Series

The Life Sketches Series – Strength in Weakness

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Sometimes people find themselves facing seemingly hopeless situations for which there is apparently no help. Often it even seems that their prayers are not to be answered, but take heart, for the apostle Paul faced similar situations several times and gives some interesting counsel.

All of the apostles taught that how a person received the gospel was a serious matter, for one of two things can happen. If the gospel is accepted, it is the beginning of life eternal. But if the gospel is rejected, it guarantees eternal separation from God unless the mind is changed before death.

Paul said, “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16, first part).

In Acts 4:12, Peter said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Clearly taught here is that the only person who can save you is Jesus Christ. If you reject Him and choose not to follow Him and allow Him to be the sovereign of your life, then there is no other way that you can be saved. No one else can give you life.

Speaking to the Jews, Jesus said, “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:40). “If you do not believe that I am the One, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24, literal translation). To die in sin means eternal death. Jesus came to deliver His people from their sins and eternal death (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15, 16). To accept the gospel is to be saved. To reject it is to be lost. The choice you make determines your eternal destiny, for it is either a fragrance of life unto life, or of death unto death.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul deals at length with the subject of generosity, which is a character trait of the Christian religion. Notice what he says about the generosity of God Himself: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)! In verses 6 and 7 he says, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

How is it in your life? Have you learned to be a giver or is your focus simply about what you can get? The early church at Philippi was a poor church. However, this church understood the principle of giving. Paul said, “In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:2–5).

In spite of their own poverty they learned the lesson of giving of what they had to help others. Generosity is fundamental to the Christian religion and God Himself has given us the example. He loved the world so much that He gave all of heaven in one gift when He gave His son to die for the sins of a rebellious race. It is fatal to live for self. Living for self indicates that we are part of the devil’s kingdom. Notice how clearly Jesus taught this when He said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). We are living in a selfish age. The Bible predicts that in the last days men will be lovers of their own selves, they will love money and pleasure more than they love God, yet they will still have a form of godliness. (See 2 Timothy 3:1–5.)

Benevolence is the very foundation of the universe and God is benefactor of the human family. God is a being of inexhaustible goodness and love. That love of the Father for man was expressed in the gift of His beloved Son to save our race from eternal ruin. Christ gave His life for man. Though He was the Monarch in the courts of heaven, He voluntarily left His riches and His honor and came to this world, becoming meek and lowly so that we might be made rich. Paul said, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Those who live for self are demonstrating to the whole universe that they are not part of the kingdom of Christ, but part of the kingdom of Satan. The sin of covetousness is especially denounced in the Scriptures. Worldliness is at war with the true principles of Christianity. A life of benevolent labor is the fruit that will be borne on the Christian tree.

The second letter to the Corinthians contains many passages that cause some people to be troubled. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, we read, “Who [that is, God] also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

The “letter” that kills refers to the ten-commandment law that was written in stone. It kills because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). So, sin is simply breaking God’s law and the consequence is death. Now the problem is that everybody has sinned, so everyone is doomed to die unless that sin can be forgiven. The penalty for breaking God’s law cannot be remitted; the penalty has to be paid. God’s law cannot be done away with, nor can the penalty for breaking it be remitted.

Dear friends, that is why Jesus had to go to the cross of Calvary. He paid the price of sin for a race of sinners who were doomed to eternal death. By that, He opened up the possibility for every member of the human race to have eternal life if they would believe in Him and accept Him as their personal Saviour and sovereign or Lord of their life.

Jesus said to the Jews, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? To those who accept Jesus He has promised something very wonderful.

He said, “I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [that is, the Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:5–7).

Jesus told Nicodemus that unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, there is no chance that he can go to the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3, 5). The reason is because the unconverted person is actually against God and cannot in his own strength be subject to Him. (See Romans 8:7.)

Paul tells us one of the results of receiving the Holy Spirit. He says, “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Not only will his past sins be forgiven, but the Holy Spirit will give that person power to keep God’s law.

The ministration of the Spirit changes the heart and gives life in preparation for the final judgment. Paul said, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This causes perplexity to many people who just read that we are saved by grace through faith. There is no text in the Bible that tells us that the judgment is on the basis of our faith, but “according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” As James wrote, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him” (James 2:14)?

The way a person lives day to day demonstrates to the whole universe whether or not he or she has faith and has received the Holy Spirit. All who have been born again and directed by the Holy Spirit will begin to live lives in harmony with God’s government and His law.

However, a person’s works do not gain any merit. The only merit by which you can receive the gift of eternal life is that which Jesus has provided for you. His death on the cross of Calvary made it possible for you to receive forgiveness of sins. However, in addition to having your sins forgiven, you must be born again of the Holy Spirit and this new birth will be demonstrated by your works.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

There was a situation of personal suffering and affliction that Paul had to deal with himself. It was so awful that three times he prayed to the Lord to be delivered from it and it seemed as if his prayers were not answered. God did not say yes to his prayer. In fact, it is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is one of the most profound declarations of faith that you will find in all the Bible. Paul was in a situation where he desperately wanted to be delivered from the bodily affliction that he suffered. Three times he prayed that the Lord would deliver him from his affliction, but the answer was “no.” We are not told why, and we don’t need to know why in this world. All we need to learn is to trust when we don’t know why. The Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, because My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then concluded that he was going to rejoice in all the troubles and trials that he couldn’t understand because he was going to trust in the Lord.  He knew that when he was weak, then he would be strong because the power of Christ would rest upon him.

O, friend, this story is in the Bible for you to claim when going through trying experiences. If you have surrendered your life to Christ and chosen to follow Him and find yourself in an impossible situation, His words to you are the same as He gave to the apostle Paul. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

 

Life Sketches – Love – The Best Gift

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Everyone enjoys receiving a free gift and the Bible says that God is the source of every good gift. However, God gives to some people more valuable gifts than to others because those people, desire, value, and appreciate more valuable gifts that He has to give.

Talking to the Corinthian church concerning their former life, Paul reminded them that they were once Gentiles led by senseless idols, believing they received special power and wisdom from them. However, in worshiping idols they were not worshiping the one true God and what they thought they had received was not from Him.

He said, “I say … that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:19–21).

Paul was clear in saying the Gentiles were not really receiving any special wisdom from God. They were receiving wisdom or power from demons—evil spirits. The Bible is very clear that there are many evil spirits in our world seeking to gain control of our minds. They are all working under the one master evil spirit called the devil and Satan.

These evil spirits were formerly angels of God in heaven, but they fell through sin. (See 2 Peter 2; Revelation 12; Jude.) After the rebellion in heaven, one third of the angels who were deceived by Satan lost their first estate and were cast out into this earth. Since the creation of man they are seeking to gain control of the world and we have been warned that in the last days, these evil spirits will succeed in deceiving almost the entire world. (See Revelation 12:9; Revelation 13; Revelation 16; Revelation 18.)

The only protection available to man to avoid being deceived is to receive the Holy Spirit into your life. Paul said, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1). “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (verses 4–6).

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (verse 7) if you have been baptized into Christ. Then it says that you are to receive in your life the manifestation of the Spirit and it is to result in the profit of every other Christian. The manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

You and I do not get to choose what spiritual gift we will receive, for it is the Holy Spirit who decides that. “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues [languages], to another the translation of languages” (verses 8–10, literal translation).

Notice, Paul has specified nine different gifts that the Spirit gives to different people – wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different languages, and translation of languages.

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (verse 11). The Holy Spirit decides what gift each person receives. No one is going to receive all the gifts. They are distributed as the Spirit sees fit.

Then Paul explains how this works and how there is unity in diversity. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as he pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be” (verses 12–19)?

What would it be if all you had for your body were eyes and no hands, or feet, or ears, or tongue, or the other things that you need to function as a human being? Eyes are wonderful, but you need more than eyes to have a body. You need ears, and you need hands, and you need feet, and you need a mind, and you need a tongue. Without a nose you could not smell, and you need a digestive system and organs to circulate the blood around your body. Without these additional parts you would not have a body.

However, Paul said, “Now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism (division) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (verses 20–26).

Referring now to the church, all members are part of the same body. We are not to look on any other Christian as somebody separate from ourselves. We are to have care and regard for every other person that is part of the body of Christ. If you get up in the night, and you stub your toe, the rest of your body doesn’t say to the toe, “Well, that’s just too bad you got hurt. It’s all right with us.” No, no! The whole body sympathizes with the toe that got hurt. It is the same way with any other part of the body. The whole body works together and every part of it is in sympathy with every other part. That is the way Paul says the church is to be. Every member is to be in sympathy with every other member.

Paul said, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (verse 27). You are individual members with different offices, but all are to cooperate with each other and have sympathy for each other.

“God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues [languages]” (verse 28). Then he asks, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with languages [foreign languages]” (verse 29)? No, not everybody does. “Do all interpret, [that is, do all interpret foreign languages]” (verse 30)? No, not everybody does but imagine the impact when all of those gifts are available in the church in one body.

While in Ephesus, Paul found some disciples of Jesus and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They answered him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). They informed him that they had been baptized into John’s [the Baptist] baptism. Paul then explained to them what Jesus had said to His disciples before He ascended to heaven. He said, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

It was God’s will from that time on that every person who professed to be a Christian and was baptized would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “When they [the disciples in Ephesus] heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:5, 6).

O, friend, God wants to give gifts to His people. He wants to give gifts to everyone who has taken the name of Christ, to everyone who has chosen to be a disciple of the Christian religion. The Holy Spirit wants to give you a gift.

Paul said there is a gift that every member is to receive. Jesus made that very clear that this gift is more important, it is of greater value, than any other gift that the Holy Spirit could give to you.

