reasons, he never denied God.  He blessed him beyond “all he could ask or think.”

Psalms 97:10b (NIV) says, “He guards the lives of His faithful ones.”  Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.”  This is God’s promise to all believers.  He does and will protect us and He always has a purpose.  Nothing is random and He always will bless us – bring about good with it.

We are in a conflict and some suffering may be a result of this.  In this conflict Satan tries to discourage or even stop us from serving God.  He wants us to stumble or quit.

Jesus once said to Peter in Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat.”  I Peter 5:8 states, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  James 4:7b says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” and in Ephesians 6 we are told to “stand firm” by putting on the full armor of God.

In all of these tests God will teach us to be strong and stand as a loyal soldier; that God is worthy of our trust.  We will see His power and deliverance and blessing.

I Corinthians 10:11 and 2 Timothy 3:15 teach us that the Old Testament Scriptures were written for our instruction in righteousness.  In Job’s case he may not have understood all (or any) of the reasons for his suffering and neither may we.

#2. Another reason, which is also revealed in Job’s story, is to bring glory to God.  When God proved Satan was wrong about Job, God was glorified.  In John 11:4 we see this when Jesus said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified.”  God often chooses to heal us for His glory, so we may become sure of His care for us or perhaps as a witness to His Son, so others might believe in Him.

Psalm 109:26&27 says, “save me and let them know that this is Thy hand; Thou, Lord, hast done it.”  Read also Psalm 50:15.  It says, “I will rescue you and you will honor me.”

#3. Another reason we may suffer is that it teaches us obedience.  Hebrews 5:8 says, “Christ learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”  John tells us that Jesus always did the Father’s will but He actually experienced it as a man when He went to the garden and prayed, “Father, not my will but thine be done.”  Philippians 2:5-8 shows us that Jesus “became obedient to death, even death on the cross.” This was the Father’s will.

We can say we will follow and obey – Peter did that and then stumbled by denying Jesus – but we don’t really obey until we actually face a test (a choice) and do the right thing.

Job learned to obey when he was tested by suffering and refused to “curse God,” and remained faithful.  Will we continue to follow Christ when He allows a test or will we give up and quit?

When Jesus’ teaching became difficult to understand many disciples left – stopped following Him.  At that time He said to Peter, “will you also go away?”  Peter answered, “Where would I go; you have the words of eternal life.”  Then Peter declared Jesus to be God’s Messiah.  He made a choice.  This should be our response when tested.

#4. Christ’s suffering also enabled Him to be our perfect High Priest and Intercessor, understanding all our trials and life’s hardships by actual experience as a human being.  (Hebrews 7:25)  This is true for us also.  Suffering can make us mature and complete and enable us to comfort and intercede (pray) for others who are suffering as we have.  It is part of making us mature (2 Timothy 3:15).  2 Corinthians 1:3-11 teaches us about this aspect of suffering.  It says, “the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have ourselves received from God.”  If you read this whole passage you learn a lot about suffering, as you can also from Job. 1). That God will show His comfort and care.  2). God will show you He is able to deliver you. and 3). We learn to pray for others.  Would we pray for others or for ourselves if there was no NEED?  He wants us to call on Him, to come to Him.  It also causes us to help each other.  It makes us care for others and realize others in the body of Christ care for us.  It teaches us to love each other, the function of the church, Christ’s body of believers.

#5. As seen in James chapter one, suffering helps us persevere, perfecting us and making us stronger.  This was true of Abraham and Job who learned they could be strong because God was with them to uphold them.  Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”  How many times does Psalms say God is our Shield or Fortress or Rock or Refuge?  Once you experience His comfort, peace or deliverance or rescue in some trial personally, you never forget it and when you have another trial you’re stronger or you can share it and help another.

It teaches us to depend on God and not ourselves, to look to Him, not ourselves or other people for our help (2 Corinthians 1:9-11).  We see our frailty and look to God for all our needs.

#6. It is commonly assumed that most suffering for believers is God’s judgment or discipline (punishment) for some sin we have committed.  This was true of the church in Corinth where the church was full of people who continued in many of their former sins.  I Corinthians 11:30 states that God was judging them, saying, “many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep (have died).  In extreme cases God may take a rebellious person “out of the picture” as we say.  I believe this is rare and extreme, but it does occur.  The Hebrews in the Old Testament are an example of this.  Over and over they rebelled against God in not trusting Him and in not obeying Him, but He was patient and longsuffering.  He punished them, but accepted their return to Him and forgave them.  It was only after repeated disobedience that He severely punished them by allowing their enemies to enslave them in captivity.

We should learn from this.  Sometimes suffering is God’s discipline, but we have seen many other reasons for suffering.  If we are suffering because of sin, God will forgive us if we ask Him to.  It is up to us, as it says in I Corinthians 11:28&31, to examine ourselves.  If we search our hearts and find we have sinned, I John 1:9 says we must “acknowledge our sin.”  The promise is that He will “forgives us our sin and cleanse us.”

Remember that Satan is the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10) and as with Job he wants to accuse us so he can cause us to stumble and deny God.  (Read Romans 8:1.)  If we have confessed our sin, He has forgiven us, unless we have repeated our sin.  If we have repeated our sin we need to confess it again as often as necessary.

Unfortunately, this is often the first thing other believers say if a person suffers.  Go back to Job.  His three “friends” relentlessly told Job he must be sinning or he wouldn’t be suffering.  They were wrong.  I Corinthians says in chapter 11, to examine yourselves.  We should not judge others, unless we are a witness to a specific sin, then we can correct them in love; neither should we accept this as the first reason for “trouble,” for ourselves or others.  We can be too quick to judge.

