DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST (Part 1)

Any subject that relates to the salvation of one’s soul is very important and needs careful attention.

THE AUTHORITY FOR BAPTISM

I.  SCRIPTURES:

The New Testament is full of clear and straightforward statements on the subject of baptism.   Too many read Scripture with preconceived ideas of what it “must really be saying” or what it “surely cannot mean”.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  
                                                            -2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

We want to strive to listen to the Scriptures as if hearing it for the first time.   How would the original hearers have understood them? We must strive to understand the New Testament through the lens and minds of New Testament times and not the 21^st Century with its theological bias. We must take the original meaning as the authoritative one. Whatever is mentioned on baptism we must be consistent with what is also said about sin, faith, repentance, and the church.

Baptism is but one step towards salvation.   Before baptism one must believe & repent.  One must have faith but not “faith only”.

¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.  -James 2:19

²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.  -James 2:24

This verse in James is the only place in all the New Testament where the phrase "faith only" or "faith alone" appears and it states "not by faith alone".

  

II. JESUS

The first occasion in the NT where believer’s baptism is mentioned is after the resurrection when Jesus was about to ascend to heaven.  He gave the disciples instructions we often call the “GREAT COMMISSION”.  It is recorded in both Matthew and Mark.

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

                                                      -Matthew 28:18-20

As instructed by Jesus Himself baptism has an important role in making disciples.   Baptism is not to be considered an ordinary act of obedience but is to be regarded as a conversion experience that brings us into a union with God Himself.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  

                                                                   -Mark 16:15-16

Faith is an essential condition for salvation.  God’s promise is visualized in Christian baptism, so that baptism itself becomes a kind of visualization of faith. The text links belief and baptism together as the same act of faith. It does not say:  “He who is baptized is saved and then should be baptized.”  It does not refer to baptism as something done after salvation but that it is part of salvation. Since baptism and faith are listed together as co-conditions, the salvation offered to baptism must be the same as that offered to faith itself.

If baptism does not have a saving significance, they why should it be mentioned in the Great Commission at all? Jesus’ words are not so much a command as a promise.  We do not need more commands or laws but a promise of help and hope…the promise of forgiveness.

When one is baptized one is receiving God’s precious & gracious promise of salvation.

16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’                                                                                                            -Acts 22:16

WHY MUDDY THE WATERS?

Jesus prayed for the unity of those who would follow Him and be called by His name.  However, over the centuries false teachings have crept in and caused division among those claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ.   These divisions we call “denominations”.  

Why do so many so-called "Christian" groups muddy the waters of the simple gospel?    

Perhaps one of the most pervasive false teachings that is still with us to this day is that of what is often referred to as “Faith Only”.  

In gatherings of those desiring to know more about God very often those attending heard something like one of these statements:

·        “Bow your head and raise your hand if you want Jesus to come into your heart”

·        “Just say this prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart”

·        “Just believe and you will be saved”

·        “All you need is faith only”

If these approaches are indeed true and scripturally based it would seem that something in Scripture would support it.   However, nowhere in the New Testament do we see an example of praying a certain prayer (often called “The Sinners Prayer”) asking Jesus to come into your heart and thus you are saved.

What about “faith only” or just believing to be saved?   Is there anywhere in the New Testament that the phrase “faith only” or “faith alone” appears?  Actually there is one place in the New Testament where this phrase occurs:

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” 

                                                                                                                   -James 2:24

James elaborates more on this topic in the same chapter, look at these:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but doenot have works?  Can that faith save him?”  (2:14)

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”  (2:17)

“You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe—and shudder!”  (2:19)

“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”  (2:26)

Belief is an important step but it is not the whole of the way to be saved.  If we leave it at belief only we are no better off than demons and we know what their fate will be.   Belief and actions together are what equate to faith.

Salvation is a process that is not fully realized until you see Jesus face to face.  Throughout the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, God has always attached a requirement of obedience on our part to receive the promises He makes.

  

In addition to belief one must confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), repent (Acts 3:19), be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and to be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10).   Then one will receive the crown of life offered.   

In a real sense no one is saved yet!  We are in the process of receiving salvation but nobody can say they are saved until they see Jesus in person after this life.  Jesus has prepared eternity for us but it is not in our possession just yet.  I can say that I have the hope of salvation and eternity based on claiming Jesus and His promises to be true and following his directions.

How about you?   Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and the only hope for salvation and eternity?  Good!  But don’t leave it there!   Remember…

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” 

                                                                                                                -James 2:24

What is your next step in the process to secure salvation for yourself?