Many people think that it is wonderful if they can speak in other languages, and that is truly a gift of the Holy Spirit. When the apostles at Pentecost received the Holy Spirit, they miraculously received the ability to speak in foreign languages, a gift which lasted for the rest of their life.

However, Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues [languages] of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). It does not matter how many languages you could speak, if you can speak in both the languages of earth and the languages of heaven, it is valueless if you have not received the love of Jesus into your heart.

Paul goes on to say, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (verse 2).

Notice friends, the Christian religion is the most spiritual of all religions because it deals with the most inner part of one’s mind and conscience. It is not just about intellectual things but goes right to the heart of a human being. The religion of Christ says if you have all these other things, all these intellectual accomplishments, so that you can speak all the different languages, if you have the power to prophesy, and if you have faith and if you have all knowledge, but all these gifts are devoid of love in your heart, Paul says, it is not worth anything. It’s nothing.

“Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (verse 3). It matters not what achievements you make or what acquisitions you acquire or talents you have, even if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, if that gift of the Holy Spirit has not led you to have love in your heart, it is worthless. It profits you nothing, and you are nothing. You are like a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

The most valuable of all gifts is so valuable that Jesus said that this would be the sign that you were a Christian. It is not so much whether you have absolutely the right doctrines, or theology, or understanding. Notice what Jesus said in John 13, verses 34 and 35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul then goes through a list of 16 different things showing what love is like. If I have love in my heart, I will also have these characteristics. 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, first part:

“Love is long suffering.” It exhibits patience. It is long suffering. Everybody wants somebody to be patient with them when they make a mistake.

“Love is kind.” O, friend, it’s not enough to be the right kind of a person, unless you’re kind in what you do and how you deal with others.

 

  • Love does not envy. Be content with what you have and happy for those who may have more than you.
  • Love does not boast. It doesn’t brag about its own accomplishments.
  • Love is not conceited. It is not puffed up.
  • Love does not act in an indecent or a shameful way. It has a sense of propriety.
  • Love does not seek its own. It does not try to get its own advantage over others.
  • Love does not become irritated. This may be the hardest one of all.
  • Love does not dwell on evil. Today we are surrounded by evil. If you dwell on it, you will become like it, even if you abhor it. That of course is going to affect what we look at and what we think about.
  • Love does not rejoice in injustice. It does not rejoice in unrighteousness. This is another hard one for our generation.

“Rather it rejoices with the truth.” Do you love the truth? A person who has love in their heart will rejoice with the truth. The Bible predicts that in the last days there will be many people who will have a form of godliness who will still be lost because they never learned to love the truth. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:8–10.)

 

Love bears all things.

It believes all things.

It hopes all things.

It endures all things.

It never fails.

 

O, friend, love is the gift that God wants to give to everyone who follows Him. The gift of the Holy Spirit and the first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love.

Paul goes on to say that “Where there are prophecies, they will fail; where there are languages, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away” (verses 8, last part–10, literal translation).

O, friend, have you received the most perfect of all gifts that God wants to give to everyone who chooses to follow Him? Do you have all 16 characteristics of love in your heart? Unless you have love in your heart, Paul says all the other profession of religion, all the languages, all the knowledge, all the faith, everything else you might do, is worthless unless you have love.

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

 

Life Sketches – Health and the Early Church

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The apostle Paul taught the early church to be aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how you treat your body. He goes so far as to say that the way you treat your body could even result in losing eternal life.

In the city of Corinth there occurred many different athletic events. The most ancient and highly esteemed of them all were the foot races, which were held at stated times and places with great pomp. Being patronized by kings, nobles, and statesmen, persons of rank and wealth who engaged in these exercises shrank from no effort and discipline necessary to obtain the honor of victory. These races were governed by strict regulations from which there was no appeal.

Before the names of the candidates could be entered upon the list as competitors for the prize, they were required to undergo a severe preparatory training. Every indulgence of appetite and other gratification which could in the least affect their mental or physical vigor was strictly forbidden. As the contestants in the race made their appearance before the eager and waiting crowd, their names were heralded, and the rules of the race were expressly stated. The prize was placed in full view before the competitors. They all started together, the judges sitting near the goal line so they could award the prize to the person who was victorious, also seeing to it that no one took some unlawful advantage.

Great risks were run by the contestants in these contests. It happened sometimes that somebody overexerted themselves, just as athletes have done in our time, such that as they reached the finish line they fell over dead.

As a person reached the goal there was shout after shout of applause from the vast multitude that echoed around the surrounding hills and mountains and the judge, in full view of the spectators, would present the winner with the emblems of victory – a perishable laurel crown, and a palm branch to carry in his right hand. This crown was worn with great pride. Not only the one who won the race, but also his parents received their share of honor, and even the city where he lived was held in high esteem for having produced so great an athlete.

It is this experience that Paul presents as a striking figure of the Christian warfare. Notice what he says: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [exercises self-control] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27).

Notice the seriousness of what the apostle Paul is saying here. The body must be disciplined and be under strict control. The words Paul used in the Greek New Testament are much stronger language than has been translated into our English Bibles. He says that we must have our body under strict subjection and have absolute self-control; if not, we will be disqualified.

“To be carnally [fleshly] minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:6, 7). Paul says here that it is the unconverted person who doesn’t have control over his body.

The Holy Spirit gives to the Christian the power to be in control of his life. By just reading certain portions of the writings of the apostle Paul some people get the wrong idea of his message. They read only the portions that have to do with forgiveness of sin. You cannot do anything to earn forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness of sin comes as a gift of grace alone. The inheritance of eternal life is an infinite gift, and there’s no way that you can earn it. All are saved by grace by a gift of God. Salvation is an inheritance offered free to the entire human race, but it has conditions.

Those who desire to receive the gift must comply with the conditions. In the first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul gives several examples from the Old Testament that are especially applicable to people who are living in the end of time. He says concerning the children of Israel, “All our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:1–5). “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages [“world” KJV] have come” (verse 11).

What are these things that are examples for the people that live in the ends of the ages? He says, “These things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (verse 6). When God took the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt into the wilderness, He gave them a program that involved health reform and dietary reform. But many of them rebelled against having a change in their diet that would bring them into a more healthful condition.

Notice what happened: “Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving [lusting]; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes’ ” (Numbers 11:4–6)!

Asaph, in contemplation of the wilderness wanderings, said they “ate angel’s food” (Psalm 78:25) and “were well filled” (verse 29). God did not provide for them an impoverished diet; God gave them a superior diet. Among the millions of people there was not one feeble one among all their tribes. (See Psalm 105:37.)  Though they were eating angel’s food and were healthy, they wanted to go back to the kind of diet they ate in Egypt. The diet of Egypt resulted in all of the different degenerative diseases that we have today, a diet that will produce atherosclerosis, arthritis, heart disease and cancers. God prepared for them the kind of diet with which they would not suffer any of those diseases, but still they complained saying, “We want to eat flesh foods.”

Paul said this is an example for people who are living in the last days and warns against lusting after and craving evil things, things that God did not create for you to eat. In 1 Corinthians 10:7, Paul also lists something else. He says, “Do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ ” Here reference was made to worshiping the golden calf. (See Exodus 32.) Paul warned that many would follow the children of Israel in lusting after that which was forbidden, causing them to lose eternal life.

Sexuality was mentioned as being a special problem in the world in the last days. Paul said that just before the children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land, thousands fell in one day due to the sin of sexual immorality. He said, “Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell” (1 Corinthians 10:8).

The experience at Baal Peor is recorded this way: “Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.’ So Moses said to the judges of Israel, ‘Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.’ And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand” (Numbers 25:1–9).

Being undisciplined, the children of Israel got involved in idolatry, sexual immorality, fornication and adultery and many of them lost their souls as a result. Take the warning, Paul said that what happened to them is an example for those who live in the time of the end. It is not worth forfeiting your eternal inheritance for sexual pleasure.

1 Corinthians 10:9, 10 says, “Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (literal translation). The children of Israel being tempted, murmured and complained, tempting Christ. By His miraculous power, the Lord had protected them from the poisonous serpents in the desert for their whole journey, but when the Lord removed His protecting hand, the people found out that life in this world without God’s protection wasn’t nearly as safe as they had thought it was.

Friends, the whole world is under the grace of God at this present time, provided for us through the cross of Calvary. But the Bible teaches very clearly in the book of Revelation that the time is coming when God’s grace that is shielding our world is going to be removed. There is coming a time when the people of this world (that is, those who have sinned away their day of grace) are going to experience what it is like to be in a world without grace, where there is no mercy. If you accept Jesus as your Saviour, the Bible predicts that in that awful time no plague will come near your dwelling. But the way that you live, the way you treat your body, affects your eternal destiny. You can lose your eternal destiny; you can lose the gift of salvation, by treating your body in a sinful way. (See 1 Corinthians 9:24 to 27.)

Notice Numbers 21:5–9: “And the people spoke against God and against Moses: ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water [that was a lie], and our soul loathes this worthless bread.’ So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

Jesus used this experience to illustrate the gospel to a leader of the Jews by the name of Nicodemus. Jesus said to him, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:14–16, literal translation).

Friend, every person in the world has been bitten by that ancient serpent the Bible calls the devil and Satan. We have been bitten by the instigator of sin; so much so, that the Bible says that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But if you will look, if you will commit your life to the Saviour of the world, if you will choose to follow Him as your leader, surrender to Him, and choose Him as your Sovereign and obey Him, then you can be healed from the sting of sin. Paul said point blank that if you destroy your body you yourself are going to be destroyed. You don’t have to destroy your body instantly by taking a gun; you can destroy your body by taking different kinds of drugs or partaking in many other unhealthful practices. Paul was a very strict teacher of health reform.