It also says, if we are sick, we can ask the elders to pray for us and if we have sinned it will be forgiven (James 5:13-15).  Psalm 39:11 says, “You rebuke and discipline men for their sin,” and Psalm 94:12 says, “Blessed is the man you discipline O Lord, the man you teach from your law.”

Read Hebrews 12:6-17.  He disciplines us because we are His children and He loves us.  In I Peter 4:1, 12&13 and I Peter 2:19-21 we see that discipline purifies us by this process.

#7. Some natural catastrophes can be judgments on people, groups or even nations, as seen with the Egyptians in the Old Testament.  Often we hear stories of God’s protection of His own during these events as He did with the Israelites.

#8. Paul presents another possible reason for troubles or infirmity.  In I Corinthians 12:7-10 we see that God allowed Satan to afflict Paul, “to buffet him,” to keep him from “exalting himself.”  God may send affliction to keep us humble.

#9. Many times suffering, as it was for Job or Paul, can serve more than one purpose.  If you read further in 2 Corinthians 12, it also served to teach, or cause Paul to experience God’s grace.  Verse 9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Verse 10 says, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

#10. Scripture also shows us that when we suffer, we share in Christ’s suffering,  (Read Philippians 3:10). Romans 8:17&18 teaches that believers “will” suffer, sharing in his suffering, but that those who do will also reign with Him.  Read I Peter 2:19-22

God’s Great Love

We know that when God allows us any suffering it is for our good because He loves us (Romans 5:8).  We know that He is also always with us so He knows about everything which occurs in our life.  There are no surprises.  Read Matthew 28:20; Psalm 23 and 2 Corinthians 13:11-14.  Hebrews 13:5 says, “He will never leave us or forsake us.”  Psalms says He encamps around us.  See also Psalm 32:10; 125:2; 46:11 and 34:7.  God doesn’t just discipline, He blesses us.

In the Psalms it is obvious that David and the other Psalmists knew that God loved them and surrounded them with His protection and care.  Psalm 136 (NIV) states in every verse that His love endures forever.  I found that this word is translated love in the NIV, mercy in the KJV and lovingkindness in the NASV.  Scholars say there is not one English word which describes or translates the Hebrew word used here, or should I say no adequate word.

I came to the conclusion that no one word could describe the divine love, the kind of love God has for us.  It seems it is an undeserved love (hence the translation mercy) which is beyond human comprehension, which is steadfast, enduring, unbreakable, undying and everlasting.  John 3:16 says it is so great He gave up His Son to die for our sin (Reread Romans 5:8).  It is with this great love that He corrects us as a child is corrected by a father, but by which discipline He desires to bless us.  Psalm 145:9 says, “the Lord is good to all.”  See also Psalm 37:13&14; 55:28 and 33:18&19.

We tend to associate God’s blessings with getting things which we want, like a new car or house –the desires of our hearts, often selfish wants.  Matthew 6:33 says He adds these to us if we seek His kingdom first.  (See also Psalm 36:5.)  Much of the time we beg for stuff which isn’t good for us – much like little children.  Psalm 84:11 says, “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

In my quick search through Psalms I found many ways in which God cares for and blesses us. There are far too many verses to write them all out.  Look some up – you will be blessed.  He is Our:

1). Provider: Psalm 104:14-30 – He provides for all creation.

Psalm 36:5-10

Matthew 6:28 tells us He cares for the birds and lilies and says we are more important to Him than these.  Luke 12 tells about sparrows and says every hair on our head is numbered.  How can we doubt His love.  Psalm 95:7 says, “we…are the flock under His care.”  James 1:17 tells us, “every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above.”

Philippians 4:6 and I Peter 5:7 say we should not be anxious for anything, but we should ask Him to meet our needs because He cares for us.  David did this repeatedly as is recorded in the Psalms.

2). He is our: Deliverer, Protector, Defender.  Psalm 40:17  He rescues us; helps us when we are persecuted.  Psalm 91:5-7, 9&10; Psalm 41:1&2

3). He is our Refuge, Rock and Fortress.  Psalm 94:22; 62:8

4). He sustains us. Psalm 41:1

5). He is our Healer.  Psalm 41:3

6). He forgives us.  I John 1:9

7). He is our Helper and Keeper.  Psalm 121  (Who among us hasn’t complained to God or asked Him to help us locate something we misplaced – a very little thing – or begged Him to heal us from terrible sickness or had Him rescue us from some tragedy or accident – a very big thing. He cares about it all.)

8). He gives us peace.  Psalm 84:11; Psalm 85:8

9). He gives us strength.  Psalm 86:16

10). He saves from natural disasters.  Psalm 46:1-3

11). He sent Jesus to save us.  Psalm 106:1; 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11  We mentioned His greatest act of love.  Romans 5:8 tells us that this is how He demonstrates His love for us, for He did this while we were still sinners.  (John 3:16; I John 3:1, 16)  He loves us so much He makes us His children.  John 1:12

There are so many descriptions of God’s love in Scripture:

His love is higher than the heavens.  Psalm 103

Nothing can separate us from it.  Romans 8:35

It is everlasting.  Psalm 136; Jeremiah 31:3

In John 15:9 and 13:1 Jesus tells us how He loves His disciples.

In 2 Corinthians 13:11&14 He is called the “God of Love.”

In I John 4:7 it says, “love is from God.”

In I John 4:8 it says “GOD IS LOVE.”

As His beloved children He will both correct and bless us.  In Psalm 97:11 (NIV) it says “He gives us JOY,” and Psalm 92:12&13 says that “the righteous will flourish.”  Psalm 34:8 says, “taste and see that the LORD is good…how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

God sometimes sends special blessings and promises for particular acts of obedience.  Psalm 128 describes blessings for walking in His ways.  In the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) He rewards certain behaviors.  In Psalm 41:1-3 He blesses those who help the poor.  So sometimes His blessings are conditional (Psalm 112:4&5).