Have questions?   I’d be happy to share God’s answers with you.   Or you can contact me with your questions.  Others may be interested in the same questions you have and perhaps I’ll even write a future blog to address the question you have.

THE REALITY OF FAITH

What is faith? Is it belief? Is it trust? Is it both or much more?

What kind of faith changes a person?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
                                  -Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

We all have faith! We all believe in something. What do you have faith in? What are you putting your faith in and trusting in? Is your faith in your intellect, your strength, your career, the government? There is only one who will not fail you. There is only one who is the same yesterday, today and forever...JESUS!

Is your faith in Jesus really stronger than your faith in other things? Ouch, that question may hurt a little if you are truly honest.

Our faith is not primarily in what Jesus said. Many know Jesus' teachings forwards and backwards but still remain unchanged. Our faith must be anchored in what Jesus did. He rose from the grave! The Gospel is the Resurrection. It was after the resurrection of Jesus that his followers showed great courage and boldness under persecution. It was after the resurrection that the apostles performed many miracles. It was after the resurrection that the church changed the world.

What evidence is there in your life that that you have faith in Jesus? What change has taken place in your life? Do you share His story with others? How has your faith helped to change others?

How has the congregation you are a part of changed the world (your community)?

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
                          -1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)

Is your faith planted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

What is the reaction or response of true faith? First we must get rid of the conditional faith we are carrying..."As long as...", "I'll believe if...". To have true Christian faith one cannot dictate conditions to God but must trust fully in Jesus Christ.

You must fully worship Jesus and recognize him as Thomas did, "My Lord and my God".

If you truly want the benefits of faith in the Lord then you must come to understand that only in the power of God can you be genuinely changed. God is a powerful change agent for those willing to be transformed from sinners to saints.

A PROFOUND MYSTERY!

                   
It never ceases to amaze me how God's Word is alive and active.   Sometimes it seems a verse just leaps from the page for me to ponder.   Such was the case recently while one of the men of the church was reading from Ephesians 5 for a communion meditation.   The passage was...

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."  
                                               -Ephesians 5:25-27

I never realized before that this passage refers to baptism.  I guess I've always focused on the husband/wife & church/Jesus relationship it mentions but it never clicked until now that baptism is what makes this relationship possible.  

"...the washing of water with the word..." precedes the church being referred to as "without spot" and "without blemish".   It is at the point of baptism that this occurs for each one that seeks to be part of the Lord's church.   "the word" has a role to play as it is through the proclamation of the word that one first comes to an understanding of faith.  As it states in Romans 10:17, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."  

Even though Ephesians 5 speaks of the relationship between wives and husbands this is not the main focus or point of the passage.   As verse 32 states, "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."  Without the "washing of water" we miss the profound nature of being part of the Lord's church and miss out on being "without spot" or "without blemish" in God's eyes.

For years when reading this passage I focused on the husband/wife relationship (which is something to seriously consider) but all the time missed the main point of focus of the text being about Christ and His Church.    Thank you Lord, for illuminating me with this profound mystery.

Crack Pots

                                       
                              

Growing up I remember that there was a phrase used to refer to someone who did a foolish or silly thing.  It was sometimes used in jest and sometimes to ridicule; “you’re a crack pot”.  Though I’ve not heard it much recently my generation and older may remember this phrase and perhaps even still use it on occasion.  Truth be known we are all cracked pots.

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the works of your hand.”    -Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

Yet how many of us have been guilty of living as if we are the Potter having designed our own lives.

“You turn things upside down!  Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’, or the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’.”     -Isaiah 29:17 (ESV)

Truth be known God has designed all of us for a purpose.  By striving to take control of our own lives we wind up damaging what God has created and become “cracked pots”.  But there is hope.

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” ³ So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴ And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”  –Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)

Praise God our damaged souls can be “reworked” into something better.  It is impossible for man to soften the clay and rework it once its been hardened by the fire.  When damaged it is only good to be destroyed and discarded.  God, on the other hand, can soften the soul again through the His Word and the Holy Spirit that it can be fashioned after His design.   We can be “reworked”.  In fact, God is in the business of reworking or renewing us in His image again.  

So if you feel like damaged goods maybe today is the day you can return to your Potter so He can reshape and remake you into something useful in His Kingdom.  Let go and put yourself in His hands.
                               

FAITH ONLY? WHAT ABOUT WORKS?