After Paul told the church in Corinth how that it was necessary for them to be in strict control of their bodies, he knew that they would be tempted. They had been so used to living in sin. Notice what he says to them, one of the most wonderful promises in all the Bible: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12, 13).

He goes on to say, if you are a Christian, every detail of the conduct of your life should be in harmony with God’s will by stating, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (verse 31). That is the Christian’s motto – the way you eat, what you eat, how you eat, the way you drink, what you drink, whatever you do, it should be to the glory of God.

To the person who does not pay attention to these requirements, Paul says, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). The Christian is to be sanctified, not only in his mind and in his spirit, but he is to be sanctified in his body. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:22 and 23.) God wants to sanctify not only your mind, but also your body, to bring your entire life into perfect conformity with His will. Paul says, Don’t you know your body is to be the temple, the dwelling place, of the Holy Spirit. What you have is from God. You are not your own because you were bought at a price.

The price at which your body and soul were bought was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. No one in the world belongs to himself or herself; it’s just that most people don’t recognize it.  We have been bought with an expensive price.

Paul issues a strict and severe warning about those who do not pay attention to this counsel on how to treat your body, choosing to do as they want. He says: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17)? Then there is a play on words that we usually translate two different ways, but the same word is used so it actually should be translated as follows: “If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

O, friend, there it is. Paul says that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you. If you defile or destroy the temple of God, God will destroy you.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Who is on the Lord’s Side?

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Throughout his letters to the early churches, Paul taught that the whole world was under the jurisdiction of the law of God. He explained that the law was not only given for the Jews and abolished by Christ for Christians, but that all needed to keep it.

A misunderstanding arose within the church regarding the ceremonial laws. In Acts the 15th chapter, we read that there were some people who taught the Christians in Antioch that unless they were circumcised according to the manner of Moses, they could not be saved. It says, “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question” (verses 1, 2).  Verse 5 says, “Some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.’ ”

A council was held in Jerusalem amongst the church leaders and it was determined that it was not necessary to require the Christians to keep the law of Moses and to be circumcised. Paul then made some very strong statements concerning this in his letters, and as a result, some people have concluded that the apostle Paul taught that Christians no longer need to keep the law of God. The question is, however, which law was he referring to?

He wrote, “For He Himself [Christ] is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us [the Jews and the Gentiles], having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:14–17, literal translation).

Christ abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances. From this statement, people have said that if Christ abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances, we do not need to keep the law of God.

However, in Colossians the 2nd chapter, it says, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [that is, in the cross]. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in regarding a festival, or a new moon, or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations [or ordinances] —‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle’ ” (verses 14–21)? He goes on to say, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (verse 23).

So, people have concluded that Paul taught that the law of God was not binding on Christians. Some people have qualified that a little bit and say that it is necessary to keep the seventh commandment because even though Christians were released from being circumcised and keeping the law of Moses, they required them to keep the commandment dealing with immorality. Acts 15:28, 29: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

None of the other commandments are mentioned. The nations of the ancient world knew that immorality was wrong. There were strict penalties against adultery, taking another’s wife, and all knew that was wrong, but many of them did not think that fornication was wrong. They thought there was nothing wrong in having sexual relations with somebody who wasn’t married. For that reason, the apostles pointed out to the Christians that the seventh commandment included all manner of sexual immorality.

(The apostles also prohibited the Christians from eating of blood. In fact, nowhere in the Bible is permission given to the follower of the Lord to eat blood, though millions of Christians throughout the world eat blood today when they are eating meat.)

Paul said it was the law contained of ordinances that was abolished, and not God’s commandments. He said, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

Think that through. Can you abolish a law and establish a law at the same time? Paul is talking about two laws. Paul says that there is a law of commandments contained in ordinances that is abolished (Ephesians 2:15) and a law that is established (Romans 3:31). Notice, this is not some new law that was given in New Testament times; it is a law from the times of the Old Testament that by faith in Christ is established. Paul says that “Where there is no law there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). He also says that if the law wasn’t there he wouldn’t even know what sin was (Romans 7:7), because, as John says, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV).

Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:3:  “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (literal translation). Why did Christ die? Christ died for our sins. What is sin? You would think that everybody in the world would know by now what sin is, but many do not. Sin, the Bible says, is breaking God’s law. If you don’t have a law, then there isn’t any sin. And if you don’t have a sin, you don’t need a sacrifice and there is no need for a gospel, for the gospel is to save men from sin. The gospel doesn’t save men in breaking God’s law; it saves men from breaking God’s law. Remember the words of the angel to Joseph before the birth of Jesus: “Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 KJV).

So, there was a law that was abolished when Christ came, a law having to do with ordinances—concerning foods and drinks, feast days, and yearly ceremonies (Leviticus 23)—those things were done away at the cross of Jesus. Those were temporary laws that were given regarding things that would happen in the gospel dispensation in the future. But, the law of God, the Ten Commandment law, was not done away; in fact, Paul says, “It was established.”

Notice he says: “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 7:19 KJV). Or many translations add the words, “keeping the commandments of God is what matters,” or “is everything.”

Circumcision is not anything; whether you are circumcised or not circumcised is not the issue. The issue is, do you keep the commandments of God, for that is what matters. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1–4).

Paul said that the righteous requirement of the law will be fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit, those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. So what about the person who is not filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul says that person is not going to keep the law. In fact, he says, a person who has a sinful nature, who has not been converted or received the Holy Spirit, cannot keep the law of God. He says, “For to be carnally minded is death, But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:6, 7). Notice, he says, “the carnal mind,” the person who is not converted, that person is not subject to the law of God; in fact, it’s impossible, nor indeed, can that person be subject to the law of God. But then he goes on to say, that’s not your situation. You’ve chosen to follow Christ; you’re filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (verse 14).

Paul taught that there was coming a time in the future of the Christian church when multitudes of people considering themselves to be Christians would violate the law of God and still expect that they were going to go to heaven, regardless that they were living in deliberate violation of God’s holy law. Paul taught that an antichrist power would come that would enter the Christian church and cause Christians to break the law of God. He was not the first one who predicted this.

Daniel prophesied that this antichrist power “shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and laws. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church: “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition …” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–3). Paul predicted that the Second Coming of Christ would not come in his day. He said that before that great event there would be a great apostasy, a falling away from the truth, and the antichrist would be revealed. He said that this “man of sin [or antichrist] … opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (verse 4).

In Ephesians 2, the church of God is likened to a temple. A temple is a building where a deity resides. The church is to be a temple for the indwelling of God, but the antichrist is going to sit in the temple; in other words, in the church. The antichrist is going to arise in the church and he is going to exalt himself above every god that is worshiped, and he is going to show himself that he himself is God. Paul says, “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed” (verses 5–8, first part).

Notice that the antichrist is described here as the lawless one. In Daniel the antichrist is described as a power that intends to change times and laws. Here it is described as a lawless power, a power that teaches people to break God’s law. This antichrist power is going to continue until Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven and then it will be destroyed. Paul said, “Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (verse 8).

He says in verses 9, 10, “The coming of the lawless one [the antichrist] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Friend, do you love the truth? Paul said that if you don’t receive the love of the truth, you are going to be deceived by miracles that will be performed by evil spirits and you will think that they are being performed by the Holy Spirit. “For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (verses 11, 12).

Those who believe the lie and have pleasure in unrighteousness will still lose their soul. They well may plead ignorance or that they were deceived, but they neglected to receive the love of the truth and had pleasure in unrighteousness. Having pleasure in unrighteousness is taking pleasure in sin, in breaking God’s law. Those people will all be condemned.

The book of Revelation reveals the startling fact that in the very last days almost the entire world will worship the antichrist power. This is a violation of the first commandment that forbids the worship of anyone except the God of heaven. The second commandment forbids a person to bow down to any image or idol but, “All the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3, last part). Then it says in verse 8, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

We are coming to a time when everybody in the world, except those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, is going to worship the antichrist. Whom will you worship? In Revelation, it is pointed out that in the last days a line will divide the people of the world into two groups—on one side will be those who keep God’s commandments; on the other side will be those who worship the antichrist and the image of the antichrist (Revelation 13, 14).

Revelation 12:17 says that “The dragon [the devil] was enraged with the woman [God’s people], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” The devil is enraged with those who keep God’s commandments and he tries to destroy them. He causes a law to be passed that all who refuse to worship the antichrist and the image to the antichrist will be killed (Revelation 13). The devil is going to try to destroy every person who keeps God’s commandments. But God’s children will still be keeping His commandments. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

O, friend, we are headed toward a gigantic spiritual crisis that is going to divide the whole world into two camps—those who keep God’s commandments and those who do not keep God’s commandments. It is just that simple.

In the last chapters of the book of Revelation this warning is repeated. In fact, in the last two chapters it is repeated at least three times. Looking at one in Revelation 22:14 and 15, it says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral (7th commandment), and murderers (6th commandment), and idolaters (2nd commandment), and whoever loves and practices a lie” (9th commandment). You see, in the final analysis, whether you are on the inside or whether you are on the outside in the last generation depends on whether or not you are loyal to God’s law.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

 

Life Sketches – The Church, a Living Temple

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In ancient times God had the children of Israel build for Him a temple in their capital city, Jerusalem. However, the apostle Paul says that the Christian has no continuing city in this world. Nevertheless, the Christian does have an altar to which others have no right.