In suffering, God wants us to cry out, asking for His help as David did.  There is a distinct Scriptural correlation between ‘asking” and “receiving.”  David cried to God and received His help, and so it is with us.  He wants us to ask so we understand it is He Who gives the answer and then to give Him thanks.  Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Psalm 35:6 says, “this poor man cried and the Lord heard him,” and verse 15 says, “His ears are open to their cry,” and “the righteous cry and the Lord hears them and delivers them out of all their troubles.”  Psalm 34:7 says, “I sought the Lord and He answered me.”  See Psalm 103:1&2; Psalm 116:1-7; Psalm 34:10;  Psalm 35:10; Psalm 34:5; Psalm 103:17 and Psalm 37:28, 39&40.  God’s greatest desire is to hear and answer the cry of the unsaved who believe and receive His Son as their Savior and to give them eternal life (Psalm 86:5).

Conclusion

To conclude, all people will suffer in some way at some time and because we have all sinned we fall under the curse which eventually brings about physical death.  Psalm 90:10 says, “The length of our days is seventy years or eighty if we have strength, yet their span is but trouble and sorrow.”  This is reality.  Read Psalm 49:10-15.

But God loves us and wishes to bless all of us.  God does show His special blessings, favor, promises and protection on the righteous, to those who believe and who love and serve Him, but God causes His blessings (like rain) to fall on all, “the just and the unjust” (Matthew 4:45).  See Psalm 30:3&4; Proverbs 11:35 and Psalm 106:4.  As we have seen God’s greatest act of love, His best Gift and Blessing was the gift of His Son, Whom He sent to die for our sins (I Corinthians 15:1-3).  Read John 3:15-18 & 36 and I John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 again.)

God promises to hear the call (cry) of the righteous and He will hear and answer all who believe and call upon Him to save them.  Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  I Timothy 2:3&4 says He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Revelation 22:17 says, “Whosoever will may come,” and John 6:48 says He will “not cast them away.”  He makes them His children (John 1:12) and they come under His special favor (Psalm 36:5).

Simply put, if God rescued us from all illness or danger we would never die and we would remain in the world as we know it forever, but God promises us a new life and a new body.  I don’t think we would wish to remain in the world as it is forever.  As believers when we die we will instantly be with the Lord forever.  Everything will be new and He will create a new and perfect heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1, 5).  Revelation 22:3 says, “there shall no longer be any curse,” and Revelation 21:4 says that, “the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4 also says, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”  Romans 8:18-25 tells us that all of creation groans and suffers waiting for that day.

For now, God doesn’t allow anything to happen to us that isn’t for our good (Romans 8:28).  God has a reason for whatever He allows, such as our experiencing His strength and sustaining power, or His deliverance.  Suffering will cause us to come to Him, causing us to cry (pray) to Him and look to Him and trust Him.

This is all about acknowledging God and Who He is.  It is all about His sovereignty and glory.  Those who refuse to worship God as God will fall into sin (Read Romans 1:16-32.).  They make themselves god.  Job had to acknowledge his God as Creator and Sovereign.  Psalm 95:6&7 says, “let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God.”  Psalm 96:8 says, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due HIS NAME.”  Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”

            We believe in Creation because the Scriptures, and not just in Genesis chapters one and two, clearly teach it.  Some would say that the Scripture is authoritative when it talks about faith and morality, but not when it talks about science and history. In order to say that, they have to ignore one of the most obvious passages on morality, the Ten Commandments.  Exodus 20:11 says, “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

They also have to ignore the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6.  It says, “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  Jesus is directly quoting Genesis.

Or consider Paul’s words in Acts 17:24-26.  He said, “the God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands…From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth.”  Paul also says in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned –”

Evolution destroys the foundation upon which the plan of salvation is built.  It makes death the means through which evolutionary progress is made, not the consequence of sin.  And if death is not the penalty for sin, then how could the death of Jesus pay for sin?

 

We believe in Creation also because we believe the facts of science clearly support it.  The following quotes are from ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, Charles Darwin, reprint by Harvard University Press, 1964.

Page 95 “Natural selection can only act by the preservation and accumulation of infinitesimally small inherited modifications, each profitable to the preserved being.”

Page 189  “If it could be demonstrated than any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”

Page 194  “for natural selection can only act by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a leap, but must advance by the shortest and slowest steps.”

Page 282  “the number of intermediate and transitional links, between all living and extinct species, must have been inconceivably great.”

Page 302  “If numerous species, belonging to the same genera, or families, have really started into life all at once, the fact would be fatal to the theory of descent with slow modification through natural selection.”

Pages 463&464  “on this doctrine of the extermination of an infinitude of connecting links, between the living and extinct inhabitants of the world, and at each successive period between the extinct and still older species, why is not every geological formation charged with such links?  Why does not every collection of fossil remains afford plain evidence of the gradation and mutation of the forms of life?  We meet with no such evidence, and this is the most obvious and forcible of the many objections which may be urged against my theory…I can answer these questions and grave objections only on the supposition that the geological record is far more imperfect than most geologists believe.”

 

The following quote is from G. G. Simpson, Tempo and Mode in Evolution, Columbia University Press, New York, 1944

Page 105  “The earliest and most primitive members of every order already have the basic ordinal characters, and in no case is an approximately continuous sequence from one order to another known.  In most cases the break is so sharp and the gap so large that the origin of the order is speculative and much disputed.”

 

The following quotes are from G. G. Simpson, The Meaning of Evolution, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1949

Page 107  This regular absence of transitional forms is not confined to mammals, but is an almost universal phenomenon, as has long been noted by paleontologists.  It is true of almost all orders of all classes of animals.”