 

     So-called main stream evangelical Christianity has and continues to preach that we are “saved by grace not by works.” The Scripture passage often cited is Ephesians 2:9 which reads, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Using this verse alone we can see that there is a natural and logical conclusion for the underlying supposition that we are saved by “faith only.” However, taking a single verse out of context is not how to properly interpret the original intent and meaning of the Scriptures. Let’s read on in Ephesians and look at verse 10:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“

         Let’s reconcile these two verses as they were originally intended to be understood. It is true that without God’s grace we would still be in our sins. Accepting God’s grace is the first step that must take place. We cannot earn our righteousness, however, through this grace should come a natural outpouring of “good works” which we were created to do in Christ. Otherwise, we can run the risk of losing the grace we were offered.  Jesus himself on multiple occasions alluded to the fact that we will be judged by our works. For example, in Matthew 25 the parable of the Talents shows the importance of using our gifts for the Lord and the dangers of doing nothing. Jesus immediately follows this parable with an explanation of the final judgment in verses 31-46 where he clearly indicates that we will be judged by our service to him and sharing his love with others in a tangible way. Those who have not demonstrated “good works” of gratitude for the grace they have been offered will not receive an eternal reward.  “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt. 25:46)

           The grace God has offered us is not by our works but by the works of Jesus going to the cross in our place. We do not deserve it. We could never earn the grace offered. However, the fruit of our lives or “good works” are in gratitude for that grace and will determine if we keep what God has offered.

          In James 2:14-26 we see some additional insight regarding the relationship between our faith and our works of service.  What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? The implied answer to this questions is, “no” faith alone cannot save.  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

          What good is a dead faith?  Can it save?  Again the answer, “No.”  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. The matter of our righteousness and salvation is not a matter of one or the other but of both faith and works.  You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!  Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

          Perhaps the most misunderstood and misused verse in the New Testament is John 3:16 where so many preach that we only need to believe and nothing else. The verse in James 2:19 printed above shatters the popular idea that John 3:16 is the whole of the salvation process. Even demons believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God but it does them no good. Belief alone is not sufficient to become righteous and saved. Belief is a critical first step but it is not the only step needed to become righteous. There is more!  A couple of verses later we see that works are mentioned as part of the process. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:20-21)

          Let’s return to James 2:21-26 as we consider further the relationship of faith and works in the salvation process. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James uses the Old Testament example of Abraham to show the relationship of works to our faith. Abraham believed God and was righteous in his eyes because his works demonstrated the reality of his faith.

 

                                             

             Regarding the popular “faith only” doctrine that permeates much of so-called Christianity there is only one verse in the entire New Testament that has the phrase “faith only” or “faith alone” and it is this verse in James 2:24 yet it says “…that a person is justified by works and not faith alone.”  Did you catch that, “not faith alone”?

           We are saved by the wonderful grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot earn it or deserve it. Without His mercy and grace we are still in our sins and without hope. God offers each of us a wonderful gift but as with any gift we receive, it is only ours as long as we take care of it and keep it. It can be lost!  Producing fruit worthy of our repentance and doing good works of gratitude for what Jesus has graciously done for us is what keeps us in good standing and righteous in God’s eyes.  Fan into flame the tremendous grace God has given you with works of gratitude so that when you face God you may hear those wonderful words, “Well done good and faithful servant”. 

 

All scripture verses are from the ESV Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Law of Liberty

In reading the New Testament the term “law” is used frequently and usually refers to the Old Testament and the laws given under Moses.  This law teaches us what our problem is, namely sin.  The Law of Moses shows us what our problem is but does not provide the solution or remedy since no one can keep all the Law.  With the coming of Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection the Old Law was fulfilled in His perfection and a new law was put in place.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.  For  if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”        -James 1:22-25 (ESV)

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”     -James 2:12-13 (ESV)

Let’s make two observations about the Law of Liberty…

First, the Law of Liberty requires a preserving action demonstrating a life of freedom from sin.   This is the heart of James message in his book.  Faith must be shown and acted upon not merely stated.  Anyone can say that they believe in Jesus, even demons believe that, but a true follower of Christ will demonstrate it and strive to live it out.  You will see it in the fruit of their lives.  It must be seen in the deeds and lifestyle of the believer.  When one truly understands what spiritual freedom from sin really entails it should drive one to live a life of thanksgiving in deeds and actions not merely in words.

Second, the Law of Liberty was created by and remains driven by mercy.  We are to demonstrate mercy to others just as Christ has shown it to us.  A judgment day is coming and each of us will stand before the author of life.  Do you want to be judged according to the Law of Moses or according to the Law of Liberty?   I choose the latter!  Look at James 2:13 again, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

So here is a question to ponder…Which law is at work in your life?