Many times in Scripture, in both in the Old and the New Testaments, the building of the Christian church is likened to the building of a temple. The apostle Paul uses this description in writing to the church at Corinth. He said, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 3:10).

Paul was a champion of the Christian faith. He was one of the main men who laid the foundation for the development of the Christian church. However, although he said that God had made him a wise master builder, he did not exalt himself, but stated that he was just a co-laborer with God, as were the Corinthians also to be co-laborers with God. He said, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Often the prophets and the apostles likened the Christian church to a temple, a building which is to be a habitation for God Himself. A temple is a house or a building for a deity, someone who is worshiped. In explaining this to the Corinthians, Paul communicated lessons which were to apply to all times, all places, and all people.

The Lord gave him the wisdom of a skillful architect that he might lay the foundation of the church of Christ. This figure of the erection of a temple is frequently repeated in the Scriptures, illustrating the building up of the true Christian church. Zechariah writes, “ ‘Then speak to him, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord’ ” ‘ ” (Zechariah 6:12). Not only was He to build the temple of the Lord, but there would be many Gentiles, many people who were not Jews, who would come and help in this building. It says in verse 15, “Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Just as was told by prophecy hundreds of years before the foundation of the Christian church was laid, Paul worked in the Gentile quarry of the world to bring out valuable stones to lay upon the foundation, which was Jesus Christ. By coming in contact with that Living Stone we also might become living stones. Then Peter describes it in very similar language when he said, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house [this is the temple, the church], a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:4–8).

Just as Paul described it, Peter described it; the church is composed of human beings that are described as living stones who are built upon the foundation of that Rock, Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Jehovah is described as that Eternal Rock that is a refuge and a fortress for His people. Paul used the same terminology in writing to the church in Ephesus. He said, “Now, therefore, you [that is, the Gentiles in Ephesus] are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19–22, literal translation).

So, the church is described by both Paul and Peter as a spiritual temple, a spiritual building where God Himself dwells. To the Thessalonians Paul said that in the future the antichrist would come and sit in the church that is in God’s own temple. (See 2 Thessalonians 2.) In his letter to the Corinthians Paul uses this description tactfully, but yet as a severe warning.

He said, “Other foundations can no man lay except that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:11–15, literal translation).  Then he said, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (verses 16, 17, literal translation).

The foundation has been laid. By the Christian experience that you develop, you are building on the foundation. Are you advancing? Is your character being built with material that will stand the day that will reveal your character? When the day of judgment comes and all characters are revealed, will it be seen that you have built on the rock using building materials of gold, or silver, or precious stones? Or will it be seen that you have built on the sand and retained a carnal heart, an unsanctified character that has been whitewashed with a thin profession of righteousness and Christianity—an unsanctified character that cannot be readily detected by the eye of man, but will be detected in the day of God when all characters are revealed.

The precious stones represent those Christians who have been refined and polished by the grace of God. Many times both Paul and Peter said, “We are to grow in grace” (2 Peter 3:18). You are to grow in your Christian experience. Paul talked about the necessity of growing up into Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:4–8 he said, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God’s will for each one of His children to be blameless in the day of Christ when Jesus comes again in the clouds of heaven.

During the probationary time in this world we are all given opportunity to not only accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour from sin, but also to receive the Holy Spirit and grow up into His image. Paul wrote about how there were some people who were like little children being pushed back and forth with every wind of doctrine. He admonished them that they needed to grow up so that would no longer be the case. In Ephesians the 4th chapter it says, “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (verses 11–15, literal translation).

Since the time of the apostles, Paul’s epistles helped lay the foundation for building the church of God. Paul brought each person who was willing to accept the gospel to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to a connection with the living cornerstone. Slowly, there ascended the temple, the church of the living God, which is to be completed before Jesus returns in the clouds of heaven. Paul said, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17).

The Jews made the work of Paul exceedingly difficult, claiming that they were the only true children of Abraham and therefore they were the only ones who could be part of God’s house. However, the apostles had received a commission from God Himself that the gospel was to go to every nation, to every tribe, to every nationality, to every group of people and to every language (Revelation 14:6). They had to contend with the bigotry, prejudice, and the violence of men who wanted the gospel to be restricted. One after another the noble builders fell at their posts of duty by the hand of the enemy. Stephen was stoned. James was slain with the sword. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified. John was exiled, but in spite of the fact that it appeared that all the leaders would be killed off, the church of God still slowly ascended by men who were willing to endure terrible persecutions.

New workers eagerly took the place of those who had fallen, and these faithful laborers down through the ages have brought precious material to the living foundation. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16). Although they are dead now, the righteous of all ages testify by the record of their words and deeds to the truth of God. The names of all the martyrs of the Christian faith for Christ’s sake are immortalized among the angels in heaven, and a bright reward awaits them when the Lifegiver shall come back to this world and call them from their graves.

This light of truth that has been ascending in our world has always been exceedingly annoying to those joined to the world because the truth exposes the darkness of error. There is a contrast between righteousness and sin. Those who refuse to obey the truth themselves are unwilling that others should obey it. For that reason, the course of the faithful is a continual reproof; their very presence is a reproof to those who do not believe and are disobedient. Carnal minds wrest the word of God to make it pander to their follies and superstitions, but that unerring Word, which is the rule that will test every stone that is brought to God’s temple, will be the record in the judgment to which your life will be compared.

How will it be with you in that final day of judgment when Paul says God is going to “bring every secret thing to light” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)? He said, “Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

O friend, think of the consequences of that day of judgment. How will it be with you? Will you be found connected to the living stone, the living foundation? Will you be found to have a Christian character that is likened to gold, and precious stones, and pearls, or will your character be represented by wood, hay, and stubble? Remember what Paul said to the Corinthians that, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive the things that we have done in the body, whether it is good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10, literal translation).

The leaders of this world, both church leaders and secular leaders, have sought to defile and destroy this temple by sacrilegious idolatry and persecution of the faithful. But God’s eye has never for a moment left the building that He is erecting in this world. In the face of gaping prisons and torture, and flames, the work of the Christian church has grown under the hands of faithful men. The workmen were at times almost blinded by the mists of superstition that settled as dense darkness on this world. They seemed to be beaten back and destroyed by the violence of their opponents. But in spite of all that, the work of building the church, has gone forward and will continue to go forward in the face of the persecution that we are continuing to face until Jesus returns again. Paul said, “Where are you going to be in the day when God reveals the nature of character that you have been building?” Characters are being built for eternity, either for everlasting life or everlasting destruction. What is going to be your destiny?

Jesus said that your character determines your destiny. (See the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5; Matthew 25; and John 17.) Paul taught that principle to the Corinthians who had fallen into apostasy and the sins of idolatry and paganism that surrounded them. Attempting to draw them back he asked, “Are you going to be a Christian in truth as well as in name or not?” Then he gave them an illustration of something that they could clearly understand being used to seeing these things in their city.

There were people who lived in the first century, just as there are people today, who wanted a religion where all they had to do was simply believe, and that was all. They sought a profession of faith and wanted assurance of salvation without having to change their lifestyle. So today, there are many people who live like the devil thinking that they are Christians and that they are going to heaven, but this is not the religion that was preached by the apostles. This is not the religion described in the New Testament.

In writing to the Corinthians who were in a terrible state of apostasy practicing open sins among themselves, Paul talks to them as a father instructs his children. Paul wants to describe to them the necessity of firm self-control and strict temperance. He did this by comparing it with the games that were celebrated near Corinth and were always attended by a multitude of spectators. This illustration was calculated to make a vivid impression upon the minds of those he addressed because it referred to something with which they were intimately acquainted. There were various games that had been instituted among the Greeks and Romans, not only for the purpose of amusement, but also to train young men for personal vigor and activity, and prepare them to be qualified to be excellent soldiers in warfare.

The most famous of all these games, the most ancient and the most highly esteemed, were the foot races. They were held at stated times and places with great pomp and were patronized by kings, nobles, statesmen, and very wealthy people. These contests were governed by strict regulations from which there were no exceptions. Before the names of the candidates could be entered upon the list as competitors for the prize, they were required to undergo a severe preparatory training. Every indulgence of appetite or other gratification which could in the least affect their mental or physical vigor was strictly forbidden.

Paul speaks of these games to help the believers understand what is necessary for the Christian who is preparing to leave this world to go to a different place. The Christian is also running a race, the race of life. Paul said, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [that is, practices self-control] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run like thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27).

O friend, have you ever thought that through? We should ask ourselves, if it was possible for the apostle Paul, who had faithfully preached the gospel all over the world to become disqualified from receiving the prize of eternal life because of lack of self-control, what about me? O friend, do not fall for the idea that the Christian religion is just a shallow assent to saying, “I believe,” and then it is all over—you are saved!  No, the Christian religion involves running a race, one in which you practice strict self-control in all things, so that you might be ready for the coming of Christ and your character is such that you are safe to take to heaven.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Life Sketches – Following Christ Regardless of the Cost

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Have you given much thought whether you would stick to the truth, obey and follow the truth, even if it resulted in a decrease in your income or cost you in some other way? When that is the consequence of following truth, then the whole observing universe can find out whether or not you really love the truth.

During the three years the apostle Paul ministered in Ephesus, a large church was developed.  From that city the gospel spread to seven other cities in Asia. The apostle at that time thought it was time to make another missionary journey to visit the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, the area we call Greece today. His hope also was to preach the gospel in Rome. The church at Ephesus still demanded his presence; so he decided to remain there for a time. However, an event soon happened that hastened his departure. It was customary in Ephesus to devote the entire month of May to the worship of the great heathen goddess Diana. Universal honor had been given to this deity. The magnificence of her temple and her worship attracted an immense number of people from all over.