“There is in this respect a tendency toward systematic deficiency in the record of the history of life.  It is thus possible to claim that such transitions are not recorded because they did not exist, that the changes were not by transition but by sudden leaps of evolution.”

 

I realize those quotes are rather old.  The following quote is from Evolution: A Theory in Crisis by Michael Denton, Bethesda, Maryland, Adler and Adler, 1986 who refers to Hoyle, F. and Wickramasinghe, C, 1981, Evolution from Space, London, Dent and Sons page 24.  “Hoyle and Wickamansinghe…estimate the chance of a simple living cell spontaneously coming into existence as 1 in 10/40,000 tries – an outrageously small probability…even if the whole universe consisted of organic soup… Is it really credible that random processes could have constructed a reality, the smallest element of which – a functional protein or gene – is complex beyond anything produced by the intelligence of man?”

 

Or consider this quote from Colin Patterson, a paleontologist who worked at the British Museum of National History from 1962 until 1993, in a personal letter to Luther Sunderland.  “Gould and the American Museum people are hard to contradict when they say there are no transitional fossils…I will lay it on the line – there is not one such fossil for which one could make a watertight argument.” Patterson is quoted by Sunderland in Darwin’s Enigma: Fossils and Other Problems. Luther D Sunderland, San Diego, Master Books, 1988, page 89.  Gould is Stephen J Gould, who with Niles Eldridge, developed the “Punctuated Equilibrium Theory of Evolution” to explain how evolution happened without leaving any transitional forms in the fossil record.

 

Even more recently, Anthony Flew in cooperation with Roy Varghesem came out in 2007 with the book: There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind.  Flew was for many years probably the most quoted evolutionist in the world.  In the book, Flew says it was the incredible complexity of the human cell and especially of DNA that forced him to the conclusion that there was a Creator.

 

The evidence for Creation and thousands, not billions of years is very strong.  But rather than try to present any more evidence, let me refer you to two websites where you can find articles by scientists with PhDs, or equivalent degrees, who strongly believe in Creation and can give the scientific reasons for that belief in a compelling manner.  The website for the Institute for Creation Research is www.icr.org.  The website for Creation Ministries International is www.creation.com.

We have our own human view of what are “big” sins, but I think that our view may sometimes differ from God’s. The only way we have forgiveness from any sin is through the death of the Lord Jesus, which paid for our sin. Colossians 2:13&14 says, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh has He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you ALL transgressions; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.” There is no forgiveness of sin without the death of Christ. See Matthew 1:21. Colossians 1:14 says, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. See also Hebrews 9:22.

The only “sin” that will condemn us and keep us from God’s forgiveness is that of unbelief, rejecting and not believing in Jesus as our Savior. John 3:18 and 36: “He that believes on Him is not condemned; but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God…” and verse 36 “He that believes not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” Hebrews 4:2 says, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

If you are a believer, Jesus is our Advocate, always standing before the Father interceding for us and we must come to God and confess our sin to Him. If we sin, even big sins, I John I:9 tells us this: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He will forgive us, but God may allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin. Here are some examples of people who sinned “grievously:”

#1. DAVID. By our standards, probably David was the greatest offender. We certainly consider the sins of David as big. David committed adultery and then premeditatedly murdered Uriah to cover up his sin. Yet, God forgave him. Read Psalm 51:1-15, especially verse 7 where he says, “wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” See also Psalm 32. In talking about himself he says in Psalm 103:3, “Who forgives all thine iniquities.” Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Read 2 Samuel chapter 12 where the prophet Nathan confronts David and David says, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan then told him in verse 14, “The Lord also has put away your sin…” Remember, though, God punished David for those sins during his lifetime:

1. His child died.
2. He suffered by the sword in wars.
3. Evil came to him from his own house. Read 2 Samuel chapters 12-18.

#2. MOSES: To many, Moses’ sins may appear trivial compared to David’s sins, but to God they were big. His life is clearly spoken of in Scripture, as was his sin. First, we must understand the “Promised Land” – Canaan. God was so angered with Moses’ sin of disobedience, Moses’ anger at God’s people and his misrepresentation of God’s character and Moses’ lack of faith that He would not let him enter the “Promised Land” of Canaan.

A great many believers understand and refer to the “Promised Land” as a picture of heaven, or eternal life with Christ. This is not the case. You must read Hebrews chapters 3 & 4 to understand this. It teaches that it is a picture of God’s rest for His people – the life of faith and victory and the abundant life He refers to in Scripture, in our physical life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” If it were a picture of heaven, why would Moses have appeared with Elijah from heaven to stand with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9)? Moses did not lose his salvation.

In Hebrews chapters 3&4 the author refers to Israel’s rebellion and unbelief in the wilderness and God said that the whole generation would not enter His rest, the “Promised Land” (Hebrews 3:11). He punished those who followed the ten spies who brought back a bad report of the land and discouraged the people from trusting God. Hebrews 3:18&19 says they could not enter His rest because of unbelief. Verses 12&13 say we should encourage, not discourage, others to trust in God.

Canaan was the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:17). The “Promised Land” was the land of “milk and honey” (abundance), which would provide them a life filled with everything they needed for a fulfilling life: peace and prosperity in this physical life. It is a picture of the abundant life Jesus gives to those who trust Him during their life here on earth, that is, the rest of God spoken of in Hebrews or 2 Peter 1:3, everything we need (in this life) for “life and godliness.” It is rest and peace from all our striving and struggles and rest in all of God’s love and provision for us.

Here is how Moses failed to please God. He stopped believing and went to doing things his own way. Read Deuteronomy 32:48-52. Verse 51 says, “This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.” So what was the sin which caused him to be punished by losing the thing that he spent his earthly life “working for” – entering the beautiful and fruitful land of Canaan here on earth? To understand this, Read Exodus 17:1-6. Numbers 20:2-13; Deuteronomy 32:48-52 and chapter 33 and Numbers 33:14, 36&37.

Moses was the leader of the children of Israel after they were rescued from Egypt and they traveled through the desert. There was little and in some places no water. Moses was required to follow God’s directions; God wanted to teach His people to trust Him. According to Numbers chapter 33, there are two events where God works a miracle to give them water from the Rock. Keep this in mind, this is about the “Rock.” In Deuteronomy 32:3&4 (but read the whole chapter), part of the Song of Moses, this proclamation is made not only to Israel but to the “earth” (to everyone), about the greatness and glory of God. This was Moses job as he led Israel. Moses says, “I will proclaim the Name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! HE IS THE ROCK, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just, a faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” It was his job to represent God: great, right, faithful, good and holy, to His people.

Here is what occurred. The first event concerning “the Rock” occurred as seen in Numbers chapter 33:14 and Exodus 17:1-6 at Rephidim. Israel grumbled against Moses because there was no water. God told Moses to take his rod and go to the rock where God would stand before it. He told Moses to strike the rock. Moses did this and water came out from the Rock for the people.

The second event (now remember, Moses was expected to follow God’s directions), was later at Kadesh (Numbers 33:36&37). Here God’s instructions are different. See Numbers 20:2-13. Again, the children of Israel grumbled against Moses because there was no water; again Moses goes to God for direction. God told him to take the rod, but said, “gather the assembly together” and “speak to the rock before their eyes.” Instead, Moses becomes harsh with the people. It says, “Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.” Thus he disobeyed a direct order from God to “speak to the Rock.” Now we know that in an army, if you are under a leader, you do not disobey a direct order even if you don’t fully understand. You obey it. God then tells Moses his transgression and its consequences in verse 12: “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will NOT bring this people into the land I give them.’ ” Two sins are mentioned: unbelief (in God and His order) and disregard for Him, and dishonoring God before God’s people, those he was in command of. God says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. God wanted Moses to exemplify this faith to Israel. This failure would be grievous as a leader of any kind, as in an army. Leadership has great responsibility. If we desire leadership to gain recognition and position, to be put on a pedestal, or to gain power, we seek it for all the wrong reasons. Mark 10:41-45 gives us the “rule” of leadership: no one should be a boss. Jesus is talking about earthly rulers, saying their rulers “Lord it over them” (verse 42), and then says, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant…for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” We are told in I Peter 5:3 that leaders should not be “lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

If Moses’ leadership role, that of directing them to understand God and His glory and holiness were not enough, and disobedience to such a great God were not enough to justify his punishment, then see also Psalm 106:32&33 which speaks to his anger when it says Israel caused him to “speak rash words,” causing him to lose his temper.

Additionally, let’s just look at the rock. We have seen that Moses recognized God as “the Rock.” Throughout the Old Testament, and the New Testament, God is referred to as the Rock. See 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalm 89:26; Psalm 18:46 and Psalm 62:7. The Rock is a key subject in the Song of Moses (Deuteronomy chapter 32). In verse 4 God is The Rock. In verse 15 they rejected the Rock, their Savior. In verse 18, they deserted the Rock. In verse 30, God is called their Rock. In verse 31 it says, “their rock is not like our Rock” – and Israel’s enemies know it. In verses 37&38 we read, “Where are their gods, the rock they took refuge in?” The Rock is superior, compared to all other gods.

Look at I Corinthians 10:4. It is talking about the Old Testament account of Israel and the rock. It says clearly, “they all drank of the same spiritual drink for they were drinking from a spiritual rock; and the rock was Christ.” In the Old Testament God is referred to as the Rock of Salvation (Christ). It is not clear how much Moses understood that the future Savior was THE Rock which we know as fact, nevertheless it is clear that he recognized God as the Rock because he says several times in the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is THE ROCK” and understood He went with them and He was the Rock of Salvation. It is not clear if he understood all the significance but even if he didn’t if was imperative for him and all of us as God’s people to obey even when we don’t understand it all; to “trust and obey.”

Some even think it goes farther than that in that the Rock was intended as a type of Christ, and His being struck and bruised for our iniquities, Isaiah 53:5&8, “For the transgression of My people was He stricken,” and “Thou shall make His soul an offering for sin.” The offence comes because he destroyed and distorted the type by striking the Rock twice. Hebrews clearly teaches us that Christ suffered “once for all time” for our sin. Read Hebrews 7:22-10:18. Note verses 10:10 and 10:12. They say, “We have been sanctified through the body of Christ once for all,” and “He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” If Moses striking the Rock was to be a picture of His death, clearly his striking the Rock twice distorted the picture that Christ needed to die only once to pay for our sin, for all time. Whatever Moses understood may not be clear but here is what is clear:

1). Moses sinned by disobeying God’s orders, he took things into his own hands.

2). God was displeased and grieved.

3). Numbers 20:12 says he did not trust God and publicly discredited His holiness

before Israel.

4). God said Moses would not be allowed to enter Canaan.

5). He appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and God said he was faithful in Hebrews 3:2.

Misrepresenting and dishonoring God is a serious and grievous sin, but God forgave him.