Festivities were conducted with great pomp and splendor and the heathen gods were represented by persons chosen for this purpose. These people were then regarded as objects for worship and were honored by processions and various religious rituals. There were musical contests and feats of athletes. Fierce combats were held of men and beasts for entertainment. Paul says, “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:32)! Admiring crowds came to take part in the festivities which were held in the vast theaters. Certain men were chosen to conduct the grand celebrations. These were very wealthy men of the highest distinction in Asia and they were expected to defray the entire expense of the occasion. It was time when the whole city of Ephesus became a place of brilliant display and wild revelry. Imposing processions swept to the grand temple and the people gave themselves up to feasting and drunkenness and the vile practices that have always accompanied the worship of pagan idols.

This was a time of great trial to the people who had newly become Christians; they did not engage in the heathen festivities. They took seriously the first commandment that says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3) and the second commandment that forbids the use of idols or images in worship (verses 4–6). So, the company of believers were an inharmonious note in all of the festivities that were going on and became the target of ridicule, reproach, and the victims of insult. Fully in accord with Scriptural instruction, Paul had taught against the use of any kinds of idols.

In 1 John, the 5th chapter, the apostle John says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (verse 21). In other words, don’t have anything to do with idols. This message caused a perceptible falling off in attendance at the national festival and a decrease in the enthusiasm of the worshipers. The influence of Paul’s teachings had extended far beyond the actual number of people who had become Christians. There were many who had not openly accepted Christian doctrines but who were so far enlightened as to lose all confidence in the heathen gods.

Paul’s presence in the city called special attention to this fact, resulting in loud and bitter curses being uttered against him. There was yet another cause of dissatisfaction. It had been long customary among heathen nations to manufacture small images, or shrines, to represent their favorite objects of worship. Portable statues had been modeled after the image of Diana and they were widely circulated in the countries along the shores of the Mediterranean. There were also models of the temple enshrining an idol inside. These were all regarded as objects of worship and carried at the head of the processions, on journeys, and on military expeditions. Those people who were involved in this kind of industry found their profits diminishing and united in attributing the unwelcome change to Paul’s labors.

Acts 19:23–28 says, “About that time there arose a great commotion about the Way [that is, about the way of Christianity]. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: ‘Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.’ Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians!’ ”

The report of this speech was rapidly circulated and the uproar was terrible and the whole city seemed to be in commotion. An immense crowd gathered and a rush was made to the workshop of Aquilla to find Paul. The mob was so insanely angry that they were ready to tear him to pieces. Paul’s life would not have been spared unless the Lord had worked a direct miracle to deliver him from their hands. By the time the mob arrived, some of the Christians had already hurried Paul out of that place. The Bible says that, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7), and angels guarded the faithful apostle away from the trouble. It was not yet his time to die a martyr’s death, as the Lord had more work for Paul.

When they failed to find Paul, the angry crowd seized two of his acquaintances. “The whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions” (Acts 19:29). Paul’s place of concealment was not a long way away. He soon learned of his brothers’ peril and forgetful of his own safety, he wanted to go at once to the theater and give an answer. However, the other Christians realized that Paul was the focal point of their rage and if he should appear, it would arouse the worst passions of the mob. Then there would not be the least human possibility of saving his life. Verse 30 says, “When Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.”

Paul’s desire was to defend the truth, but several of the most honorable and influential among the magistrates of the city sent him an earnest warning not to come into a situation that was so dangerous. This was proof of the regard in which Paul was held by the leading men of Asia, and it was no small tribute to his sterling integrity. Notice verse 31: “Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.” The tumult in this theater was continually increasing. It says, “Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together” (verse 32).

Because Paul and his companions were of Hebrew extraction, the Jews did not want the situation blamed on them; so they tried to make it known that they didn’t have any part of the Christians. The Bible says, “They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians’ ” (verses 33, 34)! There wasn’t anything that could be done; they weren’t in any mood to make nice distinctions. They saw that he was a Jew, they thrust him aside, and they yelled for two hours.

At last, as a result of sheer exhaustion, there came a momentary silence and the recorder of the city, by virtue of his office, used this opportunity to arrest their attention and to obtain a hearing. This man, by his prudence and good judgment, soon succeeded in quieting the excitement. It says, “And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: ‘Men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.’ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly” (verses 35–41).

The clerk showed that there was no cause for what the mob was doing and appealed to their reason to decide whether the strangers who had come among them could change the opinions of the world regarding their ruling goddess. He skillfully turned the subject from blasphemy against their goddess to suggesting that the courts were the place for any other differences to be settled. He closed with a warning that such an uproar without an apparent cause might subject the city of Ephesians to the censure of the Romans, thus causing a restriction of the liberty which they then enjoyed. He intimated that there must not be a repetition of a scene like this. So, having by this speech tranquilized the disturbed elements, he dismissed the assembly.

Now when we read the story, the words of Demetrius reveal the real cause of the tumult at Ephesus and the cause of much of the persecution that existed in the apostle’s day, and which still exists today.

The reason had to do with the fact that the apostles were telling the truth. Demetrius said, “Not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship” (verse 27). So, what was the problem? The problem was they were in a very profitable business of image making, and this business was endangered by the large number of people who were accepting the gospel. The income, not only of the artisans, but of pagan priests, was at stake. For this reason they instituted the most bitter opposition to the apostle and refused to receive or investigate the new religion which would have made them wise unto salvation.

Because of this uproar, Paul decided to leave (Acts 20:1). In the apostle’s day there were many people who had heard about the gospel but refused to receive it because it would have caused a decrease in their income. They would not have been able to have the large income from the practice of sin that they presently enjoyed; it would decrease. Income was more important to these people than following the truth so, they rejected the truth. That has continually happened right down through the ages.

In 2 Peter, the 2nd chapter, the apostle talks about this problem occurring not just in the past, but how it would occur in the future. He says, “These, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing [beguiling] unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (verses 12–16).

“These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (verse 17). Whom is he talking about? O, he’s talking about people who love the wages of unrighteousness. They believe that the devil pays very well. They are living in sin and participating with others in sin and getting paid very well for it. There are still practices of sin today by which people earn high pay; they love the wages of unrighteousness. O, friend, how much money does it take to dissuade you from following the truth? For some people it’s not very much. They love and receive the wages of unrighteousness, but they will also receive the end result of unrighteousness. Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Mark 8:36, 37 KJV)? O, friend, do you love the truth? You cannot be saved if you do not love the truth.

The antichrist will deceive the world. The Bible says, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).

How is it with you, today, friend? Do you love the truth enough to stick to it, obey it, and follow its principles, even if it results in a decrease in your income? There are people today whose incomes will be severely cut if they choose to follow the truth, because they are obtaining their income from the pleasures and ways of sin. Balaam sought riches from a dishonorable source as did Judas. Their love of worldly riches cost them their souls.

Choose the course of righteousness regardless of the cost. Waste no more time in worldly pursuits, but say to the Lord, “Lord, I’m willing to forsake everything and follow You and obey the truth.”

Jesus said that the truth, obeyed, would sanctify His followers (see John 17); the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:22). What is your experience today, friend? Do you love the truth? Are you willing to follow the truth even if it results in financial cost?

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Life Sketches – Be Born Again

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There are many people in the world today who, though they have an intellectual knowledge of the truth, are lacking the moral character that will fit them for eternal life.

While Apollos was teaching and preaching in Corinth, the apostle Paul went to the city of Ephesus. (See Acts 19.) At that time, Ephesus was one of the leading commercial cities of the world. It was a harbor city, a center of trade and shipping from all parts of the civilized world. Its streets were filled with people from many lands. Thus the city of Ephesus, like the city of Corinth, presented a favorable missionary field, from which the gospel could be taken to all parts of the world.

Within 20 to 30 years after Jesus ascended to heaven, the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven. Part of the reason for this success was Paul’s concentrated effort in the large commercial cities where the gospel would be dispersed to all parts of the world.  The Jews had been widely dispersed in all civilized lands and were generally expecting the speedy advent of the Messiah, for while they attended their annual feasts at Jerusalem, some of them had gone to hear John the Baptist preach by the Jordan and heard from him that the time of the Messiah was at hand. On return to their homes they had talked about it and the knowledge of the Messiah was widely dispersed throughout the world at that time.

Jesus had made many promises to His disciples that those who accepted and followed Him would receive the Holy Spirit. He had promised, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:5, 8).

While Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, in the audience were some who had clamored for the crucifixion of Christ. Coming to the conviction of what they had done, they said to Peter, “ ‘What shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent [change your mind], and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ ” (Acts 2:37, last part, 38).

Many were baptized and did receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Ephesus, Paul met twelve brethren who had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist, but didn’t fully understand the gospel perfectly or the gift of the promised Holy Spirit. Paul asked them, “ ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ ” So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’

“Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus’ ” (Acts 19:1, last part–4).  Paul explained to them about Jesus’ mission in this world and how He had suffered a cruel and shameful death. He told how the Lord of life had broken the barriers of the tomb and had arisen on the third day, triumphant over death. This same triumph was promised to all those who believe and follow Him and they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Paul repeated to the twelve the commission that Jesus had given to His disciples: “ ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ ” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

By faith these twelve brethren grasped what Paul was teaching them. The Bible says, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues [other languages] and prophesied” (Acts 19:5).

One of the most interesting things in this story is that these twelve men, by cherishing a humble and teachable spirit, gained precious knowledge and a new religious experience they had never had before. Their example presents a lesson of great value to Christians in our age also. There are many claiming to be Christians who make but little progress in their spiritual life because they are too self-sufficient to be learners. They are content with their present knowledge of God’s word, which may be very meager, and make no effort to obtain greater light. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).