Let’s leave Moses and look at a couple of New Testament examples of “big” sins. Let’s look at Paul. He called himself the greatest sinner. I Timothy 1:12-15 says, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 2 Peter 3:9 says God does not want anyone to perish. Paul is a great example. As a leader of Israel, and knowledgeable in the Scriptures, he should have understood who Jesus was, but he rejected Him, and greatly persecuted those who believed in Jesus and was an accessory to the stoning of Stephen. Nevertheless, Jesus appeared to Paul personally, to reveal Himself to Paul to save him. Read Acts 8:1-4 and Acts chapter 9. It says he “made havoc of the church” and committed men and women to prison, and approved of the slaughter of many; yet God saved him and he became a great teacher, writing more New Testament books than any other writer. He is a story of an unbeliever who committed great sins, but God brought him to faith. Yet Romans chapter 7 also tells us he struggled with sin as a believer, but God gave him victory (Romans 7:24-28). I want to mention also Peter. Jesus called him to follow Himself and be a disciple and he confessed who Jesus was (See Mark 8:29; Matthew 16:15-17.) and yet enthusiastic Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:31-36 & 69-75). Peter, realizing his failure, went out and wept. Later, after the resurrection, Jesus sought him out and said to him three times, “Feed My sheep (lambs),” (John 21:15-17). Peter did just that, teaching and preaching (see the Book of Acts) and writing I & 2 Peter and giving his life for Christ.

We see from these examples that God will save anyone (Revelation 22:17), but He also forgives the sins of His people, even the big ones (I John 1:9). Hebrews 9:12 says, “…by His own blood He entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrew 7:24&25 says, “because He continues ever…Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.”

But, we also learn that it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). In I John 2:1 God says, “I write this to you so that you will not sin.” God wants us to be holy. We should not fool around and think we can just keep sinning because we can be forgiven, because God can and will often require us to face His punishment or consequences in this life. You can read about Saul and his many sins in I Samuel. God took his kingdom and his life from him. Read I Samuel chapters 28-31 and Psalm 103:9-12.

Don’t ever take sin for granted. Even though God forgives you, He can and often will enact punishment or consequences in this life, for our own good. He certainly did that with Moses, David and Saul. We learn through correction. Just like human parents do for their children, God reproves and corrects us for our good. Read Hebrew 12:4-11, especially verse six which says, “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON HE RECEIVES.” Read all of Hebrews chapter 10. Read also the answer to the question, “Will God forgive me if I keep on sinning?”

God has made provision for forgiveness for all of us. God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins by His death on the cross. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When unbelievers accept Christ and believe He paid for their sins, they are forgiven for All their sins. Colossians 2:13 says, “He forgave us all our sins.” Psalm 103:3 says that God “forgives all your iniquities.” (See Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 1:21; Acts 13:38; 26:18 and Hebrews 9:2.) I John 2:12 says, “Your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.” Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Christ’s death not only gives us forgiveness of sin, but also the promise of ETERNAL LIFE. John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall NEVER perish.” John 3:16(NASB) says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Eternal life begins when you accept Jesus. It is eternal, it does not end. John 20:31 says, “These are written unto you that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through His Name.” Again in I John 5:13, God says to us, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” We have this as a promise from the faithful God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began (see Titus 1:2.). Note also these verses: Romans 8:25-39 which says, “nothing can separate us from the love of God,” and Romans 8:1 which states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” This penalty was paid in full by Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 9:26 says, “But He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 10:10 says, “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” I Thessalonians 5:10 tells us we will live together with Him and I Thessalonians 4:17 says, “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” We know also that 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “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.”

So what happens when we do sin again, for if we are truthful, we know that believers, those who are saved, can and still do sin. In Scripture, in I John 1:8-10, this is very clear. It says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,” and, “if we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” Verses 1:3 and 2:1 are clear that He is talking to His children (John 1:12&13), the believers, not the unsaved, and that He is talking about fellowship with Him, not salvation. Read 1 John 1:1-2:1.

His death forgives in that we are saved forever, but, when we sin, and we all do, we see by these verses that our fellowship with the Father is broken. So what do we do? Praise the Lord, God has made provision for this also, a way to restore our fellowship. We know that after Jesus died for us, He also rose from the dead and is alive. He is our way to fellowship. I John 2:1b says, “…if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Read also verse 2 which says this is because of His death; that He is our propitiation, our just payment for sin. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us.” He intercedes on our behalf before the Father (Isaiah 53:12).

The good news comes to us in I John 1:9 where it says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgives us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Remember – this is the promise of God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). (See also Psalm 32:1&2, which tells that David acknowledged his sin to God, which is what is meant by confession.) So the answer to your question is that, yes, God will forgive us if we confess our sin to God, as David did.

This step of acknowledging our sin to God needs to be done as often as necessary, as soon as we are aware of our wrongdoing, as often as we sin. This includes bad thoughts that we dwell on, sins of failure to do the right thing, as well as actions. We should not run away from God and hide as Adam and Eve did in the garden (Genesis 3:15). We have seen that this promise of cleansing us from daily sin comes only because of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and for those who are born again into God’s family (John 1:12&13).

There are plenty of examples of people who sinned and fell short. Remember Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God also demonstrated His love, mercy and forgiveness for all of these people. Read about Elijah in James 5:17-20. God’s Word teaches us that God does not hear us when we pray if we regard iniquity in our hearts and lives. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” Yet here we have Elijah, who is described as “a man of like passions as we are” (with sins and failures). Somewhere along the way God must have forgiven him, because God certainly answered his prayers.

Look at the forefathers of our faith – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. None of them were perfect, all of them sinned, but God forgave them. They formed God’s nation, God’s people and God told Abraham that his offspring would bless the entire world. All were people who sinned and failed just like us, but who came to God for forgiveness and God blessed them.

The nation of Israel, as a group, was stubborn and sinful, continuously rebelling against God, yet He never cast them away. Yes, they have often been punished, but God was always ready to forgive them when they sought Him for forgiveness. He was and is longsuffering to forgive over and over. See Isaiah 33:24; 40:2; Jeremiah 36:3; Psalm 85:2 and Numbers 14:19 which says, “Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquities of this people, according to the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” See Psalm 106:7&8 also.

We have talked about David who committed adultery and murder, but he acknowledged his sin to God and was forgiven. He was punished severely by the death of his child but knew that he would see that child in Heaven (Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-23). Even Moses disobeyed God and God punished him by forbidding him entry to Canaan, the land promised to Israel, but he was forgiven. He appeared with Elijah from heaven on the mount of transfiguration, and was with Jesus. Both Moses and David are mentioned with the faithful in Hebrews 11:32.

We have an interesting picture of forgiveness in Matthew 18. The disciples asked Jesus how often they should forgive and Jesus said “70 times 7.” That is, “uncountable times.” If God says we should forgive 70 times 7, we surely can’t outdo His love and forgiveness. He will forgive more than 70 times 7 if we ask. We have His unalterable promise to forgive us. We only need to confess our sin to Him. David did. He said to God, “Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy site” (Psalm 51:4).

Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him and to our God for He will freely pardon.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 says this: “If My people, who are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

God’s desire is to live through us to make victory over sin and godliness possible. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God IN Him.” Read also: I Peter 2:25; I Corinthians 1:30&31; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:9; I Timothy 6:11&12 and 2 Timothy 2:22. Remember, when you continue to sin your fellowship with the Father is broken and you must acknowledge your wrongdoing and come back to the Father and ask Him to change you. Remember, you cannot change yourself (John 15:5). See also Romans 4:7 and Psalm 32:1. When you do this your fellowship is restored (Read I John 1:6-10 and Hebrews 10).

Let’s look at Paul who called himself the greatest of sinners (I Timothy 1:15). He suffered through the problem of sin the same as we do; he kept sinning and tells us about it in Romans chapter 7. Maybe he asked himself this same question. Paul describes the situation of living with a sinful nature in Romans 7:14&15. He says it is “sin that dwells in me” (verse 17), and verse 19 says, “the good that I would, I do not and I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” In the end he says, “who shall deliver me?”, and then he learned the answer, “Thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (verses 24&25).

God doesn’t want us to live in such a way that we are confessing and being forgiven for the same particular sins over and over again. God wants us to overcome our sin, to be like Christ, to do good. God wants us to be perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48). I John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin…” He wants us to stop sinning and He wants to change us. God wants us to live for Him, to be holy (I Peter 1:15).

Although victory starts with acknowledging our sin (I John 1:9), we like Paul cannot change ourselves. John15:5 says, “Without Me you can do nothing.” We must know and understand Scripture to understand how to change our lives. When we become a believer, Christ comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Just as Romans 7:18 says, victory over sin and real change in our lives comes “through Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:58 says this in the exact same words, God gives us the victory “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Galatians 2:20 says, “not I, but Christ.” We had that phrase for victory in the Bible School I attended, “Not I but Christ,” meaning, He accomplishes victory, not I in my self-effort. We learn how this is done by other Scriptures, especially in Romans 6&7. Romans 6:13 shows us how to do this. We must yield to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to change us. A yield sign means to allow (let) another person have the right of way. We must let (allow) the Holy Spirit to have the “right of way” in our life, the right to live in and through us. We have to “let” Jesus change us. Romans 12:1 puts it this way: “Present your body a living sacrifice” to Him. Then He will live through us. Then HE will change us.

Don’t be fooled, if you continue to sin it will affect your life, by missing out on God’s blessing and it could also result in punishment or even death in this life because, even if God forgives you (which He will), He may punish you as He did Moses and David. He may allow you to suffer the consequences of your sin, for your own good. Remember, He is just and righteous. He punished King Saul. He took his kingdom and his life. God will not allow you to get away with sin. Hebrews 10:26-39 is a difficult passage of Scripture, but one point in it is very clear: If we continue to willfully sin after being saved, we are trampling on the blood of Christ by which we were forgiven once for all and we can expect punishment because we are disrespecting Christ’s sacrifice for us. God punished His people in the Old Testament when they sinned and He will punish those who have accepted Christ who deliberately keep on sinning. Hebrews chapter 10 says this punishment could be severe. Hebrews 10:29-31 says “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Read I John 3:2-10 which shows us that those who are God’s do not continually sin. If a person continues to sin purposefully and go their own way, they should “test themselves” to see if their faith is really genuine. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?”

2 Corinthians 11:4 indicates there are many “false gospels” which are not the Gospel at all. There is only ONE true Gospel, that of Jesus Christ, and which is totally apart from our good works. Read Romans 3:21-4:8; 11:6; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-6; Philippians 3:9 and Galatians 2:16, which says, “(We) know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law., because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” If you are trying to get away with sinning, deliberately continuing to sin, you probably have believed some false gospel (another gospel, 2 Corinthians 11:4) based on some form of human behavior or good deeds, instead of the real Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4) which is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Read Isaiah 64:6 which says our good deeds are just “filthy rags” in God’s sight. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 2 Corinthians 11:4 says, “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” Read I John 4:1-3; I Peter 5:12; Ephesians 1:13 and Mark 13:22. Read Hebrews chapter 10 again and also chapter 12. If you ARE a believer, Hebrews 12 tells us God will rebuke and discipline His children and Hebrews 10:26-31 is a warning that “The Lord will judge His people.”