Are you a seeker? Are you asking? Are you seeking the Lord and asking for more spiritual truth or do you think you know enough already? Give yourself to God and He will guide you by His divine hand just as Moses was.

You may think of yourself as lowly and ungifted, but if with a loving, trusting heart you obey every intimation of God’s will, then He will give you more and more truth and knowledge. It is not enough to be content with an intellectual knowledge of religious truth. Jesus longs to send His Spirit to work upon the hearts of those who seek Him. Many talk about salvation, but they are not experiencing it. The Bible is so clear about this point. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Unless you are born of water and of the spirit, there is no chance that you can enter the kingdom of heaven” (John 3:3, 5). Or simply, only those who are born again will see the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit works upon the heart creating new emotions, new thoughts, and new feelings. Jesus spoke of it as a new birth. The life giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from Christ and imparted to every disciple, pervades the soul and changes the motives and the affections. This affects even the most secret thoughts and brings forth fruit in holy deeds. Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus told Nicodemus that it is like the wind. You see the results, but you can’t actually see the wind itself (verse 8).

In the same way, the operations of the Holy Spirit upon the heart cannot be seen with human eye, but the results can be seen. We are sustained both physically and spiritually through the blessings that God places within our reach as we take and receive them. Are you watching? Are you praying? Are you studying God’s word and giving heed to the instructions that you see there or just stumbling along without seeking for an experience in the Holy Spirit that would result in a holy life? The Holy Spirit brings to each believer an experience in “… holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

God’s children who are living just before the close of the age (world KJV) are described as those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and keep God’s commandments. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” There are many who believe they can be saved while in transgression of God’s law but John specifically says in Revelation that the saints will be keeping the commandments of God.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Not everyone that says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name’ ” (Matthew 7:21, 22)?

These people are not atheists or unbelievers. They claim to be Christians who call Jesus Lord. They tell Him that they have made a mistake. They believe that they are saved because they have prophesied in His name and cast out demons in His name, and have done many miracles in His name. They know that they are saved.

Every time I read this Scripture it causes a tremor to go through my mind and sometimes through my whole body as I realize the terrible shock that these people are going to have.

Jesus says, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ ” (Matthew 7:23)! Can you imagine? They believe they are saved. They had the spirit, but it wasn’t the right spirit. The Holy Spirit never leads a person to “practice lawlessness” by breaking the law of God.

Paul says, “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–10).

These “protesters” are deceived because they did not receive the love of the truth. It is not enough to have an intellectual knowledge of the truth. You must also love it and choose to follow and obey it so you can receive the Holy Spirit and be changed in character. Those who do not love the truth enough to obey it will be sent a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie that you can be saved in sin. They believe that you can go ahead and keep breaking God’s law and God will still save you. The New Testament does not teach that. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is what matters.”

God’s children in the last days will be keeping His commandments. In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he speaks of a condemnation on those “who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). The Bible says that all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV). So in other words, those who find pleasure in sin have pleasure in breaking the law of God.

All must choose their own destiny. There are many people today who have unwittingly violated one of the precepts of God’s law. Look again at Exodus 20:3–17 and ask yourself the question, “Am I keeping God’s commandments or not?” When the understanding is enlightened and the claims of the 4th commandment are urged upon the conscience, then a person sees himself or herself as a sinner in the sight of God. Notice that James 2:10 says that whoever offends in one point of the law is guilty of all. Keeping only 90% of the law is not enough.

We are bidden to search the Scriptures and all who are honest seekers after truth will not plead ignorance of the law as an excuse for transgression. Light is within the reach of all. God’s word is plain, His law is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). Earnest seekers after truth will repent of their transgression and plead that the atoning blood of Christ may pardon their sins so that they may be converted and live in harmony with all of God’s commandments.

When the Holy Spirit works on the heart, that person will be led to be in harmony with everything that Christ and His apostles have taught.

There’s no promise in the Bible for salvation in sin. The promise of salvation is salvation from sin. The angel said to Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). [Emphasis supplied.] God is going to have a people at the end of the world who are obedient to all His commandments (Revelation 14:12). Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” But then notice what it says in the next verse: “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral (see the seventh commandment) and murderers (see the sixth commandment) and idolaters (see the first and second commandment), and whoever loves and practices a lie (see the ninth commandment)” (verse 15).

When Jesus returns, the whole world is going to be separated into two classes—the saved and the lost. In Matthew 25:31–33, Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

The world population will be separated, some to the right hand and some to the left hand. Those on the right will receive the benediction of Christ, the gift of eternal life and will enter into the kingdom. Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ ” (verse 34). But to those on the left, He will say, “ ‘Depart … into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ ” (verse 41, literal translation).

Waste no time in choosing life, for soon God will ask, “Has this person been obedient to My law or not?” The decisions that you make day by day are going to determine your eternal destiny. Yield yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit that will transform your character so that your life will come into harmony with God’s word and with His law.

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Life Sketches – A New Life in Christ

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Factions have developed among nations and churches claiming to be Christian since the first century, even while the apostles were alive. There are obvious reasons why.

The residents of the city of Alexandria in Egypt in the days of the apostles were noted as some of the most highly educated in the world; in fact, many people among the Jews and from Palestine went to Alexandria to obtain a finished education. The book of Acts records an experience of one such man who had received a high level Greek education. He had heard about the preaching of John the Baptist and had accepted Jesus as His Saviour, although he did not understand the gospel perfectly. In Acts 18, verses 24 to 26 it says, “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

There was much that Apollos would learn. He did not know all about the death, the resurrection, the ascension and the intercession of Christ in the sanctuary in heaven for His people, and the promise of Jesus that those who accepted Him would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. However, he boldly taught what he did know.

Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers who, when they heard him preach, had opportunity to explain to him the deeper meaning of the gospel. This man, with grateful surprise and joy when he learned more about Jesus, whom the Christians worshiped, began to teach even more boldly in the synagogue, becoming one of the most able defenders of the Christian faith.

We see here an example where a scholarly man who was a brilliant orator learned the way of the Lord more perfectly from a Christian man and woman of humble employment, that of tent-making. Once he accepted and understood the gospel more perfectly, he desired to go to the city of Corinth and teach there. “When he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:27, 28).

Many of the Jews who had been expelled from Rome had moved to Corinth. They were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah whom they expected would come soon and elevate the Jewish people above all nations and languages. When Apollos arrived at Corinth, he showed them conclusively that their expectations of another Messiah to come were in vain. He taught them that the Messiah had already come and that He had suffered a shameful and violent death at the hand of their Jewish teachers.

Apollos became very successful in proclaiming the gospel in Corinth so much so that some of the church members began exalting his labors above that of Paul. Apollos was working in harmony with Paul for the advancement of the cause of Christianity, but a rival factious spirit developed in the church that threatened to greatly hinder the cause of truth.

Paul said, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me, concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas’ [Peter], … or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10–13).

Because Apollos was a brilliant orator and scholar, some of the people preferred his preaching so much that they said, “We are under the spiritual leadership of Apollos.” Others said, “No, we’re under the spiritual leadership of Paul.” Others chose to be under the spiritual leadership of Peter, who was intimately acquainted with Jesus Christ.

There were some who thought they had the perfect solution. They claimed to be under the spiritual direction of Christ. So, factions were developing in the church at Corinth and Satan took the opportunity to take advantage of their imaginary differences. In addition to this problem, other factions were developing because of Judaizing teachers who had come into the Corinthian church. These Judaizing teachers taught that the believers who observed the ordinances of the Mosaic law and were circumcised had a closer relationship to God than those who were uncircumcised. They took advantage of the fact that the apostles allowed diversity within the Christian church and allowed the Jews to keep up with some of their customs that they had received in the old covenant.

Paul had to meet these Judaizing teachers in every church that he founded or visited. Notice what he taught: “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Corinthians 7:19).

The Judaizing party looked upon Paul as an apostate and attempted to destroy his influence. They visited every church that Paul had organized and created divisions. They believed the ends would justify the means so they circulated false charges against the apostle.

Paul came to be distrusted and even despised by some Christians in the churches that he had raised up. These divisions in regard to the ceremonial law and the relative merits of different ministers teaching the doctrine of Christ caused him much anxiety and trouble and explains the root underlying the problem that causes factions today among nations, churches, and families.

Notice how Paul addressed this issue in 1 Corinthians 3:1–4: “And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal [fleshly, unconverted], as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?”

In other words, you are still living in the flesh; you are still unconverted. Paul counsels a lot about this subject through his epistles.

Notice what he wrote to the Romans: “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:5–7).

Many claim they cannot keep the law of God and that is true, for the carnal mind cannot keep the law of God, is not subject to the law of God, and cannot be. But when you receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus causes you to put to death the deeds of the carnal nature, those deeds of the flesh, and to live a new life in Him.

Paul explained it to the churches in Galatia in this way: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16–21).

We see here the problem that is underneath the contention, strife, and all the trouble in the world today. People are not converted. It can happen in the family; it can happen in the church; or it can happen in society, in a school, in an institution, an organization, or even in a whole nation. These factions, variances, and all strife prove that there are people who still hold onto their carnal nature. They are unconverted. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless you are born of water and of the Spirit, there is no chance that you can enter the kingdom of heaven. (See John 3:5.) The only people who will be fit to enter heaven are those who have been born of the Holy Spirit. All who are born again of the Holy Spirit will live their lives in harmony with God’s law (see Romans 8:4) and be fit and ready to be taken to heaven when Jesus returns.

Paul says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh (that is, the carnal nature) with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:22–24).

When Paul came to Corinth, a wicked and idolatrous city, he was dealing with people who had no experimental knowledge of the way of salvation; so he was obliged to present the truth in its most simple form, because their carnal minds could not discern the sacred revealings of God. They were strangers to the manifestation of divine power.

Paul said, “I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. … Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us though His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. … But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2, 9, 10, 14).

Paul said that the rulers of this world didn’t know Jesus when He was on earth “for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (verse 8). But they didn’t know Him, for they had no understanding of spiritual things.

As a wise instructor, Paul began to set before the church in Corinth the true object of life, impressing their minds with the lessons of the divine Teacher so that they could come up from their worldliness and sin to a life of purity and eventually immortal life. He did not venture to directly rebuke those who were licentious and immediately show them how heinous their sins were in the sight of a holy God or they would have been crushed. He especially dwelt on practical godliness, the character of holiness necessary for all who will receive eternal life.

There are some Christians today who believe that holiness is just something for certain holy people called saints and that the rest of us have to be saved some other way. This is contrary to the New Testament that teaches that everyone who is saved must be a holy person. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Hebrews.  He said, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, literal translation).

If you want to be in the kingdom of heaven, you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to become sanctified – made holy. We are living in a world where the philosopher turns aside from the light of salvation because it puts his proud theories to shame. The worldly person refuses to receive the gospel because it would separate him from his earthly idols and draw him to a holier life, which he finds unattractive in his carnal state. But when Paul went to Corinth, there were people, even among the most sinful, who did accept the truth of the cross of Christ—the truth that Jesus, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the majesty of heaven, had died to bring salvation to sinners.

Paul says, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). He explained that the wise and elevated people of this world often do not accept the preaching of the cross when he said, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:18–28).

Do you understand that spiritual things are spiritually discerned? Do you understand that if you are going to have eternal life, you must receive the Holy Spirit and be transformed in character? Jesus told Nicodemus that unless He was born again, born of the Spirit, he would not enter the kingdom of God. It is time to do some serious soul searching. The level on which you live will determine your eternal destiny.

Jesus is waiting and wants to give you a new heart, a new Spirit, a new mind with new desires. He called it the new birth experience. How is it with you, friend? Have you been born again?

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Life Sketches – Meeting the Lord Together

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One of the first letters written by the apostle Paul and recorded in the New Testament gives a straightforward explanation concerning the state of the dead, and of when Christians will be reunited with their loved ones who have died in Christ. Yet many Christians consider this still a mystery.

While Paul was evangelizing in the city of Corinth and making tents with his companions, Aquila and Priscilla, he was comforted by the arrival of two of his working companions. Silas and Timothy had come from Thessalonica and reported to Paul some struggles they were having in the newly formed church. He found out that there were some who had fallen into mistaken ideas concerning those who had died after their conversion. They had believed that they all would live to see the second coming of Christ. However, some of their friends had died and they were upset, thinking that now it would be impossible for them to behold that desirable event—to see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven.

So Paul wrote a letter to the Thessalonian church explaining the true condition of a person in death. He said, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep [died], lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (dead). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

The Thessalonians had eagerly grasped the idea that Jesus was coming to change the faithful, who were alive at that time, but they had forgotten what Paul had taught them about the state of the dead and the fact that there would be a reuniting of those who had fallen asleep in Christ when He returned. For this reason, Paul said they were not to sorrow as others who had no hope. When his letter was received the people were greatly comforted, knowing their loved ones would rise again from their graves to a holy, happy, and immortal life. For now they would sleep in their dusty graves waiting for that great reunion when Jesus would receive all the righteous, alive and dead, to make their journey together to the holy city.

Three times in this passage death is referred to as a sleep. The Old Testament also refers to death as a sleep. In fact, David called it “the sleep of death” (Psalm 13:3). This epistle gave great hope and joy to this young church. When accepting the gospel, they learned so many new, strange things that it is not surprising that they forgot some of the things that they had been taught. But no longer was there any darkness that enshrouded the sepulcher of the dead, because they had assurance that their friends who had fallen asleep in Jesus would be resurrected from the grave and also enjoy immortal life in the kingdom of God.

Notice, however, that this passage only talks about the resurrection to immortal life being given to those who have died in Christ. If you are in Christ, whether you live or die, your eternal future is secure. The question is: Have you committed your life to Christ to be your Lord and Saviour? Is it your desire to be like Him in character, or is your experience a mere profession?

Paul also reminded the church concerning events of the last days. “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–4).

Paul warned that the day of the Lord will come as an overwhelming surprise. But why would that be when there are so many other warnings given in the Bible for us to know when the last days begin? There are many Bible prophecies that point out clearly the exact time, the exact year, when the “last days” would begin, and today we are living in that period of time.

If we have this information, then why is it that the day of the Lord will come as a thief? Paul told the Thessalonians that they were not in darkness, so do not sleep as others. The careless and unbelieving, those who close their eyes to the evidence that the Lord has been pleased to give, seek to quiet themselves from all apprehension. But at the same time, the signs of the times are rapidly fulfilling all over the world today, showing us that the world is rapidly going toward that period of time when the Son of man will be revealed in the clouds of heaven. If we are not in darkness, what should we be doing?

Notice, Paul said, “You, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us … be sober” (verses 4–8).

To be sober means that you have not taken any intoxicating alcohol into your body. There are many today, even professing Christians, who see nothing wrong with drinking alcohol in moderation. But that is not what the Bible teaches. Both Paul and Peter clearly teach that Christians who are preparing for the second coming of Christ will not use intoxicating drink. (See Titus 2:11–14; 1 Peter 1:13–16). They will be sober.

It is impossible to be both sober and intoxicated at the same time. By drinking alcohol and becoming partially drunk, you are partially intoxicated and not really sober. We are instructed to be sober, to watch what is taking place in the world, and to prepare for the future, seeking for purity in our lives. The Bible says, “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Are you doing all in your power for the cause of God in the world? Christians living in these last days are going to experience severe trials. (See Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). Paul said, “We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–15).

Many practical instructions were given at the close of Paul’s letter. He said, “Pray without ceasing” (verse 17). This means to always be in an attitude of prayer. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies [or prophesying]. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (verses 18–22).

O, friend, are you following those injunctions? Are you abstaining from every form of evil? Are you a sober, watchful Christian or among those who make a profession but are drunk in the night? Those who are not watching and not praying will not be ready and the day of the Lord will overtake them suddenly as a thief. It will come as an overwhelming surprise and it will be too late at that time to be saved. When Jesus comes again in the clouds of heaven with His reward, it is then too late to be saved (see Revelation 22:11, 12). All decisions will have already been made. Paul told the Corinthians, “Now is the accepted time; … now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Now is the time to make that decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and choose to follow and obey Him, which will result in eternal life. The Holy Spirit has been promised to all who seek Jesus. It will transform your life, enabling you to live a completely different life.

Paul’s letter brought wonderful comfort, hope, joy, and excitement to the Thessalonians. However, they were confused when he said, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

When Paul said “we,” he is referring to the people in the Christian church who are alive when Jesus comes and are ready to meet Him. But some people interpreted that to mean that he was including himself and that he would be one of those who would live until Jesus came. This misunderstanding resulted in Paul writing his second letter. In fact, there were some people who thought the Lord would return so soon that they decided they did not need to work. This mistake was corrected when Paul wrote, “If anyone does not provide for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8, literal translation).

Even today some people think the apostles expected the Lord to come in their day, in the first century. They did not. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul sought to correct misapprehensions about when the day of the Lord would come. His letter begins by commending them for their faith, and looking forward to the time when all of their suffering would be over. He said, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–5).

“Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (verses 6–10).

He then continues to talk to them about the coming of the day of the Lord when they would receive rest, when all persecutions of the Christians would be at an end. Those who died in Christ would be resurrected and taken with the living to heaven. They would be given immortality (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4). They thought it was going to happen very soon but Paul continued, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come” (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2). It was common then for unscrupulous people to send forged letters in the names of important people, so Paul warned that if they were to receive a letter telling them anything different, to know it is not so. He gave this very emphatic warning not to be troubled or even think that the day of the Lord was at hand, because there were more events to happen before He would return.

Paul wrote, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless [until] the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” (verse 3).

This man of sin is the antichrist. It says in verses 4 and 5, concerning him: “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God [the church], showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?”

The coming of Christ would not occur until after a great apostasy occurs in the Christian church and the antichrist is revealed. Antichrist does not just mean somebody that is against Christ, but somebody that stands in the place of Christ. The antichrist would arise in the church first. He says, “And now you know what is restraining, that he [antichrist] may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one [the antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (verses 6–8). That is a very interesting verse.

Some people believe that the antichrist is going to appear after the Lord comes. But this verse teaches us that when the Lord comes the antichrist will already have been revealed and will be destroyed when He comes. “The coming of the lawless one [antichrist] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders [miracles], and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (verses 9, 10).

Do you love the truth, friend? If you don’t love the truth, you are going to be deceived. It says, “because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” (verses 10, 11).

God will never force anyone to believe or accept or follow the truth. In God’s government, there is freedom and the power of choice. All who are willing to look at the weight of evidence will find plenty of evidence to know truth. But God will never give you so much evidence that you will be forced to accept it against your will.

Paul goes on to say, “For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (verse 11). The lie is that a person can be saved in his sin.

The truth has always been unattractive to those who have pleasure in unrighteousness. “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). “… sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV). So to have pleasure in unrighteousness means to have pleasure in sin. Or, to put it even more simply, to enjoy breaking God’s law. To choose the pleasures of sin is so temporary. To choose Christ and live for Him is to have eternal life and pleasure forever.