Have you really believed the true Gospel? God will change those who are His children. Read 1 John 5:11-13. If your faith is in Him and not your own good deeds, you are His forever and you are forgiven. Read I John 5:18-20 and John 15:1-8

All these things work together to deal with our sin and bring us to victory through Him. Jude 24 says, “Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” 2 Corinthians 15:57&58 says, “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Read Psalm 51 and Psalm 32, especially verse 5 which says, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

You must carefully read and understand several Scriptures to get the answer to this question. They are: I Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Revelation chapter 7. In First and Second Thessalonians Paul is writing to believers (those who have received Jesus as their Savior) to comfort and assure them that they are not in the Tribulation and that they have not been left behind after the Rapture, because I Thessalonians 5:9&10 tells us we are destined to be saved and live with Him and we have NOT been destined to the wrath of God. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 he tells them that they will not be “left behind” and that the Anti-Christ, who will make himself the world ruler and make a treaty with Israel, has not been revealed yet. His treaty with Israel signals the beginning of the Tribulation (“the day of the Lord”). This passage gives a warning which tells us that Jesus will come suddenly and unexpectedly and rapture His children – the believers. Those who have heard the Gospel and “refused to love the truth”, those who reject Jesus, “so as to be saved”, will be deceived by Satan during the Tribulation (verses 10&11) and “God will send them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (continued to enjoy the pleasures of sin). So do not think that you can put off accepting Jesus and do it during the Tribulation.

Revelation gives us a few verses which seem to indicate that a multitude of people will be saved during the Tribulation because they will be in heaven rejoicing before the throne of God, some from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. It does not say exactly who they are; perhaps they are people who had never heard the gospel previously. We have a clearer view of who they are not: those who rejected Him and those who take the mark of the beast. Many, if not most of the saints of the tribulation will be martyred.

Here is a list of verses from Revelation which indicate that people will be saved during that time:

Revelation 7:14

“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 20:4

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image; and had not received the mark on the forehead and on their hand and they came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

The reason for this is because they refused to follow the Anti-Christ and refused to take his mark. Revelation makes it very clear that ANYONE who receives the mark or number of the beast in his forehead or hand will be thrown into the lake of fire at the final judgment, along with the beast and the false prophet and eventually Satan himself. Revelation 14:9-11 says, “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of his anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ ” (See also Revelation 15:2; 16:2; 18:20 and 20:11-15.) They can never be saved. This is the one thing, that is, taking the mark of the beast during the tribulation, that will keep you from redemption and salvation.

There are two times where God uses the phrase “from every tongue, tribe, people and nation” to refer to saved people: Revelation 5:8&9 and Revelation chapter 7. Revelation 5:8&9 speaks of our present age and the preaching of the Gospel and the promise that some from each of these ethnic groups will be saved and will worship God in heaven. These are the saints saved before the Tribulation. (See Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10; Luke 24:47 and Revelation 1:4-6.) In Revelation chapter 7 God speaks of saints from every “tongue, tribe, people and nation” who are saved “out of”, that is, during the Tribulation. Revelation 14:6 speaks about an angel who preaches the Gospel. The picture of the martyrs presented in Revelation 20:4 clearly shows a multitude are saved during the Tribulation.

If you are a believer, I Thessalonians 5:8-11 says to be comforted, hope in God’s promised salvation and not be shaken. Now the word “hope” in the Scripture does not mean what it does in English as in “I hope something will happen.” Our HOPE in Scripture is a “sure thing, something that God says and promises will occur. These promises are spoken by the Faithful God Who cannot lie. Titus 1:2 says, “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages of time began.” Verse 9 of I Thessalonians 5 promises that believers will “live together with Him forever,” and, as we have seen, verse 9 says we are “not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” We believe, as do the majority of evangelical Christians, that the Rapture precedes the Tribulation based on 2 Thessalonians 2:1&2 which says we will be gathered to Him and I Thessalonians 5:9 which says, “We are not appointed to wrath.”

If you are not a believer and are rejecting Jesus so you can continue in sin, be warned, you will not get a second chance in the Tribulation. You will be deluded by Satan. You will be lost forever. Our “sure hope” is in the Gospel. Read John 3:14-36; 5:24; 20:31; 2 Peter 2:24 and I Corinthians 15:1-4, which give the Gospel of Christ, and believe. Receive Him. John 1:12&13 says, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor or human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” You can read more about this on this site on “How To Be Saved” or ask more questions. The most important thing is to believe. Don’t wait; don’t delay – for Jesus will return suddenly and unexpectedly and you will be forever lost.

If you believe, be “comforted” and “stand fast” (I Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:23 and 2 Thessalonians chapter 2) and don’t be afraid. I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

The best passage to answer your question comes from Luke 16:18-31. Judgement is immediate, but it is neither final or complete immediately after we die. If we are believer in Jesus our spirit and soul will be in heaven with Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:8-10 says, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.) Unbelievers will be in Hades until the final judgment, and then go to the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:11-15) Believers will be judged for their works which they have done for God, but not for sin. (I Corinthians 3:10-15)  We won’t be judged for sins because we are forgiven in Christ. Unbelievers will be judged for their sins. (Revelation 20:15; 22:14; 21:27)

In John 3:5,15.16.17.18 and 36 Jesus says that those who believe that He died for them have everlasting life and those who do not believe are condemned already. I Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Jesus died for our sins… that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day.” Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

In answer to the question of remembering “past” life, it depends on what you mean by the question.

1).        If you are referring to re-incarnation the Bible does not teach it.  There is no mention of coming back in another form or as another person in Scripture.  Hebrews 9:27 says that, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.”

2).        If you are asking whether we will remember our lives after we die, we will be reminded of all our deeds when we are judged for what we did during our lives.

God knows all – past, present and future and God will judge unbelievers for their sinful deeds and they will receive everlasting punishment and believers will be rewarded for their works done for the kingdom of God.  (Read John chapter 3 and Matthew 12:36&37.)  God remembers everything.

Considering that every sound wave is out there somewhere and considering that we now have “clouds” to store our memories, science is barely starting to catch up to what God can do.  No word or deed is undetectable to God.