As Joshua said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Life Sketches – Victory for the Gospel

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No sinner has ever fallen so low or become so vile that he or she cannot find deliverance in Christ. The good news is that there is hope for deliverance from the power of Satan and the infirmity of one’s own sinful nature.

After the apostle Paul left Athens, known as a city of learning, art, and science, he went to one of the largest mercantile cities of the world at that time, Corinth, a city in direct communication with Rome and other large cities by either land or water. Because it was a trade center catering to all nationalities that travelled through, it offered a tremendous opportunity to the apostle Paul for the spread of the gospel. There were many people there for both business and pleasure, having little thought or care for anything other than the affairs of this present life.

Paul knew that if the gospel were established in Corinth it would be readily communicated and spread to all parts of the world. However, he was not oblivious to the serious obstacles that he would face in the prosecution of his work. Corinth, at that time, was almost entirely given over to idolatry. Venus was the favorite goddess. A large number of dissolute women were employed in connection with the worship of this deity for the purpose of attracting devotees of popular vice, so much so, that the Corinthians had become conspicuous, even among the heathen, for their gross immorality.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

In addition to the problem with idolatry, Corinth was populated by a larger number of Jews than at any previous time. They had become arrogant and insubordinate, not just to the Christian religion, but also to the Roman government. In fact, they manifested such a malignant spirit of envy and hatred, and created so much sedition and insurrection, that they had been driven away from Rome with many of them finding refuge in Corinth. Among those Jews who found refuge in Corinth there were many who were innocent of the wrongs that some of their countrymen had perpetrated. From this class there was a man and his wife by the name of Aquila and Priscilla, who afterward became distinguished followers of Christ.

Aquila and Priscilla were tent makers as was the apostle Paul who was also a tent maker by trade. Acts 18:1–3 says, “After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.”

The Jewish people had been instructed by God through Moses to train up their children with industrious habits. For this reason, the Jewish people looked at indolence as a great sin. Their children were all required to learn some trade by which, if necessary, they could earn a livelihood. Failure of a Jewish young person to learn a trade was considered a departure from the instruction of the Lord. Labor was considered elevating in its nature and children were taught to combine religion and business.

At the time of Christ, the Jews, although they had become wealthy as a nation, still followed this ancient custom. Paul, being a Jew, was highly educated and was admired for his genius and eloquence. He was a leader among the Jews, a member of the Sanhedrin, but, in spite of that, his education had not been considered complete until he had learned a trade. The apostle used his trade of tent making to be self-sufficient while preaching the gospel among the Gentiles.

Paul refers to this a number of different times throughout his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 4:12 he says, “We labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure … .” Again, he refers to it in 2 Corinthians 11:7, literal translation: “Did I commit sin in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?” Then again, in 2 Corinthians 12:13: “For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!”

Again He talks about it in his epistles to the Thessalonians. Paul was an earnest, energetic, self-sacrificing disciple of Christ. He was one of the world’s greatest teachers. He crossed the seas and traveled far and wide until a large percentage of the people who lived in the world had heard from his lips the story of the cross of Christ. Yet, in spite of this, he earned his own living by working with his hands.

He might have claimed support from the churches to sustain him, but he forewent this entitlement, even though he was feeble in health. He labored and toiled a large share of the night, frequently all night, that he might make provision for his own and other’s necessities. As he worked he instructed those who were making tents with him in the way of salvation. You might think of that today, if you are a gospel worker, if the Lord has called you to spread the gospel. If you think you are suffering great hardship and privations because you are not working in an occupation which brings large financial returns, remember Paul’s experience and witness to those in the work place around you.

Paul was in full-time ministry and entitled to receive support for his labor as an apostle of Christ, but he supported himself. His zeal and industry are a rebuke to anyone who claims to be a Christian and is indolent or a lover of selfish ease. In Athens, Paul had matched logic with logic. He had matched science with science. He had engaged in philosophical discussion with the Athenians, but when he reviewed the time and labor that he had spent in Athens and the number of converts, he decided he would follow a different plan of labor in the future.

Paul would no longer engage in elaborate arguments and discussions of various philosophical theories. He said, “I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).

Jesus gave a promise when He was on earth that if you continue in His word so that you are His disciples, following and obeying His word, then a miracle will happen in your life and you will be set free from the bondage of sin. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone’ ” (John 8:31–33, first part). That was a lie. “ ‘How can You say, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed’ ” (verses 33, last part–36).

Jesus said that those who live in sin are in bondage to sin. If you are committing sin you are a slave of sin, because sin is an enslaving power that brings men and women into bondage. Do not claim that you are not in bondage to anybody or anything. The fact is that if you are committing sin, you are already in bondage. No slave to sin will experience eternal life and abide in the house forever. Only the Son who abides forever can set you free from the bondage of sin, so that you are not living a life of sin. When the Son sets you free, you will be truly free.

Friend, has Jesus set you free from sin? Are you continuing in His word and following the instructions? The Jews all over the land when Jesus was on earth were notified to watch His movements, as their religion felt threatened by His influence. Jesus was continually followed by spies who took notice of every word and act that they might be able to use against Him. Paul had to meet the very same spirit of opposition and prejudice.

In Corinth, Paul reasoned from Moses and the prophets and showed from Old Testament types and ceremonies that they were prophetic concerning the ministry, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Messiah. He showed that the Christian religion was the fulfillment of the Hebrew religion, and that, unless you accepted Christ, all of those ceremonies were meaningless. He brought his hearers down through the types and shadows of the ceremonial law to Christ. He showed how the Old Testament predicted the crucifixion of the Messiah and His priesthood in the sanctuary in heaven.

Paul showed that, according to the prophecies, the Messiah would be of the lineage of Abraham and David. He traced His descent from Abraham through David and proved from Scripture what was to be the character and works of the promised Messiah and the reception and treatment He would receive and that all of these predictions had been fulfilled.

The most convincing proof given to the Jews was that the gospel was simply the development of the Hebrew faith. The gospel is the consummation, the glory of the entire Jewish system. Paul then showed that repentance for their rejection of Christ was the only thing that could save the Jewish nation from impending ruin.

Paul rebuked the ignorance of the Jews, showing that the very scriptures that were their chief boast and glory, if they had understood them, showed that they were guilty. He exposed their worldliness and love of station, titles, display, and their selfishness. He appealed to them that even though they were responsible for the crucifixion of the Lord of glory, if they would repent, the impending ruin coming upon the Jewish nation could be averted. These were the final appeals given to the Jewish people.

Unfortunately, the Jews of Corinth closed their eyes to all the evidence that was clearly presented by the apostle and they refused to listen to his appeals. It says in Acts 18:4–6, “He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ ”

When Paul chose to go to the Gentiles, he started right next door to the synagogue. Notice what it says in Acts 18:7, 8: “He departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized.”

Paul showed those who listened that in spite of the dissolute, immoral life that they had been living, they could find deliverance in Christ. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He [that is, Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost [that is, completely, or entirely, perfectly] those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.”

Paul had had an amazing experience on the Damascus road. He was shown that all the ceremonies, rituals, and forms of religion that he had been so careful to observe, were useless. King David also had a conversion experience. After he had grievously sinned by stealing another man’s wife and attempting to cover his sin by having Uriah killed, he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. … For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:10, 11, 16, 17).

O friend, have you repented of your sins? Have you chosen to follow Jesus Christ? Have you asked that you may not only be forgiven, but that you may receive the Holy Spirit so that you will have the power to live a new kind of a life?

Paul had a measure of success. Many Corinthians were baptized, but, as the apostle looked at the depravity of that city—he had been opposed and rejected by the Jews and the Gentiles were so immoral and so depraved—he thought that this was not a very good place to stay working and try to build up a church.

He doubted the wisdom of building up a church from the material that he found in that city. Paul thought that Corinth was a very questionable field of labor and decided that he would leave and look for a more promising area. He was anguished in spirit because of the depravity among the Gentiles and the contempt and insult which he had received from the Jews, but the Lord who reads the hearts of all men had another plan that He revealed to Paul.

“Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city’ ” (Acts 18:9, 10).

In spite of the wickedness of that sinful city, God knew there were many people there susceptible to the truth. If they heard and understood the gospel they would repent, confess, and forsake their sins and be able to receive the Holy Spirit and begin to live a new life through the Spirit’s power. Paul’s preaching was a manifestation of the Spirit and power of God to change into saints of God people who had been ruined by sin.

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul addresses them as saints of God. He describes the sins of their former lifestyle and says that the unrighteous people who do those things will not inherit the kingdom of God. He goes on to say that though some of them were like that, they had now been washed, sanctified, and justified. Paul understood from this vision that God wanted him to stay in Corinth. It was a guarantee from the Lord Himself, that He would give an increase to the seed that was sown in the preaching of the gospel. Paul was so strengthened and encouraged that he continued to labor there for a year and 6 months.

Many of the people in Corinth who had been most dissolute and immoral accepted the gospel and were changed, becoming monuments of God’s mercy and of the power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin and from all uncleanness. Paul saw much success in presenting Christ to the people.

The unbelieving Jews again attempted to stir up trouble, going to the Roman proconsul in their attempt to get Paul arrested. “When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, ‘This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.’ And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.’ And he drove them from the judgment seat” (Acts 18:12–16).

The result of the Jews’ opposition to the gospel being preached in Corinth resulted in a signal triumphant victory in that city.

Friends, the gospel is soon going to triumph over all the world. Jesus invites all to be part of that victory.

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.